Plyfold Wood is a rare opportunity to acquire a woodland in its entirety, in a beautiful and popular part of Scotland, within easy reach of Aberdeen. There is great potential with this woodland to set up any number of woodland based projects; whether it be a forest school, a site for eco-lodges or just to retain the woodland as it is. Its proximity to one of the great wilderness areas of Scotland will perhaps be of interest to those looking to develop opportunities with tourism.

Located about fifteen miles out of Aberdeen on the tourist route to the Cairngorms National Park, it would be an ideal site for potential 'glamping' development, subject to the necessary planning permission required from the local authority, although there is no woodlands.co.uk covenant, applied to this stand alone wood.

In previous years, sensitive thinning has taken place throughout the wood, allowing the understory to thrive and create a well balanced woodland of varied ecology. A sure sign of this is the abundance of seasonal flowers and fungi, as well as the profusion of fern and wood sorrel underfoot.

Three sides of the wood are fringed by magnificent mature beech trees providing an astonishing autumnal display. The main body of the wood is Scots pine, with some stands of more dense spruce towards the eastern boundary, There is alot of good quality timber that would be the perfect material to construct woodland shelters, as well as providing an enviable supply of firewood for the foreseeable future.

Toward the northern end of Plyfold Wood is an area that has been clear felled in the past and where there is now an interesting grove of self seeded birch and rowan: another element to what is a diverse body of woodland. There is convenient track that bisects the woodland and this may be upgraded to allow easier vehicle access to the centre of the wood.

The surrounding area is steeped with history with the close proximity of Castle Fraser and Cluny Castle, both fine examples of 16th century architecture though the core of Castle Fraser dates back to the 1450's. Craigievar Castle in nearby Alford, a pink castle supposedly the inspiration for Walt Disney, is another local attraction as well as the Loch of Skene: the loch supports concentrations of wildfowl in autumn and winter in particular greylag geese, goldeneye ducks and pink-footed geese.

There is a growing interest in hut, bothy and temporary shelter building, especially in Scotland; for those interested in erecting a hut or shelter, here is some interesting and very helpful guidance from Reforesting Scotland’s Thousand Hut Campaign. Your Local Planning Authority should also be consulted.