Days out: Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail

This trail, eight miles from both Kingussie and Aviemore, contains extraordinary, spooky, arresting sculptures by Scottish artist Frank Bruce. Nestled within the Inshriach Forest, it’s an easy walk around the woods and a great way to spend an afternoon.

As you wind through the trees, the carvings appear around corners and from behind walls, or reflected in a pool, leading you to a deliberately overgrown and lightly tended walled garden. Several of the sculptures are carved from ancient Caledonian Pines, at least one saved by Frank after it was felled to make way for the A9. 

The original intention of Frank Bruce was to allow the wooden sculptures to decay and return to the ground, but with Frank’s untimely death in 2007 a trust was created to help preserve these precious works for further years.

If you haven’t heard of Frank Bruce, it’s because he wasn’t your average artist. He rejected the art spotlight, never selling or seeking to gain from his works. He only asked for donations to help him continue his craft. He was unsure about how good they were, but in later years was encouraged by the artistic world’s acceptance and praise.

He struggled with dyslexia at school and left at 13, but always had a determination to educate and improve himself. In time, he found expression through the labour of his hands. Born near Fraserburgh he moved back to Aviemore to be closer to his family, and the works moved with him.

Frank created both very small and very big pieces of art; The Walker stands eight metres tall, and like all the works on the Trail can be touched, experienced, even walked under. Some are intensely personal, like The Sailor, which is a small, understated work, easily wandered past. It depicts a sailor’s face shouting from an un-hewn block and is meant to represent his brother’s last moments during WWII.

Interesting, challenging and, at times, quite eery, the Frank Bruce Sculpture trail is a brilliant walk through the forest. Head there with the kids and see what they think of the artwork or bring the dogs for a run around or just head there on your own for some quiet contemplation. 

Getting there

By car and bike from Aviemore: drive towards Cairngorm Mountain on the B970, turn right just before the Rothiemurchus Centre, signposted B970 to Coylumbridge.  After Feshie Bridge there is a turning on the right marked FCS car park. Park there, and walk up a steep, short path to the sculptures.

Accessibility: Forestry Commission Scotland have made the path around the sculptures very accessible. It’s a good hardcore track with gentle gradients. There is disabled parking available at the entrance to the sculptures and a picnic bench in the walled garden.