Last Ent of Affric

The Last Ent of Affric is an ancient wych elm with a girth of 3.80 meters (12.5 feet) growing on rocky ground in the remote Gleann na Ciche area of Glen Affric. The tree stands among boulders and steep slopes deep within this Highland valley.

This ancient elm was discovered in 2012 by staff from Forestry and Land Scotland and Trees for Life during a Highland survey. Its remote location has protected it for decades against the diseases that wiped out other elms across the region.

The tree gets its name from Tolkien's tree-creatures because staff from Forestry and Land Scotland spotted what looked like a face in the bark. This gave the place a special meaning for visitors who enjoy nature and fantasy stories.

Reaching this tree requires a full day of walking on a challenging mountain route. You can walk 11 kilometers from the nearest road or take an 8 kilometer route that climbs a mountain - prepare for rough ground and changing weather.

This tree owes its survival to being cut off from the world: Dutch elm disease, which destroyed elm forests elsewhere in Scotland, never reached this tree hidden deep in the valley. It remains one of only a handful of wych elms still standing in the Highlands.