Faskally’s Enchanted Forest

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Faskally's Enchanted Forest

You’re probably wondering where the hell Faskally is, and to be fair it would have probably been regarded as just another Scottish Forestry woodland before the millennium, but since 2002 it has become quite an attraction – and in this post I’m going to explain why.

Located about a mile north-west of Pitlochry in Perthshire, Faskally Wood is part of the Tay Forest Park and managed by the Forestry and Land Scotland (formerly the Forestry Commission). Like many of Scotland’s forests, Faskally includes a number of fast growing non-native conifers such as fir, larch and spruce which were planted to replenish stocks decimated by two world wars, but there are also a variety of native trees such as Scots pine, oak, beech and wild cherry.

With many specimen trees and more than 200,000 acres of woodlands, Perthshire is known as Big Tree Country, and as you can imagine, the county becomes a riot of colour in the Autumn – and it was mainly for this reason that we chose to spend my birthday here back in 2009.

Faskally Wood

In 2002, the colours of nature were given an extra boost at Faskally by the introduction of an annual event that was hoped would encourage more people to come to the area: Called The Enchanted Forest, it consists of a trail around Loch Dunmore incorporating a sound and light show, which has a different theme each year. It’s undoubtedly aimed at families, but as I’m a big kid at heart, and the fact that we were staying at Killiecrankie just a short distance away, we couldn’t possibly not come and see what it was all about.

The event coincides with the Pitlochry Autumn Festival which has a number of attractions to drag you out of your armchair on a dark October night, and to add to the impending creepy experience of Halloween, the theme in 2005 was based around Scottish Myths and Legends.

Pitlochry - Would you buy meat from the butchers next door?

It’s all very well organised and shuttle buses regularly run between Pitlochry and Faskally Wood while the event is on, so ‘Pit on yer coat and don yer boots’ and follow me around the Enchanted Forest. It’ll take you less than an hour to walk around  – but you can go around as many times as you like if you haven’t had enough of all the ‘bricht lichts’ in one go, and if you want to get genned up on it all it’s best to visit the website:- https://www.enchantedforest.org.uk/

Hands up all those who know what a kelpie is? – and you’ll get some extra points if you’ve seen one; For the uninitiated, which included me at the time, a kelpie is a horse-like creature that can change into a human, and can be found in Scottish (and Irish) lochs. Not to be confused with Nessie, the kelpie has often been associated with Loch Ness, but would you Adam and Eve it? there’s one here tonight at Loch Dunmore in Faskally Wood. What’s more, it has some pearls to lure unsuspecting children into his lair, but I didn’t see any kids falling for it, because they didn’t really look like real pearls to me.

Kelpie’s Pearls was the first thing we saw on the trail and I suppose it was there to ease the youngsters in gently as it’s all based on a children’s book by Mollie Hunter – and no, I haven’t read it as I’m not fond of witches.

The Kelpie's Pearls

Nessie herself was here of course, but she was facing stiff competition from the Selkie, which, if you didn’t already know, is a ‘seal person’, or a seal when in water, but after shedding its skin, human on land: Selkies are often found in the Northern Islands of Orkney and Shetland.

Most people think of them as mermaids, but they can also be mermen too. Either way, they’re irresistible to humans, and whoever finds a discarded skin becomes the master of the selkie forever unless the skin is returned – but selkies are not stupid and they’ve come to Loch Dunmore to make sure that they get to the humans before Nessie does.

The Selkie's Deception

It wasn’t surprising really that the Myths and Legends theme centred around Tam o’ Shanter, the poem/story made famous by Rabbie Burns. Wandering around the lake we first came across Tam having a wee dram in a tavern, but every so often we bumped into him again –  from the time his curiosity got him into trouble with the witches at Alloway Auld Kirk, to his escape from Nannie through the churchyard on his horse Meg and over the Brig o’ Doon – minus Meg’s tail. The poem may have had a covert warning about the demon drink, but I’d like to think that here at Faskally it was trying to tell the kids that it doesn’t pay to poke your nose in where it wasn’t required.

The Churchyard at Alloway Auld Kirk

Witches feature a lot in Scottish folklore and they popped up here again in Macbeth’s Three Witches. Most of us can probably recall the opening couple of lines in Shakespeare’s poem, but when you read a few more, it seems as though they stirred up almost as much trouble as fans at a Celtic- Rangers match: –

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the caldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,

Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Macbeth's Three Witches

Of course it wasn’t all spooky stuff – after all, they wanted the kids to go home with a smile on their face, not have nightmares, and so we had guest appearances from Robert the Bruce with his spider and the Dunmore Faeries whoever they are, but we weren’t out of the woods yet.

