Near Kincardine, Fife, Scotland
Devilla Forest
Forest
Source image
7.1
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Check
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.1Pine woodland, four lochs and a waymarked trail make Devilla a good place to look for red squirrels, dragonflies and otters.
Devilla stands out for more than its quiet pine-forest feel: its lochs support dragonflies and otters, and the Red Squirrel Trail gives visitors a clear route to explore. The short walk to Bordie Loch adds a rewarding focal point without requiring a full-day hike.
Peaceful · Wild
Find your way
Open mapNear Kincardine, Fife, Scotland
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The experience
Follow Devilla’s waymarked Red Squirrel Trail to Bordie Loch. Take time to read both sides of the wildlife and history panels, and look for the route’s red squirrel posts and wooden animal carvings. The forest has further paths, but the supplied sources caution that it can be difficult to navigate away from the waymarked route.
Things to do
Follow the Red Squirrel Trail
Walk the waymarked loop through woodland to Bordie Loch. The trail is described as easy to follow, mostly flat and suitable for all abilities.
40 minutes–1 hour
Look for red squirrel signs and wooden animal carvings
Keep an eye out for red squirrel posts and the animal carvings along the trail. Red squirrels live in the forest, but a sighting is not guaranteed.
Pause at Bordie Loch
The trail reaches Bordie Loch, where the route guide notes picnic tables and benches. Look for wildlife from the path; the sources do not establish permission for water activities.
Read the interpretation panels
The trail has panels about Devilla’s wildlife and history. The route guide advises checking both sides of the panels.
Watch for dragonflies and damselflies
Devilla is identified by the British Dragonfly Society as a dragonfly hotspot. An on-site interpretation panel provides information about dragonflies and damselflies found there.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · 40 minutes–1 hour
Quick escape: the Red Squirrel Trail
- 01
Start at the Forestry Commission car park off the A985, near the Welcome to Devilla information panel.
- 02
Follow the waymarked Red Squirrel Trail through the woodland to Bordie Loch.
- 03
Pause at the interpretation panels and picnic area, then complete the loop back to the car park.
Half day · Half day
Make a half day of it: walk, watch and linger by the lochs
- 01
Walk the waymarked Red Squirrel Trail to Bordie Loch, allowing 40 minutes to an hour for the loop.
- 02
Take time to read the wildlife and history panels, including both sides where indicated, and look for the wooden animal carvings.
- 03
Use the picnic tables by the loch for a pause, then explore further only if you are comfortable navigating the wider forest; the waymarked trail is the clearest sourced option.
Verified history
The supplied sources mention that interpretation panels along the trail cover Devilla’s history, but they do not provide verifiable historical details, dates or events to recount here.
Hidden details
Turn the panels around — The route guide says the trail’s information panels are double-sided, so check the reverse as well as the front.
Look for the wooden animal carvings — The route guide says the carvings are more likely to be spotted by continuing straight on at the path junction shortly before Bordie Loch.
Find the dragonfly interpretation panel — Forestry and Land Scotland says an on-site panel shares information about the dragonflies and damselflies found at Devilla.
When to go
· Not specified in the supplied sources.
The source row recommends spring and autumn for comfortable walking and seasonal woodland colour, but provides no specific months. Wildlife sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed.
The source row warns that trails may be muddy in winter. Check current conditions and local alerts before visiting.
The route
- ascent
- 6 m
- surface
- Good woodland paths
- distance
- 2.5 km loop; the loch-and-back option is 0.8 km each way
- duration
- 40 minutes–1 hour for the full loop
- difficulty
- Easy; mostly flat with slight inclines
- waymarking
- The Red Squirrel Trail is described as Devilla’s only waymarked route.
- route shape
- Loop
- start point
- Forestry Commission car park off the A985, just east of Kincardine; start by the Welcome to Devilla information panel.
- parking start
- The route guide identifies the Forestry Commission car park as the start. Check current access and parking information before travelling.
- shorter alternative
- Walk 0.8 km each way to Bordie Loch and return instead of completing the 2.5 km loop.
- Bordie Loch
- Red squirrel information posts
- Wooden animal carvings
- Wildlife and history interpretation panels
- Picnic tables by the loch
What to look for
- 01
Look for the red squirrel information posts, wooden animal carvings and interpretation panels. At the lochs, watch for dragonflies and damselflies
- 02
red squirrels and otters are among the wildlife reported at Devilla.
The story
Woodland history is referenced on trail information panels; the supplied sources do not verify specific historic events or dates.
Best time to go
Spring and autumn are suggested in the source row; wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Spring and autumn are suggested as comfortable seasons for visiting in the source row. Allow 40 minutes to an hour for the full Red Squirrel Trail loop; sightings of wildlife are not guaranteed.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Families · Photographers
Practical information
Opening & access
A Forestry and Land Scotland forest with a visitor car park and walking trails. Check current local alerts and conditions before setting out.
Check before visiting
Parking
A car park is reported at the forest entrance, off the A985 near Kincardine. Check current visitor information before travelling.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Food & drink
No café is reported in the forest; bring refreshments. Check before visiting for current nearby options.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Dogs are reported as welcome in the source row. Check current Forestry and Land Scotland guidance and on-site signs.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The Red Squirrel Trail is described as an easy walk on good woodland paths, mostly flat with slight inclines. Not all forest trails are wheelchair accessible; check route conditions and current accessibility information.
Check before visiting
Cost
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Water
Four lochs
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Devilla Forest
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
Valleyfield Woodland Park
Valleyfield Wood, near High Valleyfield, Fife, Scotland
4.0 km away
Tailend Moss Wildlife Reserve
Starlaw Road, south-east of Bathgate, West Lothian
19.9 km away