Jacobites, Brownies, Forest Art and if your lucky - a fig roll

You absolutely do not need children to help you enjoy the delights of the Arkaig Forest Art trail. However, the fun level is somewhat raised if you get to explore with spirited and determined ones so I blagged my way in with the project map illustrator who is in first year at the High School and his wee brother and their tiny friend who has not quite turned 5.

They’d brought some parental back-up and their bikes. It’s a 12km round trip from the Achnacarry Village Hall so bikes are perfect but a walk and a packed lunch would make for a longer but satisfying day out.

The map that you pick up to help you on your way and to collect treasure explains “Arkaig Forest Art is a commission by Woodland Trust in celebration of the community ownership of Arkaig Community Forest with a series of sculptural, and community collaborative artworks created to highlight the past present, and future of the forest.”

This is an inspired way to coax youngsters and newbies to the forest along the very beautiful lochside of Arkaig as the promise of a picnic at Invermallie Bothy 3 miles in is sometimes not enough.

There are 7 pieces of treasure to find and a circle on the map on which to emboss the findings. Who doesn’t love a wee bit of embossing?

Each casket that holds the treasure within, represents the 7 caskets of Jacobite gold (there are 6 chests on the trail as only one casket was ever found - making the treasure hunt even more exciting) which the fleeing Bonnie Prince Charlie and his men had to stash somewhere in these glens as they escaped the pursuing army after the massacre at Culloden.

First one in the bag, it was time to study the map before heading off to the find the next…

If you have one, take a strong mother and a tow rope. Can’t recommend this enough.

Ensure she releases you at the top of every climb. There are plenty thrills to be had on this journey and mollycoddling is not part of the gig.

This was Finns first chance to view the completed project and stamp his map.

Or leaves.

The trail is designed to take you off track.

To find what is stalking it, you need to scramble up and see for yourself…..

There’s more lurking in the woods. More questions to be asked, more stories to tell…

Invermallie Bothy - a usual stop spot but we continued up the track.

In between treasure hunting there are trees of all shapes and sizes to admire.

And something that’s coming to a garden near you soon…

Troll bridge to cross before the last stop.

The final push to the turning point is worth the effort.

There had been a light complaint from the youngest member of the group halfway out on the trail, about having to cycle all the way back and a LOT of whingeing from me that I was starving, and I had to be fed a fig roll before I could even think about the trip back. I didn’t hear a word of protest from any other children.

The wee complainant complained no more as soon as she got the feel of flying back along the track with no stops. My advice would be to take a flask and a picnic, - and maybe don’t take me. The Trust had supplied tea and biscuits at one of the stops but that’s not going to be there the next time

I’ve skipped one of the treasure stops so as not to reveal all and not shown everything that there is to see. How could you ever show everything there is to see? Every change of weather and season will uncover something new once you get your nature eye in.

There is a Loch Arkaig Pine Forest app that you can download for a visitors guide.

Magical day out