WILDCAT TRAIL SECTION 1 "MILTON"

From the village square head west along Main Street then fork right along the Laggan Road till you reach the sign pointing to the right to Calder Path. Alternatively, from the Calder Bridge take the path along the river bank. From either path you will have a good view of both the tree nursery, and Banchor Cemetery. The Cemetery is the site of a very early Christian cell dedicated to St Bride (St Bridget). The Gaelic direction sign An Rathad Daingnichte le lagh Gu Cladh Bhrighde (the Roadway established by law to St Bride's Graveyard) has long been famous in the Highlands as the result of a court case in 1878 to re-establish the right of way that had been obstructed by the building of a new steading on Banchor farm. St Bride's symbolic attendant is the oyster-catcher and the haunting call of these birds is ever present here in the spring and early summer. From one of the gravestones R L Stevenson is said to have gained inspiration for his novel "Catriona". On your left you will have the River Calder and the hillside of Creag Dhubh (A' Chreag Dhubh -- the black crag). You may catch sight of circling buzzards or even a glimpse of a golden eagle over the summit of the hill. In autumn and winter the Calder is a spawning river for the salmon and brown trout can be seen in the summer. Many small birds live along the river - waders and dippers feasting on the shrimps, caddis larvae and other small water life. Ospreys sometimes forage up the Calder. This is a good habitat for the otter that may be glimpsed by the fortunate.

The trail passes through new plantings of native tree including gean, holly, aspen and alder. The exclusion of rabbits should encourage an increase in natural re-seeding of these species. Tree roots help prevent erosion by retaining the river banks during spates. The trail approaches a flat grassy area where there are the remains of an old mill and lade. The ruins on the other side of the river from the mill known as the Luib (An Luib Leathann -- the broad bend) are all that are left of another mill known as the Black Mill which can be made out with difficulty. Legend has it that when the daughter of an old witch who lived there was drowned in a spate while crossing the river the witch put a curse on the mill to stop it working. The local inhabitants pleaded with her to retract the curse so she did on condition there would be no corn ground on the 1st February, the saint's day of St Bride. As with the old burial ground, the present day Church of Scotland Kirk is named after St Bride. Ascending the trail you reach the site of Milton (mill town) where the ruins of the old township can be seen. A nearby plinth describes the site. From here you will see the curve of the river from which the upper glen takes its name - Banchor (Beannachar -- a horn shaped reach of a river -- a favourite place for siting a cell or monastery). Further along the trail there is a seat and another plinth indicating the names of the surrounding mountain tops. Approaching Glen Road, which is tarmacadamed, you pass the remains of two ancient corn-drying kilns. The trail passes through the Milton wood, an established plantation of conifers, mostly lodge pole pine with a few native species. There is a choice of paths and a picnic table is sited by the easterly one. You can return down Glen Road to the village or continue by following the signs for the "Craggan" section of the trail, which is reached by turning up the access road to Upper Knock. 

Time taken:- Approx. 1 hour Height difference:- Approx. 200 ft.