New self-led trail at Finlaystone Country Estate
The Finlaystone fairies are eager for you to explore their lovely woodland home and enjoy the sounds and scents of the forest. They have set some tasks for fun and encourage you take a moment to reflect on things that are important to you.
Visitors can collect free instructions at the visitors’ centre and use this page to follow the trail.
When on the trail don’t forget to:
- Throw the troll a leaf or fir cone before you cross the bridge.
- You can keep the sprites happy by playing pooh sticks – throw a stick on one side of the bridge and seeing if it comes out on the other side.
- Make a wish at the Finlaystone wishing tree!
- Create miniature dens at the den building site.
- The fairies like fir cone gardens, so you can help them make a wee garden.
- Wooden wands can be found if you look closely – they are most magical if you make your own out of leaves and a Finlaystone twig.
- The fairies like to stay high up in the trees during daylight, so look up and around the forest.
What do the Finlaystone Fairies like?
- They let their pet insects use their homes when they are away so keep an eye out for their furry friends.
- The fairy folk love to see your fairy fashion! You can come dressed in your fairy finery or decorate yourselves with woodland fashion.
- Don’t forget to clap when you see a fairy so that they know you believe in them and feel more confident.
Our fairies are rather clever, so you can follow the fairy trail in alphabetical order. See if you can spot their colourful doors!
Getting started:
- Look out for the Sentry Box with the guardsman across from the visitor centre. The fairy trail is signposted from here.
- Note to parents: the trail takes you over the bridge below the top waterfall, past the pirate ship, around the back of the den building area and loops back to the pirate ship play area. The trail, from A to M, up to the Captain’s field and den build area is suitable for buggies. Confident walkers can continue on the N to Z sections.
- Walk uphill past the Sentry box. The fairy trail is sign-posted in the yew tree before the burnside path where you will see:
(A) Aurora who is shy, so look up into the first big lime tree on your right and she may be hiding in it. Remember to clap
(B) Elvenia lives a few trees along on the right and will probably be staring at you as she is curious. At the end of the path, turn left.
(C) Celeste is brave and will likely be on your left in a tree by the road just before the bridge. Collect a leaf to pay the troll in the river so you can cross the bridge safely. He will be watching you.
(D) Ivy (also known as Diva) will likely be looking at you from a tall pine tree, off the path, about 26 giant steps to your right, soon after crossing the bridge. Now aim for the picnic table and beyond is
(E) Esmeralda, who will be staring out over the clearing where you can check how many fairy doors you can see. Head back to the main path and you will see a huge beech tree on your right where you should find
(F) Fantasia and a friend. Remember to clap when you see the tiny fairies too. It gives them confidence. It also helps to say “I believe in fairies!” Count their doors! Beware of the Goblin encampment. Walk a little further up the main track, look for a pine tree on your left and you should meet
(G) Gallifrey and she would like you to walk over the spider pathway beside her tree to check your fairy balancing skills. Continue towards the pirate ship and look ahoy to see
(H) Siora who would like you to look out for pirates and goblins. You don’t always see them, but it is wise to check. Try out the fairy thrones for size. If you continue up the path on the right, you will see, on your left, just near the bow of the pirate ship,
(I) Ivy’s sister Raines and a tiny visiting fairy. Remember to clap. Make a wish for the health and happiness of the people you care about. A little further along on your left, at the ancient Chestnut Finlaystone Wishing Tree, is where
(J) Juniper would like you to think about a favourite pet who has maybe gone over the rainbow bridge and to talk about what good times you have had with them. Make a wish and then move back to the main path and on your right, look out for the lonesome pine where you should see
(K) Katniss who would like you to give a moment’s thought to a special person that you have not seen for a while and about a happy time that you have had with them. Continue along the main path towards Captain’s field and, on an Oak tree on your right, you will see
(L) Laurel who would like you to do a fairy twirl and then you are ready, to fly over to your left, past the picnic table and deeper into the den building clearing where you will meet
(M) Maeryela who would like you to listen to the birds whilst you make a tiny woodland home for the tiniest fairies. The trail after this is less suitable for buggies but intrepid explorers should follow the narrow path along the left hand side of the Log Cabin to find
(N) Nathaniel, who will lead you deeper into the forest and towards the fairy village. How many trees, with fairies, can you name? Follow the S bend on the path and you will see
(O) Ophelia who lives in a beautiful white birch tree (a bit hidden to the right of the path). Can you tell the difference between bracken and ferns? Continue along the path, bearing left, as goblins haunt the other pathways, to see
(P) Parisa who lives in a tree, that looks like giant legs. Look for the minibeast friends of the fairies or make a minibeast habitat out of twigs, leaves and fir cones for them. Keep left on the path to see
(Q) Quin who sits in a tall magic faraway birch tree just before you enter the fairy village. Can you spot the fallen log that looks like a dragon? Return to the path and keep left until you meet
(R) Roslind who welcomes you into the fairy village and this is a good time to dance around the trees or to hug them and listen to their secrets. Frolicking complete, keep to the path on the right of Roslind, back beside Quin, and you will see on your right
(S) Silvia who is guarding the old fairy meeting circle to your left. Take a moment to plan your next act of kindness. How many fairy doors can you see? Keeping to the outskirts of the fairy footpath you will meet
(T) Titania on the left who lives in the five pronged tree and she hopes that you will have enjoyed the calm protection of the majestic larches. Before you continue on the fairy footpath, share your wildest dreams and hopes for the future. Now go on and meet
(U) Ursula and her climbing frame designed to help you practise your fairy strength. Beware of the goblins beyond the moss wall. As you walk on, you will come across
(V) Viola who tends to the balance beam for core strength. Be careful as it is very wobbly. The ancient fairy quern stone meeting place, taken over by the goblins, is close by. Proceed further along the path to find
(W) Willow who guards the large swing and is also the guardian of the Glade Bus route. You need one leaf to board. Keep along the path and on your right you will see
(X) Xanthe who lives in the giant sycamore tree beside the old owlery. You may have noticed her twin earlier. You will come to a fork in the path but keep left, on the log path. Goblins roam around nearby. On the left, is a tree encircled with coloured lights where
(Y) Ya, a very energetic fairy, encourages you to go to his right, between the old fort and the trees, up to the flying fox for the ultimate flying practice and to continue carefully over the stones where you will meet
(Z) Zuleika, who helps you complete the loop back onto the path to the troll bridge and congratulates you on completing the rocky climb to find her, the very last fairy on the trail.
You may now wish to enjoy the play areas or perhaps pick-up a reward like an ice cream or fairy cake from the Finlaystone Cafe.
The flower fairies that live in the walled garden and are frightened of loud noises. You will have a better chance of spotting them if you talk in whispers or hum quietly around the fountain.
The Finlaystone Fairies hope you have enjoyed their forest trail and wish you a safe journey home.
Sweet dreams and remember to clap and say “I believe in fairies” at least once a day!