Enchanted Forest

This event is just magical. It’s captivating, thought-​provoking, and there’s also something really sweet about it.
While it is clearly run by a very skilled and professional group of experts, they have managed to retain something touchingly local about it. It seems like the whole of Pitlochry works together to ensure that the entire visitor experience is a positive one. Many of the bars and restaurants stay open late to accommodate the later viewings (it’s open until 10.30pm), and we noticed that Fisher’s Hotel (the meeting point) were running a ‘children eat free’ deal.
The organisation is very impressive, with a team of friendly and efficient staff ensuring that everything runs like clockwork. You meet outside Fisher’s, and the hotel will very kindly let you use their toilet facilities — you can leave a donation for their local charity if you like (which is a nice touch). We also visited their bar for a wee winter warmer beforehand.
The queue is managed very well, and has a little snippet of enchantment, with forest-​like barriers and twinkly lights — it’s just another small nice touch to make it as good as it can be. You then hop on a coach and have a very short drive to the Enchanted Forest, where the magic begins.
Other people will have described this better than me so I won’t labour the description of what happens. In a nutshell, it’s a real forest which has been installed with stunning light displays and music. I wasn’t expecting the music to be so impactful — think Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and bits of every John Williams film score you have ever heard. Two of the musical features in particular (which are original scores) feature brass very prominently — to dramatic effect. There was also a very beautiful display over the lake by an arial artist.
The theme changes every year — this year it is about movement and waves and energy. So I imagine that the music, features and installations may be quite different from year to year.
There are staff dotted around the place, and they are so friendly and helpful. There are toilet facilities, and also two food/​drink spaces, where you can get the obligatory venison burger and such like, but I also noticed elderberry mulled wine and toffee apples — perfect autumn woodland treats. We were very lucky with the weather in that it was dry, and cold, but not too cold, but you definitely need to wrap up warmly! You can stay as long as you like — we were there for probably about two hours, and when you have had enough enchantment, the buses back run every 15 minutes, so there’s no waiting about.
The Enchanted Forest has won a number of awards in recent years, and it’s no surprise as every last detail has been so well thought out, and it really is just perfect.

10/​10/​2014: Am I dreaming? If I am don’t wake me!
At the suggestion of friends’ tickets were acquired for this magical nigh in the forest. So glad they mentioned it because it was an oooh and ahhh kinda event that I just love.
Each season there is a new theme and October 2014’s theme was Elemental. It was a this amazing earth, water, fire, and air display with lights galore and a specific soundtrack for each area with crescendos and cymbals, flutes, and nature sounds. I felt a bit like Wendy out on an adventure with Peter Pan. Unlike NeverNeverLand it gets a bit nippy walking through the forest. Be sure to dress warmly. Get a nip of mulled wine at the concession stand to take the chill off too.
We got onto the bus with all of the other excited adults, oh, yeah, and the excited children too.
We were handed a map as we got off the bus and started our adventure. (There are also large painted maps in most of the areas.)
We wandered, gawking at the lights and sounds with hundreds of other spectators.
Now, how to describe what it’s like… it’s like going on a late night hike in the woods with your path lit and entertainment.
The fire was my favourite element. It was in the middle of the lake with a powerful soundtrack. It made you stop in your tracks wherever you were in your journey to stop and watch it. (I don’t know why it reminded me of the fire pit in The Princess Bride. LOL)
Each element was extremely well executed and represented.
Don’t miss the acrobats flying through the trees either.
Big round of applause to the creators of The Enchanted Forest, the staff who runs and maintains it, and all of the technical staff, and performers. I cannot wait to visit again soon!

«You would have to be half mad to dream me up.»
— Alice in Wonderland.
There’s a very good reason I felt like a mischievous gal fallen down the rabbit hole — this place has a touch of wonderland about it. As you can tell from my photos, I was not at all intrigued and barely found a hint to take a picture of (they really should have a dedicated sarcasm font don’t you think?).
Just a few weeks after arriving in Scotland, I hopped on a train for an overnight adventure. I wouldn’t attempt this in a day — it’s well worth a night’s stay and that gives you a bit of time to wander through Pitlochry afterwards/​before unrushed.
The Enchanted Forest is a beautiful exhibit of light and music. I would definitely suggest you take a week day jaunt through and try for the latest booking time possible — less kiddies colliding about. Not that they were a bother, the ones that were on my tour time, but it was nice to have a less hectic crowd to wander through the lights with.
That being said, if you have wee ones — this is a perfect evening out, as they have story huts and lots to keep little minds entertained.
Definitely grab yourself a mulled wine and though you’ll want to snap every moment imaginable, do take some time to get out from behind the camera and just watch.
I had hoped there would be more aerial artists. The two that were there, were wonderful and it only made me wish there were more artists roaming in, up and around the trees. It would add a completely new element to the experience that would be pretty darn special.
But what they’ve done so far is top notch. The blend of music and lights is exceptionally done and the walk is both exciting and contemplative. Well done Enchanted Forest — it takes quite the force to make me wax poetic confusion.
I would love to get a behind the scenes peek at this installation — because it has to take an army to get all those lights up (and some sneaky generator work?). But it’s efficiency, right down to the well choreographed bus transfers just makes it easier to get yourself lost in pretty, pretty lights.
Go be Alice for an evening.
It’s well worth the adventure.

Wonderful and beautiful well thought out event! This is the second year we have been and it only gets better! The atmosphere and surroundings are stunning! The combination of nature, light installations and music truly makes for an enchanting evening!

A yearly outdoor art installation of light and sound. This is held in a forest near Pitlochry, which is in the Lower Highlands.
We went as group and got tickets about a month before. Which is recommended as the evening we went was sold out.
The organisation was tight and very efficient, buses left from the Fisher’s Hotel every 10 – 15 minutes.
The installation /​presentation is a 10 minutes drive away from Pitlochry. In the bus you get a ‘safety instruction’ which is easy to follow and funny for children.
On arrival you are greeted by a dark forest with many coloured lights in the tree crowns. Many balloons with neon flashers stuck in trees. poor kids.
Let’s get this clear beforehand, it was a very wet, damp evening. The Enchanted forest was drenched. Alright, for true West Coasters this was no more than a persistent heavy drizzle, but it was WET.
The theme this year was called ‘absORB’ and the light themes where just like that. The pathways are lit by small coloured orbs. We also got ourselves a couple diode balloons, which added to the magic effects. The route took us past many sound and light shows that are difficult to describe. All equally mesmerising and pretty. The main focus was a massive moon-​like orb at the entrance. This was visible from all over the site. My personal favourites was the ‘evolution’ 3D light show projected on a rock face. This was very fluid and pretty. The other was the lake orbs. With the music it was a special showpiece which is reflected into the water of the central loch (lake) creating a mirror effect doubling the experience. that was truly magical. I could have watched just that all evening.
Then there was the (as we dubbed it) ‘Dr Who’ bridge, that looked like an infinity light speed entrance to another time & dimension. And a great opportunity to take some pictures that don’t require night vision camera features.
There are several toilets, resting places dotted around. If you do get lost the many stewards are able to guide you on your way.
After a few rounds we were a little too wet and the rain was getting heavier. We went back to the bus queue, again fast and efficient.
It was a good show and a great experience.