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Latest news:

October 28, 2011:
Kuckunniwi Siberian Husky Kennel arrives in Norway.

November 01, 2011:
We run our 12 siberian huskies on a trail with the dryland equipment.

November 02, 2011:
Kuckunniwi Siberian Husky Kennel prepares to join the Norwegian Siberian Husky & Kennel Clubs.

November 17, 2011:
Kuckunniwi Siberian Husky Kennel settles in Folldal Norway.

January 06 2012:
The local river is now frozen so we can now cross this and access some of the Femend trail with our 12 dogs and sled.

January 08 2012:
We are now able to train the dogs more thoroughly and starting to increase the distance accordingly.

January 10 2012:
The dogs have acclimatised very well to the Norwegian winter and are enjoying running continually on snow.

January 12 2012:
We are now running from Folldal to Dalholen and back and the dogs so far are turning and running as expected.

January 16 2012:
We are now running between Folldal and Grimsbu and back travelling across the frozen river on a couple of occasions.

January 25 2012:
We are now running between Folldal and Grimsbu and Dalholen and back travelling across the frozen river on a couple of occasions. The dogs are running very well.

Other News Items»

Culbin Forest

Culbin's shifting sands, forest, and ever-changing coastline - a fascinating and varied landscape to explore and discover.


Dunes and foreshore
Walk the 14km length of Culbin’s coastline and observe how nature can change a landscape. Saltmarsh gives way to mudflats, stretches of sand, and great forest-topped dunes being rapidly eroded by the highest tides. Find out more about the landscape of Culbin's dunes and foreshore.

The changing forest
From a vast area of mobile dunes, to plantation, to natural regeneration of the forest. Read more about the changing forest including how foresters chose what to plant at Culbin, and how.

Culbin's landscape - changes through time
The rocks in this part of Morayshire formed some 250 million years ago, and the land is still rising again after the most recent ice age. There have been many changes to Culbin's landscape over time.

Designations
Culbin’s diverse landscape and unusual species have achieved national and international recognition and are protected by law. Read more about its designations, such as being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Managing the forest
Find out more about how Forestry Commission Scotland manages Culbin forest to balance timber production with environmental and nature conservation objectives.

Managing Culbin's coastline
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is responsible for Culbin Sands Reserve. Read more on what's involved in managing Culbin's coastline.


Culbin Forest
This huge forest is almost completely owned by the Forestry Commission[1], who go to great lengths to maintain a perfect ecosystem. It is split by several large paths and smaller tracks in between. The densely covered areas off these paths are difficult to traverse. Most walks are taken beginning at the south of the forest at Wellhill Car Park[2] and ending at the beach. Among the trees there are several strange monoliths bearing messages, and at one tree there is a small plaque commemorating its planting by Prince Charles. Although mostly made up of tall pines and coarse ground cover, Culbin also has many more open, sandy patches in the forest, where small younger trees have recently been planted. The grassland areas are very suitable for butterflies. There are several ponds which act as oases to the local animals. Hill 99, a towering wooden structure which blends in subtly with the canopy, provides an excellent viewpoint. The wildlife amongst the trees is very discreet although birds can clearly be heard singing everywhere.

Culbin Sands
This long strip of pristine beach is owned by the RSPB[3], due to its excellent bird habitat, home to oystercatchers, curlews, redshanks and other birds. It is made up of a curious mixture of sand and long grass, but gets muddier further westwards. A lot of natural driftwood such as logs and shells ends up on the sands. The bank of dunes separates the forest quite suddenly from the flat beach.

Findhorn Bay
The forest meets the bay at a very steep dune and this bay is home on the west side to the village of Findhorn. Findhorn Beach is much stonier right by the coast and further out to sea a strip of sand, often separated from the mainland by the Moray Firth, is home to a colony of grey seals. Eiders often come and sit by them and herring gulls fly around the general area. Of course a lot of the birds at Culbin Sands stray to the bay's beaches, especially oystercatchers

Directions to the forest

You follow the A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness going south. Shortly after Forres you will see a sign for Brodie Castle. There will be rally signs from there onwards.

If you are heading north you follow the A96 from Inverness towards Aberdeen. After passing Brodie Castle there will be rally signs from there onwards.