Just south of Laide, the Laide Wood is an 85 hectare community woodland featuring deep watercourses, two lochans and a beautiful cascading waterfall. There’s an array of wildlife, especially dragonflies and five waymarked trails of varying length. There is some mystery surrounding the origins of Laide Chapel, which sits by the shore, overlooking Gruinard Bay. Also known as the Chapel of Sand of Udrigil, legend has it that it was built by Saint Columba. Others say it was constructed by George MacKenzie of Gruinard in the 1700’s. However, it is most likely the later work was a restoration of the early chapel. The chapel, now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, was abandoned in the 19th Century and services were held at a nearby cave.

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