Tentsmuir Forest

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Tentsmuir Forest in Fife, Scotland, stands next to Kinshaldy Beach with a view across the Firth of Tay. Covering some 50 square miles, the area was originally moorland before acquisition by the Forestry Commission in the 1920s.

The forest consists mainly of Scots Pine and Corsican Pine, a large part of which is a Nature Reserve (Tentsmuir Point National Nature reserve). Since the forest is adjacent to Kinshaldy Beach, there is a large variety of wildlife. Here can be seen deer, bats, Red Squirrel and in particular Grey Seal. Unusually, however, there are also cattle present as part of conservation management.

Tentsmuir Forest is notable for the many concrete blocks distributed along the shoreline, which acted as coastal defence against landing craft during World War II. The nearby RAF Leuchars base means that military aircraft are often seen (and heard), but aviation links go back to 1911 with the setting up of a Royal Engineers training camp. During World War Two troops of the Polish Army were based here to man the coastal defences.

Also of interest is a 19th Century Icehouse, historically used to store Salmon.