Fairy Glen is a protected area in the Highland, Scotland.[1]
| Fairy Glen | |
|---|---|
 Lower waterfall | |
  | |
| Type | Nature reserve |
| Location | Rosemarkie (Higland, Scotland) |
| Coordinates | 57°35′37″N 4°07′29″W / 57.5936960°N 4.1246066°W |
| Operated by | RSPB |
Features
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The reserve protects a belt of semi-natural woodland, with predominating broad-leaved trees, stretching at both sides of the Markie Burn, a stream tributary of the Moray Firth. The valley is narrow and steep-sided, and supports a variety of plants and local birds.[2] The wood management usually operates on non intervention basis, besides removal of invasive species and, when necessary, some tree safety interventions.[1]
Wildlife
editAmong the birds living in the nature reserve are:
Folklore
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The Glen is connected to some ancient costoms. Children of nearby villages used to cast flowers petals in the burn, in order to encourage the fairies to provide fresh water to their hamlets.[3] A peculiar sight in the Fairy Glen are some old logs known as Money trees, bearing hundreds of coins hammered into their wood, traditionally considered gifts to the fairies.[4] Nowadays the management of the nature reserve discourages this habit, because of the pollution[5] produced by metal corrosion and oxidation.
Access
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A footpath follows the small river from its mouth in Rosemarkie beach flanking two pleasant waterfalls and, after the uppermost of them, ends up in a tiny road which runs on the left side of the glen.[2] A car park is available close to the beginning of the walk. Some part of the footpath are steep and can become slippery with rainy weather; dogs can access the walk but have to be conducted on short leads from April to August, because of the disturbance they can cause to wildlife.[6]
References
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Media related to Fairy Glen, Rosemarkie at Wikimedia Commons
- ^ a b "Fairy Glen". RSPB. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ a b "RSPB Scotland Fairy Glen Nature Reserve". North Coast 500. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ Benson, Brigid (2018). "Beauty spot". North Coast Journey - The Magic of Scotland's Northern Highlands. Birlinn Limited. ISBN 9781788850728. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ Gayle Anderson. "Fairy Glen!". The Scots Magazine. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ FIlippo Ceragioli (3 July 2023). "Fairy Glen, la valle delle fate". Piemonte Parchi (in Italian). ISSN 1124-044X. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Accessibility at Fairy Glen". RSPB. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
