This enjoyable walk climbs above a dramatic gorge with a fine waterfall, before an optional detour up to visit a remote and peaceful hill loch. The return leads past the Library in the Woods.
Bog Factor
Good footpaths throughout.
Car parks at the Eas Mor Ecology centre, at the Kildonan road turning from the A841.
Bus will stop on request.
NS019217
There are car parks on both sides of the A841 at the Eas Mòr Ecology centre, where the Kildonan Road branches off. Begin the walk by taking the footpath past the centre, which houses the Forest at the Falls cafe. Continue up the path to the left of the buildings, ignore a track off left.
The well-made path climbs between lines of trees; volunteers are helping convert conifers to native woodland. As height is gained there are excellent views looking back over the sea, to the Isle of Fladda and even distant Ailsa Craig.
There are several viewing platforms overlooking the deep gorge to the right. The very last one gives a view to the slender but high Eas Mòr waterfall which plunges over the cliff into the ravine in a single dramatic drop.
A short distance beyond the path curves round above the back of the gorge. At a stone seat there's a path junction. The short route continues towards the library to the right, but to detour to Loch Garbad take the path off left. This soon climbs clear of the trees and reaches open ground.
Further up the hill the path fords a small burn which can usually be crossed with dry feet but may be a problem in spate. Beyond this the path leads up to a track. Turn right along this, then after it soon swings back left turn off right again to continue on the footpath. This climbs up to the trees to reach Loch Garbad, which is popular for fishing. There's a picnic table.
Retrace your steps back down to the junction mentioned in stage 4, and now turn left to continue down the left side of the gorge.
Soon another junction is reached. The return route keeps ahead, but first turn right to pay a visit to the Eas Mòr Ecology library - also known as the Library in the Woods. It is lined with drawings and text left by visitors.
Return to the main path and continue downhill. The route leads past an outdoor amphitheatre, and then continues down to another junction. Turn right here (signed for car park), then left once you are down at the burn. Keep right at a fork to reach and cross a footbridge, climbing zig-zags on the far side and keeping left again to pass a small pond and return to the cafe and the start.
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