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Wildlife at Cambus O' May Upper Deeside Forests
Aberdeenshire
Scotland
Ballater, Aboyne, and Dinnet are the nearest towns or villages.
OS Grid Reference: NO 40 98
 This highland wood really is a wee jewel. There are trails for disabled visitors leading to view points and past shallow lochans with interpretative panels and picnic benches, as well as narrow "natural" paths twisting between Scots pines and boulders for the more active. A permanent orienteering course offers visitors the chance to explore the forest more fully. The area has been designated a SSSI for its geological features, and recent timber work is improving the structure of the wood, thining the Scots pine and removing some of the small stands of spruce.
Mammals: Red squirrels leave behind their tell-tale chewed cones (crossbills enjoy this source of food too). Grey squirrels have never been seen in Cambus O'May. Secretive roe deep shelter within the trees, watching the visitors walk by unnoticing, before emerging to feed on tree shoots and needles, or to crop the grass and reeds growing in the wet areas. We have information about Red squirrel, Red deer and Roe deer
Birds: Crossbills also feed on the Scots pine cones, leaving behind a trail of torn cones. Buzzards often wheel overhead, and the laughing yaffle of a green woodpecker cuts the quiet of the wood.
Capercaillie are very rare birds, and there numbers are in sharp decline. We think there are only roughly 1,000 birds left in Scotland. They are very vulnerable during spring and summer, when the hens are sitting on eggs, and when the young birds can't fly very well. It is very important that we do all we can to try to make sure that each chick has the best chance of surviving, so for this reason we ask that from March to August dog owners keep their dogs under very close control, either at heel or on a short lead. We have information about Capercaille
Insects and reptiles: This is one of the woods where you might, if you are lucky during the summer, see the rare Pearl-Bordered Fritillary and Scotch Argus butterflies. We have information about Pearl-bordered fritillary Habitats: The design plan for this forest involves removing the exotic tree species such as spruce, and thinning the planted Scots pine to allow a mixed birch and pine forest to develop. At the furthest section of the Pine Tree trail you can see how this will look, with a canopy of twisted old granny pines and straighter younger pines sheltering the ground vegetation of blaeberry, grass, ferns, moss and heather. We have information about Pinewood
How to get there:
Cambus O'May Wood lies on the north side of the A93 between Ballater and Dinnet.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap) Enter through:
Cambus O' May Car Park
Facilities:
   Activities:
    
Other places to go in Upper Deeside Forests
Pannanich Forest
Contact:
Liz Wallace
01466 794161
e-mail: liz.wallace@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
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What to see now Scattering of chewed cones, feeding remains from red squirrels or crossbills.
Did you know Red squirrels will eat fungi and birds eggs and nestlings as well as tree seeds and pollen.
What else is here
Useful sites
Find out more
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