Raven’s Rock
ROSEHALL AREA
1.8 km
- Constructed path. Suitable for walking. Picnic area and parking.
- Two gravel paths of about 30 min each. Easy to moderate difficulty.
- If arriving from Bonar Bridge (A837) turn right at the junction marked “Altass / Rosehall Hall”. At the Rosehall School junction, continue straight, the forest walks are 1/3 mile on the left hand side.
An “enchanted forest” core path
By Silvia Muras
Raven’s Rock is a mixed woodland enclosing a steep-sided gorge. Lush mosses and ferns hang from the gorge walls and blaeberries cover the forest floor in summer. In autumn, colourful fungi carpet the woodland.
We can spot a variety of fungi. © Silvia Muras
This core path used to be a longer, circular walk, with bridges and staircases along the rocky walls. But a particularly bad storm and a landslide in the early 2010s caused irreparable damage to the boardwalk, with the Forestry Commission closing the site. They have since reopened with two new shorter walks.
A carved bear and traces of the storm that damaged the original circular path. (Right) There is a picnic area near the car park. © Silvia Muras
The place is said to be enchanted. Legends talk about how the fairies who live at the burn at Invernauld and the hill of Durcha “chased a man into the sea, and destroyed a new mill, because the earth for the embankment of the mill-dam had been dug from the side of their hill.”
(Left) One of the beautifully carved benches where we can have a rest. (Centre) Raven’s Rock forest is home to several species of trees, such as this beech. (Right) Viewpoint overlooking the gorge. © Silvia Muras
Another legend tells the story of a father with a friend on their way back from Lairg after registering the child’s birth. They stopped here near a cave to rest, and they heard music. Curious, the father entered the cavern and disappeared. His companion was accused of having murdered him, so he kept returning to the spot, to call and pray and prove his innocence. Exactly one year later, he managed to pull out his friend who was dancing with the fairies. The father couldn’t believe 12 months had lapsed until he saw his wife with a one-year old child in her arms.
