The Doon of May

The Doon Of May is a plantation in South West Scotland. It has been managed by the Tinne Beag Workers Co-Op Limited since 1999.

The area gets its name from the vitrified iron age hill fort rising 139m and providing spectacular views of Luce Bay with Ireland visible on a clear day in the distance. The Doon is a scheduled ancient monument. The woodland is adjacent to part of the Sustrans cycle network.

Woodland Description

The woodland comprises of 100 acres of mixed Sitka plantation with a substantial area of semi-natural deciduous woodland or oak, ash, beech, birch, Scots pine, willow, alder, sycamore. There is also 75 acres of peat land bog wetland that was clear felled about ten years ago. It is regenerating with birch, rowan, willow with planted oak. Within the Sitka there are many wetland glades of derelict alder coppice which give a pleasant break to the monotony of regimented monoculture.

The northern boundary is defined by Mochrum Loch, a SSSI hosting Britain’s largest inland nesting colony of cormorants.

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

Robert Louis Stevenson

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.