Backmuir Wood

With impressive views over the Firth of Tay, Dundee and Sidlaw Hills. Backmuir Wood has a wonderfully natural feel with the areas of heath, open glades and boggy land. Backmuir is home to a great network of paths, where you can enjoy a 10 minute stroll or a two hour hike.

The wet areas are colonised by alder and willow, while mature oak and beech from early planting still occupy parts of the wood. There is a great variety of tree species including oak, birch, sycamore, beech, alder and rowan. The Scots pine forms a habitat for red squirrels. The trees are also of different ages from young saplings to large mature individuals.

In 2000 the adjacent field – called Millennium Corner – was purchased and local people helped to create the design for the new planting. A feature was created to commemorate the millennium – standing stones in a glade surrounded by copper beech trees.

Backmuir Wood is home to one magnificent beech tree which is thought to date back to the 1800s

Local people were instrumental in helping the Trust to acquire the site

Backmuir Wood is home to a red squirrel population which the Trust is keen to support and protect

Kestrels and buzzards are commonly seen in more open areas in the north of the wood

In 2009 after a successful fundraising appeal the Trust acquired a 7 ha extension to Backmuir Wood. This acquisition has enabled the Trust to build a new all abilities path linking the two areas of woodland, and offers visitors wonderful views across the Tay Valley.