Nature

"The Enchanted Forest is in its eighth year and is expected to attract 20,000 people over 17 nights. A short bus ride from Pitlochry transports visitors into a world of Scottish Myths and Legends.

Chosen to tie in with the Homecoming Scotland campaign, this year's theme is being conveyed through a series of mini sound and light displays, all based on Scottish folklore.

Wherever you are in the wood there's always something to attract your attention and, surprisingly for the number of visitors, you can easily find an isolated spot to explore in peace.

Lights in Faskally Woods

A ghostly kelpie rises from the mists of Dunmore Loch to guard its pearls, while Robert The Bruce paces the surrounding paths which are lit to ensure that you don't walk into the dark loch.

Tam O'Shanter is in his tavern, Macbeth's witches are huddled around a cauldron and a young witch promises to tell your fortune... if you're lucky she'll let you continue on your way. The faeries have their own little glen to flutter around giant toadstools and the bairns have their own play area.

One of the most spectacular elements, however, is the Dundee Dragon, a huge creature above on a hill. We're warned not to wake it but it's obviously a light sleeper as it groans and breathes fire every few minutes.

Ghostly sound effects add to the atmosphere throughout the forest, and the sound comes from a very credible source as musician Dougie Maclean has directed the music this year.

The Dundee Dragon in the Enchanted Forest

A few technical hitches marred the launch event. A serious crash on the nearby A9 delayed the arrival of the creative team so some of the fireworks and visual effects took a few extra hours to take shape. But, with their help, we were treated to a rare appearance by Nessie.

The creative ideas and technical wizardry are indeed impressive but sometimes it pays just to turn to the trees. Lit by ever-changing colours, they're easily the prettiest part of the event and will encourage my return every year.

Chairman Stephen Bolland will hand the reins of the event to Pitlochry's passionate local community from 2010. They've already created the successful Autumn Festival, which now runs alongside the Enchanted Forest to give visitors more reason to stay a little longer in town. A public interest group will now secure the running of the event for the foreseeable future."