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About Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide
An exciting 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 can often be seen. The hide will be manned at certain times when there will be binoculars and a telescope available.
There is a separate car park and an easy access 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 eight miles and the car park has advance warning signs from both directions.
OS Grid Reference: NM 748 618
For details of public transport visit http://www.travelinescotland.com
Wildlife
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, you may see 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 that 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.
| Ard Airigh car park Facilities. |
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| Grade of trail: |
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| Trail waymarking: |
| Length of trail: 0.5 miles |
| Approximate time of trail: Depends on time spent in the hide. |
| Open or closed: open |
| Click here to find out what else you can do in this forest. |
Contact: |
| Kirsty Mann Recreation Ranger 01397 702184 e-mail: kirsty.mann@forestry.gsi.gov.uk |
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18/Sep/2009
23/Jul/2009