The Faerie Glen

Just as I was beginning to think what a pleasant stroll around it had been, I was attacked by the bloody Dundee Dragon: I’ve come across his sort before; when they get angry they just want to burn you alive – that’s if they haven’t frightened you to death first.

This particular dragon was a nasty piece of work if ever there was one and his unsuspecting victim was a Dundee farmer who had been blessed with nine beautiful daughters. One day, he sent one of them off to fetch some water from the well, and when she didn’t return he sent another one to go and look for her – but she didn’t return either. One by one each of his girls went looking for the others, but in the end not one of them came back. The poor farmer was beside himself and just didn’t know what to do, but help came in the form of Martin, the ninth daughter’s boyfriend who shot off into the distance as soon as he heard the news. He headed towards the well, but when he got there all he could find was a lair with a slumbering dragon safeguarding what was left of nine beautiful girls. It was Martin’s turn to get angry now, and off he went to find his spear.

You know what comes next of course don’t you? If you were thinking that Martin was to become Dundee’s equivalent of St George then you’d be right; and in memory of his girls and the heroic deeds of Martin, the farmer erected a memorial at the very place where the dragon was slain – and if you don’t believe me, you can still find Martin’s Stone where it’s been ever since it was installed in Pictish times (probably sometime between 400-800 AD). I’m glad the stone has survived because now that I’ve come face to face with the Dundee Dragon I realise how brave Martin was – but what I can’t understand is why the dragon was still alive and breathing fire at Faskally Wood frightening the hell out of people like me.

The Dundee Dragon

By now, I’d had enough of dragons, Nessie and kelpies, so we said good night to Faskally’s coloured lights and its spooky inmates and headed back to Pitlochry where I’m convinced I saw Nannie and one or two more of Tam o’ Shanter’s witches – but then again, perhaps it was all in my imagination – or maybe it was just the couple of malt whiskies I had to calm down and warm myself up. Who knows?

POSTED – NOVEMBER 2024

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Originally posted 2024-11-15 10:52:04.

56 thoughts on “Faskally’s Enchanted Forest”

    1. Easymalc Post author

      Thank you Shey, and the same to you and John. Next year just won’t be the same now that I won’t be waking up to all your lovely comments. Your support has been fantastic this year, and I may have said this before, but you’ve been an absolute star. ✨🤩

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          1. shehannemoore

            Of course I will. I promise, so there you go. In addition to flu recovery adn Christmas, it has just been incredibly hectic here with folk at the door. I have been on he verge of disconnecting the bell for days. I think, will you all get off my doorstep and leave me alone. . . . ? Well, at least the fancy carol thingy in Broughty Castle which the local traders orgianised cos the cooncil want to close it., has been cancelled tonight cos of the high winds, so I guess I can get the door bolted… But I promise you I will be back later this week.

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            1. Easymalc Post author

              Have you not got over your bout of flu yet? Getting organized for Christmas is hard enough as it is without not feeling well. I do hope your festive spirit hasn’t completely vanished especially for when the big day arrives. Are you spending it with family?

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              1. shehannemoore

                Most of the family has been quite unwell. The Mr had a chest infeection. It sure is a dreadful flu actually. A lot of folks here have been in hospital with it. So, thank you so much for asking. Cos you are right, it is hard enough getting organised and I put on a big Xmas day for my girls, their hubbies and the 3 kids. Also we have kept shows on roads there in terms of child care things we do anyway. I just one more game to kind of make up now on the entertainemn side. Oh and of course the actual dinner to make. But I did some of the veggies and froze them at the weekend there so. Hope you and kay are good and also planning a nice day.

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                1. Easymalc Post author

                  I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a rough time of things Shey. The flu isn’t pleasant and much worse than a cold. I’ve only ever had it once and I had no choice but to spend Christmas Day in bed. Hopefully, you’ll be over the worst by then, but what with the Mr being poorly as well, you deserve some repite.

                  Hopefully our daughter Nadine will be coming down on Christmas Day. It all depends on the weather, but I’ll you about that another time. Speak again soon.

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                  1. shehannemoore

                    You have a wonderful time. We will be fine. I won’t be as bad as the Christmas I also had pnuemonia—we are afficionados that way. There was also another Christmas when the girls were wee–it was the Lockerbie one. I am looking on he bright side of this coming on a few weeks ago. But you are right, It is a dreadful thing.

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  2. restlessjo

    Dangerous place to have a dragon. Those woods could be tinder in no time!
    I do love a light show, and there are usually a few around at Christmas time. You just reminded me- I need to check for when we’re back, Malc. Thanks!

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    1. Easymalc Post author

      I’ve only just come across this comment Jo as it was sent to my spam folder for some reason, probably because you’re a new subscriber. Anyway, thanks for wandering around the Enchanted Forest with me and glad it gave you a reminder that Christmas is rapidly approaching.

