Menu
Image

Red squirrels play and legends lurk among the trees

Devilla

Dragonflies and squirrels await at Devilla

The Scots Pine trees of Devilla make a perfect habitat for red squirrels: the forest is a real stronghold for these frisky animals in Lowland Scotland. After you’ve tried spotting them along the Red Squirrel Trail, you could try finding the four lochs, home to darting dragonflies and agile otters.

Look out too for relics of past times among the trees, such as an enigmatic stone monument where legend the Battle of Bordie Moor raged in 1038, and covenater’s met on the misty moors.

Our guide to Devilla (PDF 1.8MB) will help you explore the network of forest roads and paths.

Notices

  • We are resurfacing much of the forest road network. Where possible other routes round the forest will be open. For your safety please follow all on site safety signage.  
  • From week commencing 21 January we will be carrying out path upgrades on Red Squirrel trail. Works will take approximately 5 weeks and during this time there will be some disruption to access. For your safety please follow all on site safety signage.
  • We are due to carry out resurfacing works in the car park in early February which will require the car park to be closed during part of the works, we will advise of dates when this is confirme.

 

Parking Picnic area Walking

Life’s essentials

You’ll find places to eat and public toilets in Kincardine or Culross.

Walking trails


Red Squirrel Trail (closed)

We are resurfacing the red squirrel trail. It will be closed from 23 January until 1 March. Where possible other routes round the forest will be open. For your safety please follow all on site safety signage.

Watch for squirrels scurrying through the lodgepole pine on this short trail round Bordie Loch and past the legendary Standard Stone.

Firm gravel surface throughout with some uneven sections. Generally flat with some short fairly steep slopes. One wide section of boardwalk.

Moderate

1 ½ miles /
2.4 km
Allow
1 hour

More information...

Cycling trails


Mountain biking trails


From a bad farm to a peaceful woodland

Devilla covers an historic landscape of farm and moorland whose place-names are rooted in Gaelic language and culture. Its own name means ‘bad farm’, referring to poor quality land some way north of the forest.

Many of the historic relics among the trees are evidence of long-forgotten lives and struggles. They include the poignant grave of three children who died from plague in 1645, and traces of a Second World War explosives research station.

Now it’s a productive forest as well as a peaceful place to walk, ride or cycle. Every season has its charms, and the leaflet guide to Devilla will give you an idea of what to look out for as well as clues to the mysteries hidden in the forest.

Contact: Scottish Lowlands Forest District

Address: Five Sisters House, Five Sisters Business Park, West Calder

Postcode: EH55 8PN

Telephone: 0300 067 6700

Email: scottishlowlands@forestry.gsi.gov.uk


How to get here

Devilla is on the A985 between Dunfermline and Kincardine, and is well signposted from the road. The car park is at grid reference NS 964 870.

Using SatNav?

FK10 4AS is the nearest postcode.

Nearby places

Just 1 ½ miles (2.4 km) away, Balgownie is a little-known ancient woodland with some fine old oak trees. Gartmorn Forest, near Alloa, makes a great extension to a walk round scenic Gartmorn Dam. Trails at Blairadam will take you to soaring spruces, waterfalls and stories of a mining ghost. Why not visit the Royal Burgh of Culross, a picturesque village just two miles from Devilla.


Share your experience

For questions and complaints, please contact us directly.