Skip to main content
Wild About Lochaber

Wild About Lochaber

where great adventures begin...

Search form

Menu

  • Home
  • Explore
    • Wild Lochaber
    • Ardnamurchan, Moidart & Morvern
    • Fort William and Glen Nevis
    • Glencoe and Loch Leven
    • The Road To The Isles
    • #WildLochaber Photo Gallery
  • Accommodation
    • Self Catering
    • Caravan & Campsites
    • Hotels and B&Bs
  • Walking
    • Map of All Walks
    • Ardnamurchan and Moidart
    • Arisaig Mallaig and Glenfinnan
    • Fort William and Glen Nevis
    • Glencoe, Loch Leven & Argyll
  • Wildlife
    • Map of Wildlife Sites
    • Wildlife Experiences
    • Wildlife Habitats
  • Things To Do
    • Activity Providers
    • Beaches
    • Castles
    • Destinations
    • Gardens
    • Geology
    • Geopark Rock Route
    • Historic Attractions
    • Museums and Interpretation
    • Railways
    • Wildlife Experiences
    • Wildlife Hotspots
  • Travel
    • Electric Vehicle Charging Points
    • Ferries
    • Petrol Stations
    • The Caledonian Sleeper
  • What's On
    • Calendar
    • Arts, Culture and Community Events
    • Family Friendly Events
    • Walking Events
    • Wildlife & Geology Events
    • Events on Discover Glencoe
    • Road to The Isles & Ardnamurchan
  • Blogs
    • Ardnamurchan Area Blogs
    • Glencoe Area Blogs
    • Lochaber Blogs
    • West Coast Island Blogs
    • Wild About Lochaber Blog

Alphabet Trail

  • Fluttering fritillaries on The Alphabet Trail in June
  • The gaelic Alphabet Trail
  • The path from the car park to Lochan na Dunaich
  • Lochan na Dunaich
  • Water lillies on the lochan in early Summer
  • The walkway around the end of the Lochan
  • The Wood School, Sgoil Na Coille
  • The Alphabet Trail is a great place for dragonfly stalking
  • The track up to the small circular hill walk with fine views over Loch Sunart
  • The short circular walk around the small hill above the Alphabet Trail  is well defines
  • Looking east up Loch Sunart from the circular hill walk
  • A female Norther Eggar moth seen in June
  • Golden ringed dragonfly on The Alphabet Trail
  • A common toad in April
  • A Longhorn beetle, Leptura quadrifasciata (aka Strangalia quadrifasciata) in June
  • Small Pearl bordered fritillary on The Alphabet Trail
  • Northern Emerald dragonfly on the Alphabet Trail in July
  • Dark green fritillary on the Alphabet Trail in July
  • Oil beetle on the Alphabet Trail in July
  • A freshly emerged golden-ringed dragonfly with its exuvia

Details

The Salen Alphabet Trail provides an interesting introduction to the importance of nature and plants to the Gaelic culture.  The information boards in the car park introduce the Gaelic alphabet which has eighteen letters, each of which is associated with a species of tree.    The walk also affords some lovely views of Ben Resipole and Loch Sunart.  There is also a picnic bench near the car park.

Look out for a range of woodland birds, including coal tits, siskins, crossbills and woodpeckers in the plantation, as well as the tracks and signs of pine marten and wild cat on the heath.  Scan the sky for buzzards, ravens, and golden eagles.   The lochan is also a good site for dragonfly stalking in the summer; look out for the highland darter (Sympetrum nigrescens).

Route Details

1. Park at the car park just south east of Salen on the A861.  Take the gravelled track by the picnic bench and then take the left hand path around the edge of the lochan (Lochan na Dunaich).  The lochan is particularly lovely in summer when the water lilies (Nymphaea alba) are in full bloom and dragonflies are on the wing.   

2. Once you have looped round the lochan, turn left and, after 200m, turn right onto a track leading uphill through a plantation (sitka spruce and larch) and onto open heathland.  At the top of the track, take the left hand loop of the path which heads around the heath/moorland.  The path is generally distinct, affording fantastic views of Ben Resipole and Loch Sunart on a fine day. 

3. Return by the same forest track, and then turn left to return on the gravelled track to the car park.

There is also a covered rustic outdoor ‘school’ (Salen Forest School) and composting loo on site which can be explored at the bottom of the forest track. 

