Caledonian Forest, Glen Lyon

Nearly 20 years ago I drove through Glen Lyon for the first time. Much of the surrounding hillsides were barren, but I remember being struck by a particular line of trees wending their way down the hills from one side, over the road and down into the bottom of the glen - like a fur coat laid over the landscape. Something about the trees was particularly outstanding... Fast forward a bit and now I know this is part of one of the largest remnants of the Caledonian Forest in Perthshire, a beautiful expanse of Scots Pine, birch and other native tree species. And at least where previous generations were so stupid as to try felling it, current thinking is finally trying to preserve it, fencing areas of new growth off to stop deer grazing it. And on an autumn day, with low golden sunlight striking it obliquely, it looks gorgeous.

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