This forest circuit - waymarked as the Coalers' Trail 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.
Bog Factor
Waymarked paths through woodland.
Glen Nant forest car park.
None.
NN019272
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. Our route is waymarked in yellow as the 'Coalers' Trail', and begins by walking up the track from the car park. Soon it crosses a cattle-grid.
The track eventually curves to the left as it climbs, passing a communications mast. There are occasional views towards Ben Cruachan; if you keep quiet you may be lucky enough to spot birds or perhaps red squirrels. At a yellow waymarker post, turn right onto a narrow path. Look out as well for the ant mounds; wood ants nests can reach half a metre in height and the ants themselves are a centimetre across. 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. Eventually the path approaches a small burn. Do not cross, instead turning left - there is short boggy section - and continuing up the path on the near side.
The path crosses a small side burn on stones and climbs to a junction; the walk continues to the left, but a short detour to the right here reveals a bench with a splendid view towards Ben Cruachan. The main path continues, passing 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.
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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