Tentsmuir Nature Reserve and Tentsmuir Sands

The plantations and their surroundings provide a habitat for a wide diversity of plant and animal life. Next to the car park where the walk starts is Tentsmuir Sands. This coastline, with its high dunes, includes a national nature reserve. The start of the walk is a good time to look for birds active amongst the pines. Particularly common is the coal tit, which likes the coniferous woodland and is easily identified. Also look out for squirrels, rabbits and if you are lucky, roe deer.

The first of two ponds encountered on the walk is Heron Pond which the forestry commission developed. Unfortunately the pond can dry out in spells of little rain. At the most northerly point of the walk is the ice house and the second pond. At the end of the 19th century attempts were made to introduce salmon fishing here on a commercial basis but success was not guaranteed and the project was later abandoned. Thus the ice house, built to keep the salmon fresh was disused too.

After leaving the forest and embarking on the return journey the scene changes completely. First by walking amongst the sand dunes forming the fringe of Tentsmuir Point National Nature Reserve and later while walking on the sands by the waters edge, hopefully watching waders sift through the sand for food. The cries of gulls and/ or curlews should be present. Further out, on the sandbars, seals can frequently be seen. both the common seal and grey seal. All in all, this is a refreshing walk by the seashore back to the starting point.