Lochgoilhead Gala Day 24th May 2025 & Carrick Castle Fayre 20th July 2025

Cormonachan Community Woodlands have for sale the following items:-

Red Squirrel Tea Towels at £8.00 each

Cormonachan Woodlands Pens at £2.00 each

We are trying to raise money for the maintenance of the woodlands…

These items are available from the Secretary and at our stand at “Lochgoilhead Gala Day”

on 24th May 2025 from 12 noon to 4 pm and at “Carrick Castle Fayre”.

The Fayre will be open from 1 pm to 4 pm on Sunday 20th July 2025.

Heather Cubie,  Secretary, Cormonachan Community Woodlands Ltd (Charity SC050840)

E: Secretary@cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk

Red Squirrel Tea Towels

/by

Future Volunteers Days in 2024

Thank you to our three volunteers, Frances & Jane (both CCW) and Andrew (LL&TT National Park Ranger) who on Saturday 5th October 2024 strimmed the paths and cut back branches along the Squirrel Trail in Cormonachan Community Woodlands.
What a difference!
There’s still plenty more work to do in the woodlands, if more members could help Frances, our Volunteers Leader:-
Next dates for this year:-
Saturday 26/10/2024 – 10 am to 4 pm with 1/2 hour break for lunch or Half Day to 1 pm
Saturday 09/11/2024 – 10 am to 3 pm with 1/2 hour break for lunch or Half Day to 1 pm
Saturday 30/11/2024 – 10 am to 3 pm with 1/2 hour break for lunch or Half Day to 1 pm
Dee Locke, Secretary – Secretary@cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk
/by

Thank You Dunoon Grammar School

Dunoon Grammar School Volunteers on Saturday 28th September 2024 helped in Cormonachan Community Woodlands, Loch Goil.

They painted the Red Squirrel Hide and shed and cut down Rhododendron ponticum and a Sitka spruce in the woodlands.

A very big THANK YOU to all the DGS volunteers & staff supporters with Alison Cush, LL&TT National Park Education Officer and Frances Walker, our CCW Volunteers Leader. A huge difference was made as can be seen in the photos on Facebook…

Dee Locke, Secretary@cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk
Cormonachan Community Woodlands Ltd (Charity No: SC050840)

/by

Wild Goilers Association – Free Talk on Thursday 24th October 2024

 

Before or after attending this free talk about Red Squirrel Conservation,

come to Cormonachan Community Woodlands and visit our Red Squirrel Hide

where the Red Squirrels eat the nuts provided by our charity from donations.

Red Squirrel Hide in Cormonachan Community Woodlands

/by

We Escaped the Forest…!

The “Escape the Forest” event on Sunday 8th September 2024 was very successful and really enjoyed by 46 attendees in beautiful sunny, warm weather!
Shona Cowie outperformed herself with a wonderful and cleverly devised family adventure. It was a lot of fun to do for 1 hour 15 minutes and the volunteers enjoyed running it too.
The photo is of the Laviers family who escaped the forest with Heather Cubie, one of our board member volunteers.
Thanks to Argyll & Bute Council’s Supporting Communities Fund for funding this very enjoyable event.
Dee Locke, Secretary,
Secretary@cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk
/by

“Escape The Forest” Event – 8th September 2024

Next Event

“Escape The Forest”

Sunday 8th September 2024

“Escape The Forest”

A Family Adventure
in
Cormonachan Community Woodlands on
Sunday 8th September 2024 between 10 am to 4.30 pm

This is a FREE event by local storyteller Shona Cowie that has been funded by Argyll & Bute Council’s ‘Supporting Communities Fund.’

Calling all adventurers. AAAHHH! You’ve fallen into Tìr nan Òg, the fairy realm under Cormonachan Community Woodlands.
Can you puzzle your way out? In Escape the Forest, outsmart tricky fairies, crack magical codes, and uncover woodland secrets to find your way home.
This family-friendly outdoor escape adventure turns you into the heroes of your own fairy tale!

Free admission! Book one ticket per group (recommended group size: up to 5 people, all ages welcome).

Journey time: Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes

Trail details:

  • Woodland paths with some steep and uneven sections
  • Moderate elevation changes
  • Can be muddy in places
  • Suitable for all-terrain wheelchairs and robust buggies
  • Dog adventurers welcome on leads

Please note:

  • No toilets (2 miles away in Carrick Castle) and no refreshments available in the woodlands
  • Come prepared with water and snacks
  • Weather in the fairy realm mirrors Scottish weather – bring waterproofs and dress in layers!

