Guided Walks
Would you like to learn more about the forest on your visit? Why not sign up for a guided walk with our resident range and ecologist?
There's so much to Balnakailly Oak Woodland than meets the eye, and you too can uncover the wonders of this woodland as you take a closer look at the plants and animals that call it home, as well as the history and mythology that surrounds them.
Our tour lasts for 2 hours and consists of a 2.7km guided walk through Balanakilly Oak woodland at the North end of Bute. The tour begins at Rhubodach Ferry terminal and loops through the woodland, reaching Balnakailly Settlement as a halfway point, and finishing down by the bridge over Balnakilly Burn. The guided walk will draw attention to many of the plants and animals you will come across, but we encourage you to ask about anything you come across on the adventure and would like to know more about! Depending on the season, there may also be some foraging opportunities.
Tours cost £10 per adult and £5 per under 18. There is no charge for 5-year-olds and under.
Part of a group that would like a tour? For groups of 5+, you can contact Samuel directly to discuss a private guided walk around the woodland. Payment must be made in advance for such bookings. Discounts can be discussed for groups with 10+ attendees.
Our next upcoming dates for tours are
Date 1
Date 2
Date 3
Contact Samuel at [email protected] to book one of our pre-set dates, to arrange your own group guided walk or if you have any other questions regarding our guided walks.
To ensure everyone has the best experience on their tour we have a couple of points to note.
- - We ask that attendees do not bring their dogs on the tours (with the exception of guide dogs).
- - Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
- - If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather conditions (torrential rain or strong winds) then you will be notified the morning of the tour and given a full refund if paid in advance.
Some important things to bring
- - Wellie boots or waterproof walking boots as the track can be boggy in places
- - A waterproof jacket, it is a rainforest after all!
Optional extras to bring along
- - Binoculars
- - A camera, you never know what you might spot
- - The Merlin Bird ID app which you can download here. This is our favourite free app for identifying bird calls you hear.
- - Water and a snack to keep up those energy levels!
Samuel Lindsay has been our Woodland Ranger and Ecologist for over two years and will be leading all of these guided walks. Despite spending so much time exploring the forest for his work, he is constantly coming across new things and is excited to get to share his love for nature with the public.
Before joining our team, he studied Zoology, Ecology and Conservation at the University of Aberdeen and now brings this knowledge to managing the forest and sharing the wonders of the natural world with his forest school groups.
