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.
Waymarked paths through woodland.
None.
Glen Nant forest car park.
The two footbridges in stage 4 have been removed for safety reasons. Forest and Land Scotland have waymarked an alternative variant to the route described, at the same length and grade. If the bridges have been reinstated please let us know.
The information shown above is the latest we have. If you have an update then please email us.
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.
The track eventually curves to the left near an interpretation board - ignore a faint path off right here and continue on the track until an 'ant' marker post indicates the place to turning onto a path off to the right. The trail climbs up through the trees, with views towards Ben Cruachan; 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.
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.
Cross a small burn. On the far side the path now bears left and climbs up by the burn before reaching and crossing again.
The path climbs to a junction; the walk continues to the left, but a short detour to the right here reveals a splendid viewpoint for 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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