Reservations are essential as time slots are limited during the day
To book click on this link or go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/escape-the-forest-a-family-adventure-tickets-978276299747?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please take instructions and show your tickets to the parking stewards on entering the North Car Park at Cormonachan Community Woodlands on the road between Lochgoilhead and Carrick Castle.

Our Woodlands Charity (SC050840) would welcome any donations in the Donations Post by the Contemplation Shelter to help with the maintenance of the paths and 63.9 ha of  our ancient woodlands.

Enjoy this family adventure!

Dee Locke, Secretary@cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk

/by

For Sale

Cormonachan Community Woodlands have for sale the following items:-

Red Squirrel Tea Towels at £8.00 each

Cormonachan Woodlands Pens at £2.00 each

We are trying to raise money for the maintenance of the woodlands…

These items are available from the Secretary and at our stand at “Lochgoilhead Gala Day”

on 24th May 2025 from 12 noon to 4 pm and at “Carrick Castle Fayre”.

The Fayre will be open from 1 pm to 4 pm on Sunday 20th July 2025.

Heather Cubie,  Secretary, Cormonachan Community Woodlands Ltd (Charity SC050840)

E: Secretary@cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk

/by

Carrick Castle Fayre on Sunday 14th July 2024 from 1 pm to 4 pm.

/by

The Upper Cormonachan Heritage Paths are now open except for the South Car Park

There is now a range of opportunities for walking to and in Cormonachan Community Woodlands!

  1. The original 2.5 km of circular paths in the north end of the woodlands that can be accessed a) off the road in the north end near Lochwood Guest House at the Clach Bhadach entrance (No car park) or b) from the North Car Park in the middle of the woodlands. There you have a few options to walk the Squirrel Trail (1 km – 30 minutes), the full circular walk (2.5 km – 1 hour) or c) walking from Lochgoilhead on the Forest Road, walk down the rough path to the north west corner of the woodlands joining the circular paths by the “Loggerheads” Squirrel Pole Sculpture (10 on the map below).
  2. From the North Car Park, walk up to the Contemplation Shelter (4 on the map) and take the new path towards the Medieval Settlement (1) and Cormonachan Falls (2 & 3) (2 km – 1 hour or if returning to the same car park 4 km – 2 hours).
  3.  From the South Car Park, walk up to the Cormonachan Falls (steep path) (2 & 3) and onwards to the Medieval Settlement (1) and the new link to the Forest Road. Alternatively, you can walk to the north end of the woodlands via the Contemplation Shelter (4). The full walk there and back to the south car park would be 6.5 km…
  4. It is now possible to walk on paths from Carrick Castle via the Carrick Castle Estate paths that now join up via a gate to the Forest Road above Cormonachan Community Woodlands.
  5. You could also now walk, off road, from Carrick Castle to Lochgoilhead (8 km) (joining the road at Lettermay junction) with a detour from the Forest Road around Cormonachan Community Woodlands using both entrances/exits…
  6.  Enjoy these lovely walks and do leave a donation for the maintenance of the paths in one of the Donation Posts (by South car park and by the Contemplation Shelter) or by using the “Donate Button” at the bottom of the website
    https://cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk.

Cormonachan Map & Key

/by

Upper Cormonachan Heritage Paths Open from Saturday 1st July 2023

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Upper Cormonachan Heritage Paths and new South Car Park will be Open to the public from Saturday 1st July 2023
 
These new paths from the new South Car Park will lead to Cormonachan Falls, the Medieval Settlement, the Forest Road, where you will be able to walk off-road to and from Carrick Castle and Lochgoilhead and join the Cowal Way.
 
Once the new paths are open, you will be able to book a Guided Tour on the following Mondays from 10 am to 12 noon:-
3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st July & 7th & 14th August 2023 (£5 per Adult & Children under 16, Free – Max 12 persons per tour).
Look out for ‘Guided Tours’ link on our website coming soon which will also be shown at the notice board in the North Car Park.
 
The new 2 km of paths will join up with the existing 2.5 km of circular paths in the north of Cormonachan Community Woodlands at the Contemplation Shelter and the North Car Park.
 
The existing paths are open every day of the year for visitors to enjoy as will the new paths from 1st July… However, the North Car Park will be closed to the public on Friday 30th June 2023 for the Official Opening of the new paths by the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority. Stewards will be in attendance.
 
“Leave No Trace” please, and, that includes ‘doggy bags’ being left…
 
Cormonachan Community Woodlands Ltd
Highly Commended Award in Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2022
E-mail: Secretary@cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk
Web site: https://cormonachan-woodlands-co-uk.stackstaging.com
/by