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Erracht Oakwood Walk

  • The track through the ancient oak woodland in Glen Loy
  • The start of the walk to Erracht Oakwoods
  • The forest track through coniferous plantation
  • Keep left at the first junction on the forest track
  • Keep right at the second junction on the forest track
  • One of the many lovely ferns on the track edge
  • The track continues through mature coniferous forest
  • The track eventually leads to the edge of the ancient oak woodland
  • Look out for the small gravel path on the right up into the oak woodlands
  • A male bullfinch in the oak woodland
  • An orange-tip butterfly
  • Greater stitchwort
  • The path through the old woodlands
  • The path continues through the woodland as it descends back to the forest track
  • Lovely views through the woodlands to Sron Liath
  • Look out for the path descending into the woodlands after you return to the forest track
  • The mature oak woodland in Glen Loy
  • Returning on the lower forest track to rejoin the track back to the car park

Details

A walk through spruce plantation to a lovely remnant of oak woodland.

Most of the walk is on a forest tracks through a plantation of mainly Sitka spruce with scattered rowan, bird cherry, willow and hazel. The verges support bluebell, creeping and meadow buttercups, tormentil, greater stitchwort, violets, self heal, germander speedwell, as well as male fern, butler fern and hard fern. The forest track crosses several small streams on route, some lined with alder.

The remnant of oak woodland supports some fine specimens of oak, with ash, rowan, holly and alder, as well as scattered birch, beech and hawthorn. There are also some lovely stands of hazel, and willow is found in the damper areas. The understorey is combination of heather, bilberry and hard fern, with tormentil, bluebell, wood sorrel, violets, yellow pimpernel, wood spurge, wood sage and honeysuckle, as well as some lovely male ferns. There is also some bracken encroachment. The mature oak trees are variously strewn with bryophytes and lichens according to the local microclimate.

The verges, woods and heath provide nectar sources for a range of butterflies and day-flying moths, including speckled wood, chequered skipper, pearl bordered fritillary, small pearl bordered fritillary, green hairstreak, green veined white, Scotch Argus, large heath and the day flying moth argent and sable. Look out for pine marten scats.

Listen out for a range of migrant and resident woodland species.

Look out for dipper and otter along the banks of the River Loy. Erracht oak woodlands is stunning is Spring, however, it should be noted that is a fairly long walk to access the small section of oakwood.

Route Details

1. Take the track from the road (B8004) just east of the River Loy. Veer right at the house and park in one of the designated spaces in the small car park.

2. Pass through a small metal gate by the cattle gird and ascend on a forest track through Sitka spruce plantation. Where the two paths diverge, take the path to the left (the lower track). Later, bear right, ignoring track on the left.

Eventually the plantation gives way to a lovely section of ancient oakwood. Shortly after a small steam take a small gravel path up into the woods on the right. This is a lovely section of the walk.

3. At the end of the short meandering loop through the woodland, turn left and head back along the forest track for a short distance, passed the entrance to the forest loop. Shortly after this, take the small gravel path on the right that descends through another section of the woodland. Take time to relish the beauty of the woodland.

Alternatively you can either turn right for a short detour from the short loop by continuing to walk to the end of the forest track to see some calcareous flora along the verges and look out for a variety of butterflies. Pass through a deer gate, with oakwood on left and open deforested area on right. Return by the same route.

4. Turn left at T junction as the track skirts the banks of the boulder strewn River Loy a grassy verged track. The track soon disappears into coniferous plantation, with only the rustle of the river remaining until it is lost completely as the path diverges away.

5. The track ascends gradually until it reaches a T-junction. At the T-junction turn right and continue on the track through the plantation.

6. Continue straight on where two paths meet and descend to the car park.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NN149821

Links to useful information

  • Forestry Commission - Erracht oakwwod walk
  • Forestry Commission - Glen Loy Wood

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

track and path

length: 

4.3 km (2.7 miles)

Type: 

  • there and back

Map: 

OS Explorer 399 - Loch Arkaig

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

Skye Fall on the shores of Loch Lochy
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Fort William Walking Pages

  • Allt Mhuic Butterfly Reserve
  • Caledonian Canal Aqueducts
  • Cow Hill
  • Crofters Woods
  • Dun Deardail
  • Erracht Oakwood Walk
  • Fort William and Old Inverlochy Castle
  • Gairlochy Caledonian Canal
  • Glengarry Native Pinewoods
  • Glenloy Forest and Strone Viewpoint
  • High Bridge and The Commando Memorial
  • Killiechonate Woodland Walk
  • Loch Arkaig to Invermallie Bothy
  • Neptune's Staircase and Corpach
  • Nevis Gorge and An Steall
  • Roy Bridge and The River Spean
  • The River Lundy Trail
  • The Wee Minister

Glencoe

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Glencoe and Loch Leven

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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

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Ardnamurchan and The West Highland Peninsulas

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Activities

Activities

Activities

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

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Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

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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

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