Loch Fleet and Balblair Wood

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A beautiful exploration of Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, a haven for birds, deer and pine martens. This circular walk takes in the shoreline as well as beautiful Scots pine and birch woodland.

Terrain

Clear path, forestry track and pebbly shoreline.

Public Transport

None to Littleferry but the walk could be joined from Golspie by following a path along the coastline. Bus/train at Golspie.

Start

Parking opposite entrance to Balblair Wood. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

From the parking area, take the signed path through the trees past the information boards After a short while cross a small wooden bridge and continue through the trees. The Sutherland monument at the top of Ben Bhraggie is visible to the right here. Keep a sharp eye in these woods, which are a breeding ground for Scottish crossbill. Further on, pass a group of picnic tables. Keep straight ahead when a track joins from the right.

Stage 2

A short distance further on a path (waymarked) bears left off the track to detour to a beautiful bird hide overlooking Loch Fleet, renowned for its ducks, geese and waders. Loch Fleet is a mecca for birds including oystercatchers, shelducks, widgeon, eider ducks, bar-tailed godwits and dunlins in the winter as well as numerous grey lag and pink-footed geese which use this as an overwintering spots. It is also a good spot to watch seals when the sand banks are exposed and you may catch sight of an elusive otter. Return to the track and continue until a clear fork - take the left branch here. The track passes to the right of a house at Balblair.

Stage 3

Continue past the house, now on a narrower track that comes closer to the shoreline in places, but remains within the woods. Keep along the track through the trees; when it swings sharp right, continue ahead on a clear path that can be a little overgrown with gorse.

Stage 4

Keep ahead until the path emerges onto the shore and then follow it to the right, keeping along the pebbly shoreline. There are now good views to the head of Loch Fleet with the A9 bridge slanting up from the Mound, a causeway built by Thomas Telford in 1816.

Stage 5

Keep following the shoreline, there are good views of Creag Beag straight ahead and the larger mountains further inland. At a large bay head inland (bear right) on a path leading into the pinewoods. There are a few old marker posts - a reminder of when this whole route was once waymarked. The path soon comes to a track, turn right here to follow it through younger Scots Pines planted following the loss of much of the original trees in a storm.

Stage 6

This is a good area to spot roe deer and sometimes pine martens. There are three rare flowers that link this wood to others at the same latitude, these are creeping ladies tresses, twinflower, and a one-flowered wintergreen which is also known as St Olaf's candlestick. Balblair Wood contains 90% of the UK's population of this rare plant. Continue following the track, going straight across at a cross roads with a treehouse lookout. At the fork keep straight on and eventually return over the footbridge and through the trees to the parking area at the start.

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Loch Fleet and Balblair Wood

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Terrain

Public Transport

Start

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