The landscape to the west of Aberdeen is rich with history, heavily laden with castles of all descriptions and with woodland aplenty. This particular woodland lies opposite the entrance to Cluny Church which also acts as one of the entrances to Cluny Castle. No doubt the woods would have been a part of Cluny Estate, its woodlands being hunted over for many generations of the Gordon clan. The castle has been owned by various members of the Gordon family since the 1600's, the last being the Baron of Cluny.

The greater part of the woodland consists of mature spruce and will provide a good supply of timber well into the future. The woods have been thinned in the past but would now benefit from further thinning, either as a source of firewood or timber for construction.

To the right of the entrance track there is a very attractive stand of mature beech trees and some nicely maturing oak trees with some younger specimen rhododendrons towards the southern tip. This provides a useful counterbalance to the the plantation spruce, but also shows how easily and dramatically the main body of the wood could be transformed over time, with selective felling and replanting.

A new gate has been installed at the entrance to the larger section of woodland: the track leading up to it is shared access into the large arable field that partly surrounds the wood.

On the northern boundary there is a sturdy bench set beside a beautiful mature beech tree waiting for the weary traveller to rest a while. Red squirrels, deer and the occasional fox are regular visitors to the woods, as well as numerous birdlife.

At the entrance to the wood there is a small area of clear fell, that would be perfect for siting a woodland shelter or workspace. The proximity of these woods to Aberdeen makes it a very manageable for those living in the city but aspiring for a slice of the country: they are well worth a visit. Included in the sale is the steel container, ideal for storing tools and camping kit.

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The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenant

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.