A lovely walk along a narrow path along side the river Findhorn from Daltulich bridge to Regulas Mill (B9007) if you have 2 cars or turn round back to where you started. This path can be slippy and has cliffs down to the river, be very careful with geokids and geodogs, we had our wee dog on a harness and lead for most of the walk. There are some nice spots to go down to the river via the steps and you can all have a paddle but again take care as the steps can be slippery.
Using the 'Hi-De-Hi - Xmas Special - The Great Cat Robbery' work out the GZ as follows:
N57 AB.CDE W003 FG.HIJ
The area around the GZ is an SSSI - The Lower Findhorn Woods which are located along the River Findhorn and its tributaries, the River Divie and Dunearn Burn, between 3 and 16 km upstream of Forres.
The rivers flow through deep gorges, cloaked in ancient and long-established semi-natural woodland with various open rock outcrops and river banks. The range of woodland types which occur is outstanding for north-east Scotland. Oak and birch woodland, locally with hazel or juniper, is extensive on the valley slopes and reaches the lip of the gorge in places.
The influence of base flushing in midslope gives rise to ash woodland with wych elm, gean, rowan, and bird cherry. Alder woodland is frequent on seepage zones, wetter slopes and along parts of the riverbank. Scots pine is also found. The field-layer within the woodland is species-rich in places with several regionally or locally rare species such as bird's-nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis, wood fescue Festuca altissima and pale sedge Carex pallescens.
The woodland lichen flora is well developed with one of the highest number of indicator species of old woodlands in eastern Scotland and the best example of the lichen community characterised by lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria in the north-east. The site supports a total of 166 bryophyte species. The base-rich crags are the most important habitat for bryophytes with several rare liverwort species such as Scapania praetervisa, S. lingulata, Leiocolea heterocolpos and Jungermannia subelliptica. These crags and rocks by the rivers and burns also supports oceanic bryophytes such as the moss Isothecium holtii and the liverworts Plagiochila killarniensis, P. spinulosa, S. gracilis and Bazzania trilobata.
The River Findhorn itself is a good example of an oligotrophic spating river with a diversity of substrates and habitats and rich aquatic communities. Two rare river lichens are found: the river jelly lichen Collema dichotomum and Dermatocarpon meiophyllizum. The locally rare rough horsetail Equisetum hyemale is also found.
Thanks to SNH for permission.
