The trail, located between the Tournament Café and the Headless Statue, is a collaboration between North Ayrshire Ranger Service, Eglinton Country Park, and North Ayrshire’s Arts and Culture team. It features four seasonal stories written by award-winning children’s author Lindsay Littleson and artists Michelle Wright and Lynn McNally, who worked with children and young people to co-create artwork.
Shug’s Wood includes four seasonal story posts, art installations depicting woodland wildlife, suspended artwork by community participants, and Gaelic translations. The character of Shug was developed to animate the woodland's history and encourage exploration and connection with the outdoor space.
“"It is wonderful to see the introduction of Shug's Wood to Eglinton Country Park. This is an inspiring project with storytelling, creative engagement and community participation at its heart. It is also an excellent example of how the Council is taking forward our Gaelic Language Plan (Plana Gàidhlig) to promote and use Gaelic within our work and throughout North Ayrshire. I have no doubt the curious characters and woodland homes of this whimsical trail will encourage visitors of all ages to explore the park, connect with its rich heritage and develop a deeper appreciation of the woodland environment."
The project involved numerous local groups, including pupils from Loudoun Montgomery Primary School, Whitehirst Gaelic Base, Trindlemoss Day Opportunities, and local volunteer groups. Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Islands, thanked all involved, highlighting the collaborative effort in creating a new destination for accessing nature and wellbeing benefits.
Councillor Hill added that Shug’s Wood fosters a sense of place, celebrates Gaelic heritage, encourages outdoor learning, and helps form connections with heritage. It joins other attractions at the park, such as the Robert Burns Heritage Garden and the North Ayrshire STEM trail.
The trail is set to evolve with planned additions like QR codes for story downloads, further community-created artwork, and interactive elements to enhance visitor engagement. Updates can be found on the Eglinton Country Park Facebook page.
The woodland has long been known as "Shug’s Wood", named after a memorial pillar commemorating Hugh Montgomerie, grandson of the 12th Earl of Eglinton, who died in 1817 at the age of six. The monument, originally near Lady Jane's Cottage, was moved to its current location within the woodland.
