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Rahoy Hills - Loch Arienas

  • Looking over the woodland canopy to Loch Arienas
  • The start of the walk to the deserted village of Arienas in the Rahoy Hills Wildlife Reserve
  • Boulderfield and cairns at the start of the Arienas walk
  • A bench with great views over Loch Arienas
  • Atlantic Oak woodland on the banks of Loch Arienas
  • The path passes through heathland which can be quite boggy
  • Heath spotted orchids
  • The bridge just before the deserted village of Arienas
  • Monuments to nature
  • The deserted village of Arienas

Details

A walk through oak woodland and heathland along the shores of Loch Arienas to the deserted village of Arienas in the Scottish Wildlife Trust Rahoy Hills Reserve.  The Rahoy Hill Reserve is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. 

Look out for golden eagle, buzzard, golden plover, greenshank and red deer in the hills.  Listen out for tree pipit, redstart, redpoll, wood warbler and greater spotted woodpecker in the woodlands and  heron, sandpiper and oyster catcher along the shoreline, as well as diving and dabbling ducks, red-throated and black-throated divers and cormorants on the open water.  Seek out for the tracks and signs of pine marten, wildcat, fox and otter on route.

The site supports a range of habitat sites, including wet grassland, heath and woodland.  Look out for wet grassland/bog specialists, including heath spotted orchids ((Dactylorhiza maculata), whose pink and purple streaked flowers are resplendent in Summer.   Calluna-Erica assemblages dominate the open areas of the hillside, with bog myrtle (Myrica gale), bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) in the wetter areas of the heath.  Oak interspersed with birch, rowan, hazel and ash are found on the lower slopes, with willow species in the wetter areas. These Atlantic oak woodlands support diverse assemblages of lichens, mosses and liverworts, as well as a species rich ground flora, most notable of which are the primroses, violets, bluebells, vetches, pimpernels and scabious species, all resplendent in Spring and Summer.  The woodlands also support a range of ferns, most numerous of which is hard fern (Blechnum spicant).  There are also extensive patches of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) by the shores of the Loch.  Marvel at the intricate patchworks of lichens on boulders and Precambrian schist outcrops. The Atlantic oakwoods along the north shore of Loch Arienas are designated as a Special Area of Conservation.

The deserted settlement of Arienas consists of the remains of former houses and barns. The village was abandoned in the 19th century. The remains of charcoal burners’ huts, charcoal platforms and a stone dyke have also been found in the woods around Loch Arienas.   The deserted village of Acharn also had corn mills and its structures associated remain visible in the surrounding area including the lade.  There is also a series of bronze age platform cairns, 300m north-west of Acharn, with cairn 3 also identified as an Iron Age cremation burial (see links for further details).

The path is a mixed of grass, gravel and stones, which can be very boggy in places.

Route details

1. Park at the Reserve car park, near Acharn, off the A884 between Strontian and Lochaline.  There is an interpreation board in the car park giving an overview and route of the walk. Head downhill toward the farmhouse, keeping right and crossing the river on the wooden bridge. At the far side of the bridge and before you reach the farmhouse, go through the kissing gate and follow the tree-lined, boulder strewn river, Black Water, for a short section on a grassy path as signposted. 

2. Go through another kissing gate and then veer left around the edge of the hill Meall Achadh a’ Chuirn, following the way marker posts.  The path crosses rough grassland and provides good views of the surrounding hills, flanked with a combination of deciduous oak woodland and coniferous plantation.

3. Cross the style and skirt by the fenceline, heading towards Loch Arienas, with its golden sand bars visible on the southern shore.  Go through the deer gate and into the woodland.  The path now ascends through Atlantic oak woodland.  The path can be very boggy at the start as evident by the wet grassland specialist flora.

At the top of the path there is a viewpoint with a welcome bench providing lovely views over Loch Arienas. 

The path continues through the woodland, interspersed by heath and grassland.  There are stunning views on route of Loch Arienas and the steep sided, flat topped basaltic hills to the south, as the path skirts the edge of the Loch.

4. Pass through another deer gate and continue skirting the edge of the Loch through open grassland, dotted with the odd venerable oak, clad in bryophytes and lichens.

5. Cross the remains of a dry stone wall and then a small wooden bridge across the tree-lined Arienas Burn. 

Once across the bridge, you can explore the deserted settlement of Arienas on the hillside at Arienas Point, with its ruined dry stone buildings.  There is also a cairn on the shoreline next to some fine mature ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior), dedicated to the naturalist Brian Brookes, author of the British Naturalist Association Guide to Mountain and Moorland. 

6. Return by the same route.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM703504

Links to useful information

  • Rahoy Hills Wildlife Page
  • Scottish Wildlife Trust
  • SWT Reserve Leaflet
  • Rahoy Hills- Black Water Walk
  • Small Cairns in Argyll
  • Cairn 3 Acharn, Morvern, Argyll

grade: 

  • moderate

terrain: 

rough path - boggy in places

length: 

4.5km (2.8 miles)

Type: 

  • there and back

Map: 

OS Explorer 383 - Morvern

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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Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

Brae Mhor Cottage
Brae Mhor Cottage

Three bedroom cottage in a rural location with views of Ben Nevis and the surrounding countryside, yet within easy reach of Fort William

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

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