Montreathmont Forest

Description

Pronounced locally as ‘Mon-trim-ont’ the woodland is a large, mainly coniferous woodland 3 miles south of Brechin. The site is around 1700 acres with numerous access points and parking on both the main roads and smaller roads surrounding the woodland. The network of tracks is popular with walkers, mountain bikers and, in winter, husky racers.

Montreathmont has a special, but now hidden history as it was the location of the Montreathmont Camp Radio Station in World War II and as Airship Station in WW1.  The listening and radio station began as a secret listening post and codebreaking centre which operated as an outstation of Bletchley Park during World War II, and continued to monitor communications during the Cold War. Personnel left the site not long after and it was officially closed during the 1990s. Remains of the site can still be seen. Approximately 500 personnel worked there during the height of operations during World War II. The remains of the mooring pits for the WW1 Airships also remain in the woodland.

The forest is home to a host of wildlife, including the elusive capercaillie, as well as buzzards, owls, woodcock, cuckoos and deer.