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LOSSIEMOUTH FOREST & BEACH
This ride takes you
through the forest from Kingston towards Lossiemouth and back either
through the forest or along the edge of the beach. Please note that this
route is not way-marked by the Forestry Commission and that it crosses
some private land. We suggest that you also carry an Ordnance Survey map
and compass so you do not get lost in the forest.
Location:
Kingston and Lossiemouth Forest
Map:
Landranger # 28, Elgin and Dufftown.
Going:
Good firm sand on the beach and reasonably soft
forest tracks. Absolutely flat!
Distance:
About eleven
miles for the circuit shown on the map, though there
are many other tracks to explore.
Access & Parking:
The
best access is from the Scottish Wildlife Trust's car-park at The Lein,
just west of Kingston, at grid reference NJ 332656.
Note:
This route takes
you past a rifle range, so access is occasionally be restricted. Watch out
for the red flags.
Follow the track
closest to the beach westward from the car-park. When you come to the
fence turn left (south), and follow the narrow track for about 500 yards
until you come to a gate on your right into the forest. This may be
padlocked with a standard Forestry Commission key. If it is locked (it
isn't always) you will probably need to dismount as the vehicle barriers
are a bit awkward. Beware of loose wire. After this a nice grassy track
takes you past the rifle range.
After 2.5 miles, turn
left and immediately right at the staggered junction and follow the good
forest road along the edge of the forest. At the car-park at Arthur's
Bridge go through both gates then turn sharp right,
just after the cottage,
onto a narrow track and go past a pole barrier. After
about three quarters of a mile bear right at a fork. After another quarter
of a mile go straight across the main forest road. Shortly afterwards a
green 'finger post' sign points left to the beach. If the tide is out you
can go down here, over the shingle and onto the sandy beach which is good
for a canter. Other wise continue straight on the track for a mile until a
derelict cottage in a large clearing. Just after this there is a junction
and you have two options.
1 The more interesting way
is to turn left along a firebreak (signposted) which brings you out of the
forest to a large shingle bank. The beach is stony here and you cannot
ride on it. Turn right and follow the waymarked Moray Coastal Trail, which
runs in the depression between the shingle bank and the forest, back to
the parking area. Beware of rabbit holes and ditches.
2 Alternatively, if
you turn right, and then left after half a mile just, beyond a quarry,
turn left and rejoin your outward route.
There a quite a few
other tracks you can explore but this route will help you get your
bearings. It used to be possible to ride to the top of the Bin Hill but
this can be very overgrown with bracken in the summer.
Always check the tide
tables as the good sand for riding is only exposed at very low tide. It is
safest to arrive about three hours after high tide, that way you will be
riding as the tide is going out rather than coming in. Tide times are
published daily in the P&J and there is a link to the Hydrographic Office
website on the 'Where to ride page' of the MEAG website. |
