Cally Woods

About Cally Woods

Cally Woods are a tranquil woodland in Gatehouse of Fleet, containing young oak, birch, sycamore and beech trees. The woods also have popular walking trails. Around 1860, a dam in the area collected water to drive Scotts Mill on the outskirts of the town. Sawmills such as these were common at the time and the great demand for timber contributed to the disappearance of trees from Cally Wood itself and other woods in the region. Few old trees remain in Cally Woods and most were planted in the 1930s after the Forestry Commission acquired the land. Although the trees in the wood are relatively young, there is an abundance of animal and plant life which has found its home here. In spring and summer there is a wealth of wildflowers such as primroses and bluebells. Roe deer and red squirrels can be spotted as well as a variety of birds, including buzzards and treecreepers.