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  4. Alli Templeton

    Absolutely loved this one, Malc. 🙂 I have got to go to Faskally Wood, and see the Enchanted Forest – it all looks like my idea of heaven, and I love an after-dark light trail. This one looks wonderful. I knew about selkies (but not about the discarded skin part), and Nannie, of course from the Cutty Sark, but I hadn’t heard of the Dundee dragon and it’s story. Good grief, Farmer Dad may have been blessed with nine beautiful daughters, but he can’t have been blessed with much common sense. Who would keep sending daughter after daughter out to find lost daughters?
    You’d think he might have gone himself, having twigged that something sinister was going on. 😉 Still, I love the idea of Martin’s Stone, and I adore these folklore tales that stand the test of time, especially when they tie into an existing ancient relic. I really will have to go there, so thanks for introducing me to this amazing forest, Malc.

    Oh, and I hope the nerves calmed down after the wee drams back at the hotel. It’d work for me! 😀

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    1. Easymalc Post author

      I thought this one might appeal to you Alli. The Enchanted Forest is a cracking evening out whether you’ve got kids with you or not. I’m guessing that you don’t know Perthsire, and if you don’t, it’s worth pointing out that it’s a great place for people who like trees, woods and history – in other words, people like you. I really must get round to writing more about this lovely part of Scotland – and yes, those wee drams did do the trick 😵‍💫

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      1. Alli Templeton

        You’re right, I don’t know Perthshire, but with trees, woodlands and history it sounds as though I should know it! It’d be the perfect place for me. So needless to say, I look forward to reading more of your posts on the area. 🙂

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  5. Jim Earlam

    Great post Malc, I’d not heard of the enchanted forest but we stop in Pitlochry when we’re heading up to the north of Scotland so will certainly pay a visit next time we’re there 😀

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    1. Easymalc Post author

      Glad you enjoyed it Jim and there are some great woodland walks in the area should you feel so inclined.

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    1. Easymalc Post author

      Thanks Mike. I always get a sense of achievement to find a place you didn’t know about, but seriously, if you haven’t explored Perthshire in the Autumn, then I recommend you put it on your list.

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  7. Eunice

    What a great place to visit for a birthday, this looks like a fabulous event and with some great story telling from you. The autumn colours in the first shot are gorgeous and I love the Kelpie’s pearls, the Dundee dragon and the two very colourful penultimate photos 😊

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  8. Toonsarah

    This looks like great fun! We’ve done similar trails with a Christmas theme at Kew and Syon Park, but I’ve not come across one with a folktale slant before.

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    1. Easymalc Post author

      It’s not on such a grand scale as Kew, but very enjoyable. I did wonder whether Kew got the idea from Faskally.

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    1. Easymalc Post author

      I’m glad you liked this world of myths and legends Luisa. I’m sure you would enjoy a trip to the Faerie Glen and Loch Dunmore 💙

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  12. gabychops

    Goodness, Malc, you do know how to write interesting and erudite story, and add the excellent photography that brings your words to life. Scotland was indeed the right place to celebrate your birthday and learn about various legends. The woods you wrote about in particular made me elated as I love the trees, and any forest would be my idea of the paradise on Earth. Thank you! All in all, Malc, it is an excellent post!

    Joanna

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    1. Easymalc Post author

      Firstly let me just say how pleased I am to see you back. You’ve been sorely missed as you well know. As for your lovely comment, I was pleased that you liked Faskally as I know how much you like trees. Perthshire in the Autumn would be a great place for you to enjoy recuperating, and I do hope that you’re well on the road to recovery now 💙

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      1. gabychops

        Thank you, Malc, for your gracious reply! Luckily everywhere in this beautiful country there are trees, and at this time of the year they look spectacular changing from red to yellow, and so I can feast my eyes just by looking through the window. I do hope to get better soon.

        Joanna x

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  13. shehannemoore

    Malc!! I can’t ell you how much I appreciate this wonderful post today. You have totally excelled yourself. Even down to the Dundee dragon and the legend of the nine maidens…oh and Martin’s stone comes in there to this sory for me too at Strathmartine. BUT Faskally is a lovely forest and Loch Dunmore a lovely loch. In our time we have walked that entire area from Ben Vrackie to Schieahalliom. They also do a wonderful Christmas thing at Faskally too. The younger girl and her man usually take the boys there to see it. Thank you again.

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    1. Easymalc Post author

      I thought you might like this one Shey – or at least I was hoping you would as I guessed you would know Faskally Wood, not to mention Martin’s Stone and the Dundee Dragon 😀

      Reply ↓

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