This waymarked forest circuit leads through the beautiful oakwoods of Glen Nant, once a hive of activity as charcoal burners produced fuel for the nearby Bonawe Furnace. There are views across to Ben Cruachan.
Summary
Waymarked paths through woodland.
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1. Park at the Glen Nant car park on the B845 south of Taynuilt. Glen Nant is a National Nature Reserve for its fine woodlands of oak, birch, hazel, ash, willow and holly; non-native trees have been removed from much of the forest to make it a fabulous refuge for wildlife. There is a very short trail along the riverbank with a picnic area. This route follows the 'Ant trail', and begins by walking up the track from the car park. Soon it crosses a cattle-grid.
2. The track eventually curves to the left and an 'ant' marker post indicates the place to leave it, turning onto a path off to the right. The trail climbs up through the trees; if you keep quiet you may be lucky enough to spot birds or perhaps red squirrels. Look out as well for the mounds which give the trail its name; Wood Ants' nests can reach half a metre in height and the ants themselves are a centimetre across.
3. The path winds to and fro and undulates pleasantly, so only a few metres are revealed at a time. The oak trees along it are coppiced - the main trunks were removed and the remainder left to grow to provide more fuel. Hardwood is needed to produce charcoal, which in turn was used at the Bonawe Iron furnace to smelt the iron. Also prolific in these woods are lichens, with many of the trees heavy with countless varieties - a sign of very clean air.
4. Cross a footbridge over the burn to reach a path junction. The walk can be shortened by turning left here, but to continue the whole loop, turn right. The path now climbs up to reach a bench with a view to Ben Cruachan. Beyond it heads left down sections of boarding and then some steps to return to the burn at a higher level; the shorter path rejoins from the left here. Cross the bridge and continue up the path opposite, which climbs a little once more.
5. There is a turning on the right at one point, but this ends at a viewpoint. Continue on the main path, passing a mound of wood topped with turf at one point. This is a recreation of a charcoal burner - the wood was burnt on sites like this all over the forest to make the charcoal, with upto six hundred people working in the woods at its height.
6. Cross a small stream and the path climbs up to meet a track. Turn left along this, which rejoins the outward route and eventually leads back to the car park.
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