SCOTLAND • LANDSCAPE By Emily Alsford, Recreation Ranger for Forestry and Land Scotland
HISTORY Glenmore forest was once part of the Great Caledonian Forest, with the timber (Caledonian pine) being used for ship building and even for sewer pipes in London. Before railways came in, logs were floated down the river to the mouth of the Spey towards Fochabers. There were numerous saw mills set up in the forest and today you can still see some of their founds left behind.
Am Monadh Ruadh
A
silence and stillness like no other can hang in these hills, while at other times raging blizzards will tear through the freezing air. Ages have gone by since two continents collided, spewing magma which slowly cooled into granite rock. This hardwearing red-pink granite was a domineering area of sharp, jagged peaks. Ice, wind and water have left their mark on these ancient mountains over 400 million years, rounding their tops--although this plateau is no less dignified as a result, rather more so. Ice age, tropical warmth, rivers and more have led to an extremely diverse ecology in the Cairngorm Plateau, making it a real Jewel in Scotland’s crown.
not be so dead as we privileged modern folk so condescend to think.
An area rich in history and culture: wandering in this place alone on an evening in winter, it can
In this vast plateau, blanketed in deep snow, a skier slides through a pine forest with her collie, enjoying the feeling of freedom and space that comes when rounding a corner: the open view appears. So much choice: left or right, straight ahead, what a playground. After some distance, cutting her own tracks through deep powder with head bowed, a blizzard begins, with strong winds gusting. The thought of that small flask of sweet coffee under a gnarled Scots Pine tempts her. Shuffling through the snow and heather to the tree, she sits there with the dog, enjoying the total freedom. Nothing lonely about it, but a feeling of total comfort and belonging in this place, under this tree, at this time. Light fades and the temperature drops, often surprisingly quickly,
seem at times as if the old stories in folklore may
as the sun slips behind the hills. The decision to
Loch Morlich (By Emily Alsford): Water quality of lochs and rivers is very important for many rare and protected species in the Cairngorms.
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