[1] The reserve protects a belt of semi-natural woodland, with predominating broad-leaved trees, stretching at both sides of the Markie Burn, a stream tributary of the Moray Firth.

Children of nearby villages used to cast flowers petals in the burn, in order to encourage the fairies to provide fresh water to their hamlets.

[4] Nowadays the management of the nature reserve discourages this habit, because of the pollution[5] produced by metal corrosion and oxidation.

A footpath follows the small river from its mouth in Rosemarkie beach flanking two pleasant waterfalls and, after the uppermost of them, ends up in a tiny road which runs on the left side of the glen.

Some part of the footpath are steep and can become slippery with rainy weather; dogs can access the walk but have to be conducted on short leads from April to August, because of the disturbance they can cause to wildlife.