Around 400 years ago, the forest covered 1.5 million hectares of the Scottish Highlands.

(67) The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon.

The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon.

The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Colt Celidon.

The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon.

The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Colt Celidon.

One of the most endearing Scottish bird species found in the ancient Caledonian forest, the crested tit is another iconic Scottish bird.

Lailoken was a semi-legendary madman and prophet who lived in the Caledonian Forest in the late 6th century.

Lailoken was a semi-legendary madman and prophet who lived in the Caledonian Forest in the late 6th century.

One of the most endearing bird species found in Scotland’s ancient Caledonian forest, the crested tit is another iconic Scottish bird.

Examples in the Caledonian Forest include red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and the now-extinct aurochs (Bos primigenius).

The Caledonian forest on its own counts over 2,500 endemic plant species and is considered as the ‘first botanical garden of the South-Pacific’.

In addition to crossbills (see above), crested tits exist as a fragmented population of 2,400 breeding pairs in remnant patches of Caledonian Forest and in some larger plantations such as the Culbin Forest in Moray.

Some early tales portray Merlin as a warrior who goes insane after a battle, gains the gift of prophecy, and flees to spend his life in the Caledonian Forest in Scotland .

In order to prevent excessive damage to Scotland’s woodland (only 5% of the original Caledonian Forest remains), deer have to be shot as it has no natural predators.