Clayland Wood

Wood, Forest in Banffshire

Scotland

Clayland Wood

View to Retanach From a minor road near Moss-side. — View to Retanach Credit: Alan Hodgson

Clayland Wood, located in Banffshire, is a picturesque forest that covers a vast area of land. This woodland is known for its rich biodiversity and natural beauty, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and hikers alike.

The wood is characterized by its dense canopy of trees, which primarily consists of native species such as oaks, birches, and Scots pines. These trees provide a habitat for various animals and birds, including red squirrels, roe deer, and a wide range of bird species.

Visitors to Clayland Wood can enjoy a network of well-maintained trails, allowing them to explore the forest's diverse flora and fauna. The trails cater to different skill levels, making it accessible for both casual walkers and experienced hikers. Along these paths, visitors may come across charming picnic spots and viewpoints, offering stunning vistas of the surrounding landscape.

The wood is also home to several small streams and ponds, adding to the overall tranquility and natural beauty of the area. These water bodies provide a habitat for amphibians and aquatic plants, further enhancing the biodiversity of the forest.

Clayland Wood is actively managed by conservation organizations, ensuring the preservation of its unique ecosystem. Efforts are made to maintain the balance between human activities and the forest's natural processes, promoting sustainability and the protection of wildlife.

In summary, Clayland Wood in Banffshire is a captivating forest that offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature. With its diverse range of flora and fauna, well-marked trails, and stunning views, it is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a peaceful and enriching outdoor experience.

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Clayland Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.52381/-2.7631982 or Grid Reference NJ5448. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

View to Retanach

From a minor road near Moss-side.

Alan Hodgson

Rothiemay Parish Kirk

The kirk dates from 1807 and is a Category B Listed building. It incorporates some features from earlier buildings. See Link

for more details.

Anne Burgess

Rothiemay War Memorial

A plain granite monument, standing beside the main street.

Anne Burgess

Forbes Arms Hotel

The two-storey house is 18th century and the one-and-s-half storey extension is later. It is a Category B Listed building. See Link

for details.

Anne Burgess

River Deveron

Looking downstream from the bridge at Milltown.

Anne Burgess

Milltown of Rothiemay

Although officially called Milltown of Rothiemay, most local people refer to it simply as Rothiemay. The River Deveron is in the dip between the foreground field and the village.

Anne Burgess

Drystane Dyke

A rather haphazard-looking dyke on the side of the road to Redhill.

Anne Burgess

Gate with a View

From the gate the land drops steeply to the River Deveren, rising again to the grounds of Rothiemay House, with its clumps of conifers. Knock Hill, on the skyline, dominates the view.

Anne Burgess

Corsekellie Farm

Corskellie lies astride the minor road, with outbuildings on both sides. These are the buildings on the north side, closer to the River Deveron.

Anne Burgess

Corskellie Farm

Some of the extensive range of traditional stone buildings on the north side of the minor road.

Anne Burgess

Interesting Gateposts

We were lured through the gateway by a window display of fascinating old objects, like a little heritage museum. The white van is a travelling butcher's shop, and the lady walking up the street has just been buying from it. Now that there is no shop at all in the village, the van must be very welcome.

Anne Burgess

Milltown of Rothiemay

Having left our car beside a sign saying that the parking area (the only one in the village) is for visitors to the cemetery, we felt obliged to visit the cemetery when we returned from our walk. This was far from being a hardship, because as well as some interesting gravestones there is a bench which offered us this view while we relaxed in the sunshine with the second instalment of our picnic. (The three cars in view were all there when we first arrived, and still there when we left to go home, but we saw no-one else visiting the cemetery.) On the skyline is Fourman Hill, and our seven-mile walk had taken us over the shoulder of the hill past the scattered trees.

Anne Burgess

OS Cut Mark - Rothiemay, Bridge over the Deveron

Bridge Parapet Buttress NW SIDE RD

thejackrustles

Rothiemay Recumbent Stone Circle (1)

It's easy to miss this modest sign at the gate to the field containing the standing stones. NJ5548 : Rothiemay Recumbent Stone Circle (2)

Anne Burgess

Rothiemay Recumbent Stone Circle (2)

Until some time in the 1840s this circle was complete, but a farm bailiff had some removed in the 1840s, and only the intervention of the landowner prevented further destruction. Now, only five stones survive. See Link

for more information. NJ5548 : Rothiemay Recumbent Stone Circle (3)

Anne Burgess

Rothiemay Recumbent Stone Circle (3)

This is the view from the south-east. Nearest the camera are the two stones on the south-eastern arc of the circle. To the left is the recumbent, and in the background are the two stones on the north-western arc. See Link

for more information. NJ5548 : Rothiemay Recumbent Stone Circle (4)

Anne Burgess

Rothiemay Recumbent Stone Circle (4)

From the south-east, the two stones in the north-west are framed in the space between the two on the south-east. The recumbent is to the left. See Link

for more information. NJ5548 : Rothiemay Recumbent Stone Circle (5)

Anne Burgess