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Cawdor Wood

Wood, Forest in Nairnshire

Scotland

Cawdor Wood

Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood Credit: Douglas Nelson

Cawdor Wood is a picturesque forest located in the Nairnshire region of Scotland. Covering an area of approximately 1,500 acres, it is nestled on the outskirts of the village of Cawdor and is easily accessible to visitors. The wood is renowned for its natural beauty and is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, hikers, and birdwatchers.

The woodland is primarily composed of native tree species such as oak, birch, and pine, creating a diverse and vibrant ecosystem. The trees form a dense canopy that provides shade and shelter for a variety of wildlife, including red squirrels, roe deer, and numerous bird species.

Cawdor Wood offers a network of well-maintained trails that wind through the forest, allowing visitors to explore its enchanting scenery. These paths cater to different levels of difficulty, ensuring that there is something for everyone, from leisurely strolls to more challenging hikes.

One of the highlights of Cawdor Wood is the historic Cawdor Castle, which has stood within the forest since the 14th century. The castle’s stunning architecture and well-preserved interiors make it a must-see attraction for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts.

Visitors to Cawdor Wood can also enjoy a variety of recreational activities, such as picnicking, wildlife spotting, and photography. The forest’s peaceful ambiance and tranquil surroundings make it an ideal place for relaxation and contemplation.

Overall, Cawdor Wood offers a captivating blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and recreational opportunities, making it a cherished destination for both locals and tourists alike.

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Cawdor Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.512002/-3.9237117 or Grid Reference NH8448. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Unclassified road at Rereach
Unclassified road at Rereach
Glengeoullie Bridge The bridge spans the Riereach Burn
Glengeoullie Bridge
The bridge spans the Riereach Burn
Old Military road near Rereach
Old Military road near Rereach
Forest track into Cawdor Wood
Forest track into Cawdor Wood
Cawdor Parish Church
Cawdor Parish Church
Track in Cawdor Wood It is always hard to be definite about these things when named woods merge into one another, but in area, Cawdor Wood - named after the village and/or castle at its Northern end - covers about two and a half grid-squares and parts of it appear in seven. Some of the wood is a protected area, and some of it is not. The trees on the left side of the track are unprotected, whereas those on the right are. Confusingly, the protected part of this 'ancient' mixed wood is also just named Cawdor Wood by the relevant official organisations. It is officially designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), one of 200-odd in Scotland. In the hierarchy of these things, this really means that it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with greater protection. The big oak trees further North, along with the rare lichens that grow on some of their trunks, are the main reasons for this. The thing I remember the most about this wood, though, is the unbelievable amount of slugs that were very slowly wriggling their way along the many tracks and paths. The SAC is, very roughly, in the shape of a letter 'q', the land on the right of the track here being part of the tail of the letter, which straddles Riereach Burn. I put 'ancient' within quotation marks above because, although the wood is definitely old, nobody really seems to know exactly how old, tree felling and replanting having taken place throughout the years. There is actually a mention of cows grazing amongst the trees as recently as the 1950s in a report somewhere online.
Track in Cawdor Wood
It is always hard to be definite about these things when named woods merge into one another, but in area, Cawdor Wood - named after the village and/or castle at its Northern end - covers about two and a half grid-squares and parts of it appear in seven. Some of the wood is a protected area, and some of it is not. The trees on the left side of the track are unprotected, whereas those on the right are. Confusingly, the protected part of this 'ancient' mixed wood is also just named Cawdor Wood by the relevant official organisations. It is officially designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), one of 200-odd in Scotland. In the hierarchy of these things, this really means that it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with greater protection. The big oak trees further North, along with the rare lichens that grow on some of their trunks, are the main reasons for this. The thing I remember the most about this wood, though, is the unbelievable amount of slugs that were very slowly wriggling their way along the many tracks and paths. The SAC is, very roughly, in the shape of a letter 'q', the land on the right of the track here being part of the tail of the letter, which straddles Riereach Burn. I put 'ancient' within quotation marks above because, although the wood is definitely old, nobody really seems to know exactly how old, tree felling and replanting having taken place throughout the years. There is actually a mention of cows grazing amongst the trees as recently as the 1950s in a report somewhere online.
Forest track entering Budgate Plantation
Forest track entering Budgate Plantation
Cawdor Castle and Gardens Cawdor Castle dates from the late 14th century and was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor.
Cawdor Castle and Gardens
Cawdor Castle dates from the late 14th century and was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor.
Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Burn Stream flowing behind Cawdor Castle.
Cawdor Burn
Stream flowing behind Cawdor Castle.
Cawdor Village, Back Street Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village in the Highland area of Scotland. The village lies 5 miles south-southwest of Nairn and 12 miles east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire. Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village in the Highland area of Scotland. The village lies 5 miles south-southwest of Nairn and 12 miles east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire. The name "Cawdor" is the English pronunciation and spelling of the ancient and original name Calder. In the early 19th century, the Lord at the time was residing in England and changed the name of the castle, town and clan so that it would match the name in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth.
Cawdor Village, Back Street
Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village in the Highland area of Scotland. The village lies 5 miles south-southwest of Nairn and 12 miles east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire. Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village in the Highland area of Scotland. The village lies 5 miles south-southwest of Nairn and 12 miles east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire. The name "Cawdor" is the English pronunciation and spelling of the ancient and original name Calder. In the early 19th century, the Lord at the time was residing in England and changed the name of the castle, town and clan so that it would match the name in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth.
Woodland path near Cawdor Castle
Woodland path near Cawdor Castle
Woodland Path behind Cawdor Castle
Woodland Path behind Cawdor Castle
Wooden Footbridge across Cawdor Burn
Wooden Footbridge across Cawdor Burn
Cawdor Castle Maze Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle Maze
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Minotaur in the Labyrinth at Cawdor Castle The bronze Minotaur sculpture by Gregory Ryan sits at the centre of the labyrinth in the Walled Garden, more than three metres above the trimmed hedges.
Minotaur in the Labyrinth at Cawdor Castle
The bronze Minotaur sculpture by Gregory Ryan sits at the centre of the labyrinth in the Walled Garden, more than three metres above the trimmed hedges.
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Cawdor Wood is located at Grid Ref: NH8448 (Lat: 57.512002, Lng: -3.9237117)

Unitary Authority: Highland

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///lakeside.bespoke.chin. Near Nairn, Highland

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Cawdor Wood

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