Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide

 

An exciting new facility in the area, this hide is part of the Sunart Oakwoods Initiative and was built from mostly locally grown and processed wood. The hide is situated on a rocky knoll on the shore of Loch Sunart and is surrounded by oakwood. Offshore lie two islands in the loch, the hide being named after the larger one, Garbh Eilean (Gaelic for Rough Island), on whose rocky shore common seals ofter haul out. The hide will be manned at certain times when there will be binoculars and a telescope available. There is a separate Car Park and link to the hide for disabled badge holders

How to get there:

Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide can be started from Ard Airigh car park in Ardery Ard Airigh which is part of Sunart Oakwood. Strontian is the nearest town or village.

From Strontian head west for approximately 8miles and the car park has advance warning signs from both directions.

OS Grid Reference: NM 748 618

Mammals: Many sightings of Otters and Pine Martens. A full list is available from the Sunart Initiative Website. We have information about Otter

Birds: A range of seabirds can be seen from the hide depending on the season, and although much less frequent, rarer species such as eagles (both golden and white tailed).
There is a large Heronry within easy sight of the hide on the smaller of the two islands. We have information about Golden eagle and White-tailed eagle

Insects and reptiles: The Sunart Area is well known for the presence of the rare chequered Skipper. The Lochaber area is the only stronghold area left in the UK. A guided walk in the area in May could present the perfect opportunity to see one of these elusive insects.

Habitats: Around Loch Sunart lie some of the finest temperate oakwoods in the British Isles, remnants of a formerly much more extensive band of coastal woodland which once stretched from Scotland down the Atlantic coast of Europe as far as Spain and Portugal.
These semi-natural woodland are home to some of the best collections of lower plants(plants which do not flower) in the whole of Europe. The clean air, moist climate and long continuity of woodland cover have combined to produce ideal conditions for lichens, mosses and liverworts.