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM693644

Links to useful information

  • Ardnamurchan Day Trips - Salen, Resipole and The Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

track and path

length: 

1.5-3km (1-2 miles)

Type: 

  • lollipop

Map: 

OS Explorer Map 390 - Ardnamurchan

OS Map

>>view map in full window

Google Map

Safety

Route details and information are provided in good faith.  All walking is potentially dangerous and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are properly dressed and equipped, have a map and compass, have checked and planned your route in advance and are able to navigate effectively.  Maps displayed on these walking pages are intended as an overview of the walk and are NOT suitable for navigation.  Please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and respect landowners and residents' privacy.  Always check the weather forecast and let others know if you are walking in the hills.

Walking

  • Walking Overview
  • Map of All Walks
  • Ardnamurchan and Moidart
  • Arisaig, Mallaig and Glenfinnan
  • Fort William and Glen Nevis
  • Glencoe, Loch Leven & Argyll
Booking.com

Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

Ardrhu Cottage
Ardrhu Cottage

Lochside cottage on the banks of Loch Linnhe in Onich with Glencoe mountains in the back ground.

Ardnamurchan Walking Pages

  • Alphabet Trail
  • Aoineadh Mor
  • Ardmolich Woodland Walk
  • Ardnastaing and Scotstown
  • Ardtornish Castle
  • Ariundle Oakwoods
  • Bay MacNeil Beach
  • Bay of Flies
  • Ben Hiant
  • Ben Resipole
  • Blain Burn Circular
  • Bourblaige Cleared Settlement
  • Camas nan Geall
  • Castle Tioram Circular
  • Castle Tioram Viewpoint
  • Claish Plantation
  • Corrantee Lead Mines from Ardnastaing
  • Corrantee Lead Mines from Polloch
  • Dalilea Walks
  • Dorlin Low Road
  • Fairy Walk
  • Fascadale and Port Eigin-aig
  • Galmadale Dam
  • Garbh Eilean Wildlife Walk
  • Ghardail Loop
  • Glen Moidart
  • Glenborrodale Nature Trail
  • Glendrian and Port Eigin-aig
  • Greadal Fhinn Chambered Cairn
  • Kentra Bay and The Singing Sands
  • Kentra Moss Circular
  • Kilmory Beach
  • Kinlochaline Low Road
  • Kinlochmoidart Old Road
  • Loch Teacuis Northside
  • Mingary Castle
  • Ockle to The Singing Sands
  • Polloch and Loch Shiel
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil
  • Portuairk to Sanna
  • Prince's Walk
  • Rahoy Hills - Black Water
  • Rahoy Hills - Loch Arienas
  • Salen Oakwoods
  • Shielfoot Torr
  • Silver Walk
  • Smirisary Walk
  • Sonachan Wood and Heathland
  • St Columba's Chapel, Drimnin
  • Strontian Community Woodland
  • Tennyson's Waterfall

Glencoe

Discover Glencoe

Glencoe and Loch Leven

>>

Walking

Walking

Take a Walk on The Wild Side...

with over 100 wildlife focused walks across Lochaber, you'll be spoilt for choice

>>

Fort William

Fort William

Fort William, The Outdoor Capital

>>

Wildlife

wildlife

Wildlife

Home to Scotland's Big Five, red deer, golden eagle, otter, red squirrel, seals and so much more. A Wildlife Adventure Awaits.

>>

Ardnamurchan

West Highland Peninsulas

Ardnamurchan and The West Highland Peninsulas

>>

Activities

Activities

Activities

kayaking, wildlife watching, cruising, cycling, golfing, climbing, skiing, slow adventures and many more things to do

>>

Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

>>

Day Trips

Day trips

Day Trps

Take off for the day to see the puffins on The Treshnish Isles, A Day trip to Mull, Skye, The Small Isles, The Most westerly point on the mainland and many more local ideas for a day out

>>

  • Advertising
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Photos and Content Copyright ©2011-2023 Wild About Lochaber - All Rights Reserved

  • Wild About Lochaber on YouTube
  • Wild About Lochaber on Pinterest
  • Wild About Lochaber on Instagram
  • Wild About Lochaber on FaceBook
  • Wild About Lochaber on Twitter
Share/Save