Darkley Forest

Full Description

Darkley Forest is the sort of place you go when you want a walk rather than an attraction. It's a small, peaceful coniferous woodland right beside Darkley village, part of the larger Fews Forest, with two trails and a fairy trail that children tend to take very seriously.

What You'll Find

The forest covers around 135 hectares of coniferous woodland, with two waymarked walking trails. The Aughnagurgan Trail runs about 1.4 miles and takes in the ruins of the original Mountain Lodge before leading to a picnic spot among beech trees.

There's a fairy trail, plenty of viewpoints over the surrounding countryside, and mosses and fungi to spot along the way. The paths are compact gravel.

Leave No Trace applies here too — everything you bring in goes home with you.

Wee Ones Will Love...

• ✓Following the fairy trail
• ✓Hunting for mosses and fungi along the path
• ✓The picnic spot among the beech trees
• ✓The views once you gain a bit of height

Before You Visit

The forest sits immediately beside Darkley village.

The trail head car park is on Mountain Lodge Road, next to Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church, and holds around eight cars, so it's worth having a plan B on a busy day.

It's open all year round and free, with no café or toilet facilities.

Paths are compact gravel with some climbing, so this suits children who are happy to walk a mile or so.

Dogs must be kept on a lead.

Top Tips

• ⭐Take the shorter trail if you're walking with little ones — it still gives you the woodland and the picnic spot
• ⭐Bring a picnic; the beech-tree clearing is a natural stopping point
• ⭐Waterproofs and sturdy shoes make a difference on gravel paths after rain
• ⭐Have the trail map on your phone before you go, as waymarkers are the only guidance on site