You can find peace, excitement and a sense of wonder inthe forests of North Argyll. Walk, run, ride or just stand awhile among the trees that thrive in the temperate rainforestclimate and clean air. If you're feeling more adventurous,choose one of the demanding trails and discover stunning highviews over the remarkable landscape.

The secluded forests provide a home to iconic Highland wildlife. If you tread carefully and make little noise, you might catch aglimpse of red squirrels, otters, pine marten and red or roe deer.Scan the skies and you could spot a sea eagle soaring overhead.

Forestry Commission Scotland works hard to maintain the forests,preserving their remarkable natural and cultural heritage andensuring that visitors enjoy their time in North Argyll.

Otter

Roe Deer

Glen Dub

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The Forests of

North ArgyllExplore

Enjoy

and

Discover

Please remember that the weatheron the hills and mountains canchange very quickly. Even in summer, conditions on the tops of mountains are often much colder and windier than at low levels, despite clear skies. Here are some pointers for a safe and enjoyable trip.

• Be properly equipped • Plan your route carefully • Tell someone where you are going and when

you expect to return • Take adequate warm and waterproof clothing • Wear suitable footwear • Carry a map and compass and know how

to use them • Take sufficient food and drink • Be prepared to turn back if it gets too hard

for you • Keep to the route you intended • In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the police

Forestry Commission Scotland’s woods are ‘working forests’and large volumes of timber are harvested from them everyyear. Other activities such as road maintenance and deercontrol also take place from time to time so it is importantto follow warning signs or diversions; these are for your own safety.

View from

Eagle’s Eyrie - Beinn Lora

The TrailsOverview Map - North Argyll Taking care on the hills

What to see

Woodland

Main Road

Minor Roads

Railway/Station

West Highland Way

National Cycle Route

Start of Forest Trails

Other Car Parks

Goldeneye duck

Ferns

The Forests of North Argyll

From the ancient Atlantic oakwoods thatfringe the rugged coastline to the tree-cloaked flanks of towering mountains, theforests of North Argyll are inspirationalplaces. It is hard to resist their powerfulcharm, evoking a wild landscape far removedfrom the stresses of modern life.

The well-maintained trails described in thisleaflet are clearly signposted by waymarkers,guiding you to some unforgettable experiences.Forestry Commission Scotland manages theseforests to balance the demands of timberproduction with recreation and conservation.

Separate leaflets about the forests of the Isle ofMull and Mid Argyll and Kintyre are also availablefrom the Forestry Commission Scotland districtoffice (see back page for contact details) andvisitor information centres.

Forestry Commission ScotlandWest Argyll Forest District, Whitegates, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8RSTel: 0300 067 6650E-mail: westargyll@forestry.gsi.gov.ukWeb: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

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© Crown Copyright 2018

For information on public transport services contact:Traveline Scotland, 0871 2002233 or www.travelinescotland.com

If you need this publication in analternative format, for examplelarge print, please contact us on: Tel: 0300 067 5000Email: diversity@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

The Forests of the Isle of Mull

Look out for this updatedleaflet covering lots of exitingtrails to discover on thebeautiful island of Mull.

The Forests of Mid Argyll and Kintyre

This leaflet covers some ofthe fantastic trails aroundMid Argyll and down the peninsula

The Forests of

Mid Argyll

and KintyreExplore

Enjoy

and

Discover

The Forests of the

Isle of MullExplore

ArranMullSkye

Raasay

Contact

Fairy Bridge in Glen Creran © Ian McKee

Cross the Allt a Mhuilinn gorge and explore anarea of restored native woodland. Fantasticviews of Beinn Sgulaird and Glen Ure and anopportunity to glimpse the elusive pine marten.

Loose and uneven gravel surface, with long firm grassy sections. Some steep slopes. Includes a timber footbridge with a short flight of steps.

Glen Creran

1¼ miles / 2.2 km Allow1 hour

Pine Marten Trail

1 Glen Creran

You can stroll through peaceful oak, willow andbirchwoods that cloak the secluded gorge of Allt a'Mhuilinn, crossing the lively burn on the timberMillennium Bridge. Most of the non-native conifershave been cleared to help the woodland regenerate,which is helping attract wildlife, including the elusivepine marten. Bluebells and ransoms (wild garlic)transform the forest floor in spring.

