There’s something to see in Scotland’s rainforest whatever time of year you chose to visit. From the migrant birds of summer, to the fungi of autumn, to the beautiful bluebells in spring, every season has something magical to discover.

Many areas of rainforest are classed as ancient woodland, which means they’ve been around since Scotland was first reliably mapped in 1750. They could be much older, however, and some are thought to be thousands of years old!

Lichens might look like plants, but they’re actually a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and something else.

‘Bryophyte’ is the scientific term that’s often used collectively for three groups of plants: mosses, liverworts and hornworts. They’re our oldest land plants and very much older than flowering plants, and while they’re not closely related, they do have a lot in common.

In spring and summer, the rainforest comes alive with carpets of wild flowers. These are important sources of food for pollinating insects, and in the autumn, those flowers often become seeds or berries, providing a second food source.

The rainforest has ferns of lots of different shapes and sizes, from tiny filmy ferns up to huge ferns almost 2m tall. Some die back in the winter, and you’ll spot their fresh fronds unfurling in the spring. Others are hardier and stay green all year. 

Our temperate rainforests are particularly important for several species of migrant birds, which you’ll only see here from spring until early autumn. These birds make remarkable journeys from Africa each year to raise their families in Scotland.

Many of Scotland’s wild mammals can be difficult to see, as they’re cautious of people and will disappear the moment they spot, smell or hear you. Many are also nocturnal, making them even more of a challenge to watch.

Rainforest habitats are very varied, and include lots of different types of woodland, some of which are dominated by oak, some by pine, and some of which are mixed. That means you’ll see different insects depending on where you are.