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

Glenloy Forest and Strone Viewpoint

  • Glen Loy Forestry Commission car park
  • Lochaber Geopark board on Glaciers, Volcanoes and Drifting Continents
  • Route details of the Strone Viewpoint Walk
  • The start of the walk at Glen Loy Forestry Commission car park
  • The track through the plantation at Glen Loy
  • The track through the plantation towards the viewpoint at the end of the walk
  • The rough grassland/heath at end of walk affording fine views of the Nevis Range
  • Views over the Caledonian Canal to the Nevis Range
  • Views towards Fort William and Loch Linnhe
  • Views over the Caledonian Canal to the Nevis Range
  • Small heath butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Details

The track ascends through coniferous plantation (mainly firs and spruces) with some sections of mixed woodland consisting of willow, hazel, birch, cherry, beech, sycamore, whitebeam and rowan.  The grassy verges support creeping and field buttercup (Ranunculus acris and R. repens), birds foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), bugle (Ajuga reptans), wood forget-me-knot (Myosotis sylvatica), wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile ), pignut (Conopodium majus), greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) and herb robert (Geranium robertianum), to mention but a few.  Denser sections of plantation support a rich bryophyte field layer, including Common Tamarisk-moss (Thuidium tamariscinum) and Sphagnum, Hypnum and Polytrichum species interspersed with the odd hard fern and bilberry.  The walk ends in open grassland/heath.

At the end of the walk, there are some lovely views of the Ben Nevis Range, the Caledonian Canal, River Lochy, Loch Linnhe and Fort William. 

Look out for tracks and signs of pine marten in the forest and grassland, and a range of butterflies along the rides and grassland.  Listern out for conifer avian speciaists such as coal tits and siskins.  Scan the ridgelines for raptors. 

Route Details

  1. Park in the Forestry Commission Glen Loy car park.  There is an interesting  interpretation board by the entrance produced by Lochaber Geopark.   Pass through a metal gate to ascend a track with mixed deciduous woodland on the left and conifers on the right, and then with coniferous plantation on both sides.  On route, the track passes by two former viewpoints, whose views are now obscured by conifers. 
  2. Take the track on the left through an initially section of denser plantation with a rich bryophyte ground flora to a third viewpoint.  The track eventually opens up to afford stunning views of the Caledonian Canal and the northern face of the Ben Nevis Range with Loch Linnhe and Fort William in the distance.
  3. Continue along the grassy path passing through a deer gate to more open grassland with bracken encroachment for the best views.
  4. Return by the same route.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NN144811

Links to useful information

  • Lochaber Geopark Information Board at Glenloy

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

forest track

length: 

3km (1.9 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
Booking.com
Booking.com

Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

Laggan on The Ardnish Peninsula
Laggan on The Ardnish Peninsula

Seriously off-grid - fab views - no electricity - bliss

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

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