The views are stunning. You can look across to thesolitary Beinn Sgulaird, an impressive Munro thatdominates the glen. There are also glimpses ofbeautiful Glen Ure, once home to the governmentfactor Colin Roy Campbell (The Red Fox) whosemurder in 1752 inspired Robert Louis Stevenson'snovel Kidnapped.

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Tha dùthchas Cheann-a-Tuath Earra-Ghàidheal drùidhte le còrragus mìle gu leth bliadhna de chànan agus dualchas nan Gàidheal.

The historic landscape of North Argyll is steeped in morethan fifteen hundred years of Gaelic language and tradition.

Some of the Gaelic names you’ll meet on our forest trails mayalready be familiar: ‘beinn’, pronounced [byne], mountain;‘lochan’ [LOCH-an], a little loch; or ‘gleann’ [gl-OWW-n], glen.Others, such as ‘abhainn’ [AV-eh-een], river; ‘allt’ [OW-lt],stream; and ‘ceum’ [kaym], step or path, may be less so.

Feeling more adventurous? Try our trail names ‘Ceum Nan Seangan’ [kaym nan Sheng-gun], path of the ants; ‘Trì Drochaidean’ [Tree Dro-heetchun], the three bridges;

and ‘An Darach Ruadh’ [un DA-roch ROO-ugh],

the red oak.

Sea eaglewith catch

Follow us on

1 Glen Creran

Pine Marten Trail 1¼ miles Moderate

2 Sutherland’s Grove

Giant Fir Trail ¼ mile Easy

Gorge Trail ¾ mile Strenuous

Troll Trail 1¾ miles Strenuous

3 Beinn Lora

Coastal Climb 1 mile Strenuous

Eagle’s Eyrie 2 miles Strenuous

4 Fearnoch

Ceum nan Seangan 1¼ miles Moderate

Tri Drochaidean 2¼ miles Moderate

5 Glen Nant

Riverbank Trail ¼ mile Easy

Ant Trail 2 miles Strenuous

6 Strone Hill

Waterfall Woods Trail ½ mile Moderate

An Darach Ruadh Trail 1 mile Moderate

KEY TO TRA

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© Crown copyright and database right [2018]. All rightsreserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]

River L

uachragan

Glen Nan

t

Fearnoch

Strone Hill W

aterfall

A lovely short loop that takes in a number of theforest’s highlights. You follow the river up to thedramatic gorge, before returning through mixedwoodland.

A varied route with,some steep, rough and rocky sections.Can be narrow inplaces. Often wet and muddy after rain.

¾ mile /1.3 km Allow¾ hour

Gorge Trail

Explore the woods a bit further and meet the troll who lives beside the footbridge above thegorge. This trail is a great place to spot redsquirrels too.

Varied with some fairly steep, rough and rockysections. Can be narrowin places. Often wet and muddy after rain.One bridge with a steep narrow flight of steps.

1¾ miles /3.0 km Allow1¼ hours

Troll Trail

3 Beinn LoraA short pull up the steep craggy hillside aboveBenderloch yields some great sea viewsacross Tralee Bay and the Lynn of Lorn.

Wide, firm but uneven gravel and earthsurface. Long steepslopes with some loose sections.

1 mile / 1.8 km Allow¾ hour

Coastal Climb Trail

Feel on top of the world at the breath-takingbird’s eye viewpoint on this steep butspectacular trail on the slopes of Beinn Lora.

Long steep slopes for 500m. Wide, firm gravel and stone surface withsome uneven andloose sections.

2 miles / 3.3 km Allow1½ hours

Eagle’s Eyrie Trail

4 FearnochA short wander through the mixed forest to lookout for roe deer watching from the cover of theforest, and the nests of wood ants on the ‘pathof the ants’.

Wide, firm gravel surface throughout. Long moderate slopes with some short fairly steep sections.

