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Glenborrodale Nature Trail

  • Westwards over Loch Sunart from Glenborrodale RSPB
  • RSPB Glenborrodale interpretation board
  • The old Oakwood at the start of the RSPB Glenborrodale walk
  • The path through the old oakwood in early March
  • For most part the path is easy walking
  • RSPB Glenborrodale
  • Watch out for fritillary butterflies in June
  • Eastwards over Loch Sunart - bluebells, an ancient woodland indicator species
  • RSPB Glenborrodale
  • RSPB Glenborrodale
  • Some of the walk can be a little boggy
  • Interesting heathland
  • Watch out for dragonflies by the small dam
  • Speckled wood butterfly at Glenborrodale
  • Lush green woods in June
  • The path in March
  • A slightly tricky section descending by the fence line
  • The boardwalk near the road
  • Watch out for otters walking back along the road
  • Looking up over the woodland from the road

Details

Glenborrodale on the Ardnamurchan peninsula is the RSPB’s most westerly reserve and managed for its oak woodlands.  This is a pleasant walk through deciduous woodland onto heath/moorland on the north shore of Loch Sunart, with excellent views over Loch Sunart.

A good spot for raptors on the hills (golden eagles, merlins), small passerines (redstarts, skylarks, warblers and flycatchers) in the woods and coastal birds (oyster catchers, sandpipers) on the mudflats of Loch Sunart. If you are lucky, you may see signs, or even a glimpse of red squirrel, pine marten, red deer and wild cat.  Look out for otter, seals, porpoises on the shore or open waters of Loch Sunart. In Spring, the woodlands are full of wild flowers, including bluebells, primroses, wood anemones and wood sorrel.   

Generally on well defined paths, but with a fairly steep ascent and descent and some muddy sections. There is also a section along the road at the end.

Route Details

1. Park at car park at Glenborrodale on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.  There is an interpretation board at the car park showing the route and giving some information on the site. 

Take the way marked path ascending steeply through Atlantic oak woodland with Calluna-Vacciniun understory and with Erica tetralix in the wetter areas.  There is also an abundance of bryophytes, lichens and epiphytic ferns on route.  Look back on occasion for excellent views of Loch Sunart, and ahead for views of heather and birch-clad hills.

2. The path cuts through an open grassy area with young birch encroachment and bracken in places.  Keep right where the path diverges.  Alternatively, take the short detour on the left to a viewpoint, and return by the same route. 

3. The walk soon begins to descend into a very boggy area characterized by Calluna and tussock grasses in the slightly drier areas, and Erica tertalix, bog myrtle (Myrica gale), sedges and rushes, pondweed (Potamogeton species) and bryophytes in the wetter areas. There are some boardwalk sections on route.  Look out for dragonflies, such as the endemic Highland darter (Sympetrum nigrescens) and the bog pool specialist, northern emerald (Somatochlora artica). 

4. At the end of the boardwalk section, the path passes by a steep sided ravine, a wonderful microhabitat composed of mosses, liverworts and ferns, shaded by oak and hazel.  The path begins to descend, staying with the stream for a short distance.   This section of the walk affords excellent views of Loch Sunart. 

5. The route then descends through a fine oak woodland strewn with an abundance of bryophytes and lichens (with particularly well developed Lobarion communities), passing by a fence line.  This section can be very slippery and tricky to negotiate. 

6. At the bottom of the path, turn left on the road.  Walk along the road back to the car park admiring the coastal views and wildlife on route.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM601608

Links to useful information

  • Glenborrodale RSPB Reserve
  • Glenborrodale Wildlife Page
  • Wildlife Experience Page: RSPB Glenborrodale Wildlife Walk
  • RSPB Glenborrodale Summer Walks 2019

grade: 

  • moderate

terrain: 

path with steep ascent/descent

length: 

2.6km (1.6 miles)

Type: 

  • circular

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
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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

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Glencoe and Loch Leven

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Walking

Walking

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

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Fort William

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Wildlife

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Wildlife

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

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Ardnamurchan

West Highland Peninsulas

Ardnamurchan and The West Highland Peninsulas

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Activities

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Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

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Day Trips

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