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Allt Mhuic Butterfly Reserve

  • Allt Mhuic Butterfly Reserve - Loch Arkaig
  • Loch Arkaig
  • Picnic bench in the car park
  • Allt Mhuic interpretation board
  • The start of the path round the butterfly reserve
  • The grassy path up the hill is a good place for butterflies
  • Scotch Argus butterfly in late July
  • Bog Asphodel
  • A waterfall at the top of the path
  • Grassy path back down the hill with fine views over Loch Arkaig

Details

Alt Mhuic Butterfly Reserve is on the north shores of Loch Arkaig in Lochaber.  The reserve is managed jointly for the conservation of butterflies by the Forestry Commission and Butterfly Conservation.

This pleasant scenic short walk passes through grassland, heath and open deciduous woodland.  An interpretation board and accompanying leaflet provides an introduction to the reserve.

The grassland supports a diversity of flowering plants, including eyebright (Euphrasia agg.), milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), tormentil (Potentilla erecta), devils-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) and common cowheat (Melampyrum pratense).   The heath consists of heather (Calluna vulgaris),and bell heather (Erica cinerea), with lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica),, cross-leaved bell heather (Erica tetralix), cotton grass, bog myrtle (Myrica gale), bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragu) , insectivorous sundews (Drosera spp), Juncus species and Carex species in the wetter areas.    There are several orchid species on the reserve, including Lesser Twayblade, (Neottia cordata) Fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea), Heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata).

The wooded section consists of some fine specimens of oak, birch, alder, rowan, and hazel, many cloaked in lichens and bryophytes.

There are some lovely views of Loch Arkaig and the surrounding hills.  Look out for a range of woodland birds, including flycatchers and warblers, as well as the tracks and signs of pine marten.  Look out for raptors and corvids over the hills and heathland.     Look out for dippers and otters along the burn.

Look out for a range of butterfly species flitting from flower to flower in the grasslands and heath, including the rare chequered skipper, only found in the UK within a 30 mile radius of Fort William. The chequered skippers is best seen between mid May and end of June feeding on bugle, bluebell and marsh thistle.  The Scotch Argus and meadow browns are particularly noticeable in midsummer.

The path can be very boggy in places.

Route Details

The reserve is just west of Clunes off the B6014.  Park in the reserve car park on the north shore of Loch Arkaig. 

Go through the wooden gate and follow a broad grassy path, way-marked by reserve posts through grassland and heath studded with mature trees.   The route follows the tree-fringed burn up the hillside, with its evocative soundscape.    

The path eventually passes through another gate and onto a forest track.  Turn left and cross a wooden bridge, taking time to admire the burn, cutting through the hillside with its many small waterfalls.   

Follow the forest track for approximately 100 metres before turning left as directed by the way-marker post.  The route now heads back down the hill on a grassy path.  The descent affords some fantastic views Loch Arkaig and the surrounding hills, as well as the burn with its steeped side ravine, whose sides are cloaked with dense patches of hard fern (Blechnum spicant), male ferns (Dryopteris spp) and scattered stunted birch, guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) and oak.

The path passes by some deserted stone buildings and then crosses a small stream on stepping stones. 

Pass through another gate and descend onto the single track road.

Turn left and walk back along the tree-fringed to the car park, with the shores of Loch Akraig on your right. 

 

Location

starting grid ref: 

NN120911

Links to useful information

  • Butterfly Conservation Reserve Information
  • Forestry Commision Reserve Information
  • Allt Mhuic Wildlife page
  • UK moths website
  • Forestry Commision Action Plan for Chequered skipper

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

grassy path

length: 

1.6 km (1 mile)

Type: 

  • circular

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

The Isles of Glencoe Hotel
The Isles of Glencoe Hotel

The Isles of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Centre nestles on the shores of Loch Leven a short distance from Ballachulish and the village of Glencoe.  The hotel offers some 59 rooms and has a leisure centre with a swimming pool on site.  There are a number of walks nearby including the Brecklet Trail and The Glencoe Lochans.  There are also a number of operators nearby offering boat trips on Loch Leven.

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

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Walking

Walking

Take a Walk on The Wild Side...

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

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Fort William

Fort William

Fort William, The Outdoor Capital

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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.

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Ardnamurchan

West Highland Peninsulas

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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