1¼ miles /2.0 km Allow¾ hour

Ceum Nan Seangan Trail

The 'three bridges trail' is a good tour oftranquil Fearnoch Forest, ‘the place aboundingin alders’, which can be found along thesparkling River Luachragan.

Wide, firm gravel surface throughout.Includes some steepslopes and a widebridge.

2¼ miles /3.8 km Allow1½ hours

Tri Drochaidean Trail

6 Strone HillWander through some lovely oak woodlandaround An t-Sròn to a spectacular waterfall viewpoint.

Firm but uneven gravel surfacethroughout. Some fairly steep slopes with loose stones.

½ mile / 0.9 km Allow¼ hour

Waterfall Woods Trail5 Glen Nant

A gentle stroll through the coppiced hazel woodsto a quiet picnic area by the River Nant.

Firm gravel surface throughout, but includes some grassed oversections. Generally flat with one short moderateslope by the car park.

¼ mile / 0.4 km Allow¼ hours

Riverbank Trail

Follow the winding path for a richly varied trailthrough atmospheric old oakwoods and thrivingnew woodland, rich in history and wildlife.

Narrow gravel paths with uneven sections.Long steep slopes andseveral sets of roughsteps. Some exposed tree roots and potentiallywet sections. Includes narrow bridges.

2 miles / 3.3 km Allow1½ hours

Ant Trail

The ‘red oak trail’ follows the River Lochy downthrough some beautiful native oak woodland.Look out for the amazing ‘aerial tree’.

Firm but uneven gravel path throughout. Includes steep slopesand one wide bridge.

1 mile / 1.7 km Allow¾ hour

An Darach Ruadh Trail

2 Sutherland’s Grove

A lovely shady meander through soaringDouglas firs and beside the burn – be sure to bring a picnic. In summer, the forest iscarpeted with beautiful wildflowers.

A wide, firm surface. Generally flat with short gentle gradients.

¼ mile / 0.3 km Allow¼ hours

Giant Fir Trail

Marvel at the mighty fir trees of Sutherland'sGrove, the oldest of which were planted in 1870,with more added in 1921 to commemorate LordJohn Donald Sutherland, one of the founders ofthe Forestry Commission. Some tower 53 metres(174 feet) high. As you push deeper into this vastforest, you will find more ancient oaks and Scotspines. The trails follow the gorge of the AbhainnTeithil burn, whose curiously-sculpted rockscreate entrancing waterfalls.

The challenging climb through the varied woods atthe foot of Beinn Lora is richly rewarded. The truly-panoramic views are among the most memorable in Argyll. From the Eagle's Eyrie you can look overBenderloch to the Morvern Peninsula, Mull andLismore. On clear days you can see towards thesmaller isles south of Oban.

Beyond the forest gate, the route to the summit ofBeinn Lora is across open ground and often boggybut well worth the effort.

The woodlands here are alive with wildlife as thetrails pass through the towering trees thatflourish around the River Luachragan. Look outfor red squirrels leaping through the forestcanopy. You will certainly encounter the great,domed nests of the Scottish wood ant amid thetrees. Constructed frompine needles, these cantower 1.5 metres (5 feet)high and shelter networksof tunnels and chambers,each one home to up to100,000 ants. The insectswork tirelessly to keep themounds in order, evenensuring individual needleslie in the right direction.

These tranquil oakwoods provide a sanctuary for aunique array of brightly-coloured lichens, once usedto dye villagers' clothing. The trees themselves wereharvested to fuel nearby Bonawe iron furnace. An area the size of 60 football pitches was felledevery year to produce iron for industry and warfare.Look for raised platforms that were once charcoal-burning hearths.

Stop off at this natural resting place, where forcenturies cattle drovers and other travellers alongGlen Orchy have paused for a moment. The highriverside trail passes through oak, birch and rowanwoodland that provides brilliant colour in spring andautumn and welcome shade for summer picnics.

The riverbank route has viewpoints over the riversidewaterfalls, which are particularly dramatic when theriver is in spate - perhaps you should hope for wetweather.

Loch Etiv

e from

Beinn

Lora

‘Fun

in th

e forest’ - Barcaldine forest