Loch Gruinart RSPB reserve trail

Summary

A short, easy walk through woodland to a viewing platform overlooking Loch Gruinart, a bird watchers' paradise, and visit two bird hides.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Clear path with boardwalks, dogs not allowed in hides. Short walk to viewing platform accessible for wheelchairs.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

RSPB Gruinart. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 2.5km / 1.5 miles
Time: 1 hour
Ascent: 11m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NR276675

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

The walk starts from a car park 360metres up the minor road heading north towards Ardnave from the RSPB Loch Gruinart visitor centre at Aoradh Farm on the B8017. The visitor centre is well worth a visit and there are toilets and hot drinks available. The car park is on the left hand side of the Ardnave road. From here walk back through the gate and turn right along the road for a very short distance before going through a gate on the far side. At the junction keep ahead to reach the viewing platform overlooking Loch Gruinart. In the winter the water and grassland is home to thousands of barnacle and white fronted geese, in summer you may well hear the rasping call of the corncrake or see hen harriers and peregrines hunting.

Stage 2

Continue down the path to reach a gate, turn left onto a track and almost immediately right onto a path marked with a white arrow. Keep left to reach the first hide. Here you can read what other people have seen recently. In spring displaying wading birds including redshanks, curlew, snipe and lapwings can be seen. Very occasionally an otter has also been spotted.

Stage 3

Return to the track from the hide and back up past the viewing platform. Turn right at the junction signed Woodland Trail. After the boardwalk the path winds through the trees and then runs alongside more open land where you may hear the distinctive rasp of the corncrake which likes to keep hidden in areas of yellow iris and nettles. When the path joins another keep right to head downhill and out of the wood towards Loch Gruinart.

Stage 4

Soon the second hide is reached. Barn owls, hen harriers and golden eagles have been spotted hunting here. During the autumn and winter large flocks of birds gather to feed and fly together at dusk. The corncrake arrives in mid-May and stays until August or early September before setting off on its migration to Africa. Return to the wood and stay on the main path heading uphill marked with a white arrow. Follow it through the trees to emerge on the road, turn left along this to return to the start.

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