Torrieston Woods Walk

Written by Chris Thornton | 31st of October 2024
Torrieston Woods Walk

Torrieston Wood is a lovely spot for a walk, only a short drive from Elgin, the capital of Moray. The walks are ideal for all fitness levels and perfect for dogs. There are two walks available:

  • The Black Burn Trail - 1 1/4 miles.

  • The Douglas Fir Avenue Trail - 2 miles.

Our visit to Torrieston Woods

It was a lovely sunny day on the last day of Summer. My family and I decided to visit the Torrieston Wood Walk for the first time. The forests hadn't turned yet, and summer was still in the air. We arrived from Elgin following the B9010, travelling southwest.

Torrieston Woods Car Park

As per most Forestry Commission sites, there is a good-sized car park for this walk with great signage. There is space for at least ten cars, and people in motor homes also seemed to enjoy this spot.

Torrieston Walk Car Park
Torrieston Walk Car Park.
 
Car parks
Another view of the car park.

The car park is not free and has the following charges:

  • £1 for up to 1 hour - all vehicles

  • £3 for all day - car (up to 7 seats)

  • £10 for all day - coach and minibus

  • Blue Badge holders park free.

It's possible to pay using the RingGo app.

Two picnic tables are available. We had our lunch here and listened to the crickets on the tall grass nearby. It was very serene and quiet.

We followed the Douglas Fir Avenue Trail first, accessed directly from the car park on the west side of the road. The Black Burn Trail is accessed by crossing the road.

Torrieston information board.
The information board shows routes.
 
Start of the Douglas Fir Trail.
Grassy area and path to the Douglas Fir Trail.

Douglas Fir Avenue Trail

This first walk was a real treat and lives up to its name with its incredibly tall Douglas Fir trees. The first long straight of this path is lined with these giants, dwarfing all the other trees. This section soon gives way to pine/mixed forest. The Rowan trees were heavy with berries just before Autumn.

The path soon comes to a fork; it doesn't matter which direction you choose as the path circles back to this point. We chose the right-hand path.

Forest path
The start of this enchanting forest walk.
 
Torrieston Forest fork path.
The fork in the path. Both directions lead back to here.
 
Path lined with giant douglas firs.
The path is lined with giant douglas firs.

Continuing along the route, there are a variety of forest types, some with floors of dense clover to hilly sections with dark, thick growth. There isn't much in terms of features, just tranquil forest paths.

Giant douglas firs
Janette shows the scale of these trees.
 
Moray landscape.
Gaps in the trees show the beautiful Moray landscape.
 
Steeper section of the Torrieston walk.
A steeper section of the walk.
 
Walk with green direction post.
The walk is marked by posts with a green tag.
 
Pine trees
The forest had a beautiful, sweet smell.
 
Forest ferns.
Ferns.
 
Forest road
The track becomes wider in this section.
 
Forest path near Elgin
We continued to follow the path.
 
Hill side trees.
Trees growing on the hillside.
 
Rejoining the fork
Rejoining the forked road at the start of our walk.
 
Returning to the Torrieston Car Park.
Retracing our steps back to the car park.

Arriving back at the fork in the path where we started, we returned to the car park.

Black Burn Trail

Next up was the Black Burn Trail, accessed directly opposite the car park. This forest was different from the previous walk. The paths are much flatter, and it's much of a normal forest with no huge Douglas Firs. If you don't want to have your picnic at the car park, there is another table a short distance into this walk.

Black Burn Trail entrance.
The entrance to the Black Burn Trail.
 
Forest track
The paths on this route are better.
 
Lauren on a bench.
Lauren has a rest on one of the many benches along the route.
 
The generally flat paths of the Black Burn Trail.
The tracks on the Black Burn Trail as flatter and wider.
 
Picnic table on the Black Burn Trail.
Handy picnic table.
 
Open pinewoods. Forestry and Land Scotland.
Following the path.

The main focal points of this route are the two bridges spanning the Black Burn. The first bridge is the nicest of the two, so it's worth stopping here for some photos or having a picnic at another table on the far side.

Bridge across the burn
Arriving at the bridge.
 
Black Burn Bridge
Black Burn Bridge!

We spotted a newt nearby but no red squirrels, which the area is famous for. However, we did spot a mating pair of Buzzards high in the sky. It felt like they were following us throughout this walk. The walk looped around to another bridge and then back to the beginning of the walk/car park.

Newt at Torrieston Walks.
Great Crested Newt.
 
Long forest track.
The long straight to the second bridge.
 
Thornton family pic.
Family pic at the second bridge.
 
The second bridge at Black Burn trail.
The second bridge.

FAQs on Torrieston Walks

How do you get to Torrieston Walks?

From Elgin:

  1. Leave Elgin on the B9010, travelling southwest.

  2. Remain on this road, do not take the Dallas Road.

  3. Continue for some distance, passing Miltonduff Hall.

  4. Look for the car park and green forestry sign on your right.

  5. You are looking for Torrieston Walks, not Torrieston Forest, as marked on Google Maps.

Can motorhomes stay in the car park at Torrieston?

Yes, there is a large sign full of information about staying the night here. It costs £7 per night but does not include toilet facilities or a place to dispose of waste. See my photo below for more information.

Torrieston Motorhome info board
Motor home information board.

Are the Torrieston Forest paths suitable for wheelchairs?

The Black Burn Trail is more suitable, with better paths and fewer inclines. The bridges have no steps so that I would class this as an all ability trail. The Douglas Fir route paths are mottled with tree roots and short moderate slopes, and uneven gravel - it's not ideal for wheelchairs.

Are there other forest walks near Torrieston Walks?

Here are a few of my favourite walks/locations relatively near Torrieston Walks:

  • Quarry Wood - A lovely five-mile walk located west of Elgin.

  • Winding Walks- Found near Fochabers, there are four fantastic trails at the Winding Walks. The longest includes a walk to a pyramid high on the hill.

  • Loch Na Bo- A lesser-known but lovely loch near Lhanbryde, east of Elgin.

  • Millbuies Country Park - Located just south of Elgin, Millbuies is a charming spot for a short walk.

  • Pluscarden Abbey - Found a short distance from Torrieston Walks, Pluscarden Abbey is a lovely place to visit. Still entirely inhabited by Benedictine Monks, it's a fascinating place for a short walk. The monks have a great shop packed with lovely handmade items.

  • Blackhills Estate - A stunning valley packed with rhododendrons found southeast of Elgin. This privately owned estate is only open two days per year, but it is well worth visiting.

  • Culbin Forest - A very unique forest walk culminating in a large metal viewpoint tower.

  • Roseisle Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland. It has a pine forest directly on the beach.

End of the Black Burn Trail.
The final section back to the car park.

Key Information

  • Torrieston Walks are two lovely forested walks a short distance south of Elgin in Moray, Scotland.

  • Two routes are available: Black Burn Trail and The Douglas Fir Avenue Trail.

  • This area is famous for its giant Douglas Fir trees.

  • The Black Burn Trail is the easiest of the two walks.

  • It's possible to stay overnight in a motorhome by paying the fees.

  • A visit to Pluscarden Abbey before or after is a great option.

Conclusion

Torrieston Walks are an ideal intro into some of the finest Moray countryside. Its close proximity to Elgin makes it a perfect location for tourists staying there to make the very short journey to these lovely forested paths. Highly recommended for families and dog walkers.

All information was correct at the time of writing, please check things like entry costs and opening times before you arrive.

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