The stunningly beautiful Taynish peninsula is a National Nature Reserve. One of the largest original oakwoods remaining in Britain, the reserve offers a bit of everything; peaceful loch shores, woodland, wildlife and views.
Summary
Good woodland paths and tracks with some ascent. The walk can be made easier by omitting the detours.
Terrain
Users'
rating
Bus to Tayvallich then a 2.5km walk to reach the reserve car park
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. From the south end of Tayvallich take the minor road signed for Taynish and follow it (with care - it is rough in the later stages) to the small nature reserve car park. Begin the walk by following the 'Woodland Trail' which is the continuation of the access track. The track is lined with fine trees but the bog is also visible over to the left; this is one of the most important parts of the reserve and is home to rare plants, butterflies and dragonflies. Soon the track passes a whitewashed cottage, the Gate House - it was built as a lodge for Taynish House at the end of the peninsula. After just over another 300 metres look out for the Barr Mor Trail which heads off to the right.
2. The Barr Mor trail can be done as an optional and steep detour from the main track. If doing it, the path heads over to the right and then climbs steeply through magnificent woodland, with many steps, at one point passing a reconstruction of a charcoal burner such as would have been used here during the 18th and 19th centuries. Continue up to the bare area on the summit of the hill; pollen research suggests that people grew crops and grazed livestock here for thousands of years. The path continues down the far side of the hill to eventually join the access road; it is best to follow it as far as the wooden seat marked B3 for the superb views, taking in the Paps of Jura as well as countless miles of coastline and woodlands, before returning back downhill to continue the main walk on the track.
3. The track passes a bench and then goes through a gap in a drystone dyke or wall. Continue until the track junction by an information post and some storage buildings. A second detour can be made from here to visit two points on the coastline of the reserve. To make this diversion, bear right off the main track and go through the gate to the left of the sheds into a grassy field. The route forks in the field at a post; the right hand branch leads to a nearby bit of shoreline. The left branch continues through the woods, turning right when it reaches a gate. It then crosses open shore ground to reach a bench close to the coast. If you are lucky, you might spot otters from here, swimming in the tidal rapids at the tip of the peninsula. After making both these detours, return to the track by the storage sheds and turn right to continue the main route.
4. The track now climbs slightly to reach a gate into an open grassy field, with Taynish House visible in the distance. Built in 1650, the house is still privately owned; the octagonal building to its left is a dairy. Immediately on the far side of the gate turn left on the marked path through the field, soon coming alongside a fence. Eventually it reaches another gate where the woodland is entered once more, with a bench enjoying the first views of the southeastern side of the Taynish reserve.
5. The path now turns to the left, following the fence at first before heading more deeply into the woods, passing through a gap in a wall. The path ascends and runs along a low ridge. A second wall is reached with two stone pillars; this is part of the original road to Taynish House. The near side of the wall was grazed until 1975 but as part of the reserve in recent years it has begun to flourish once more.
6. The path now continues through the finest part of the woodland, christened the 'rainforest' due to its damp conditions and the variety of species, such as mosses, liverworts and lichens, that it supports. It eventually descends and becomes a little rougher; where it seems to fork by some rocks keep to the right and descend a few steps. Here is Taynish Mill, where local crofters would have brought their corn; the building is in ruins but has a fine waterfall and location. Just beyond the mill is a picnic area; you can divert down to the shore to the right. When you've explored enough, turn left to follow an easy path back to the car park.
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