Balmacara Estate & Lochalsh Woodland Garden.
'A
crofting estate of 2750ha (6795a) with outstanding view of Skye and
Applecross. The Trust encourages active crofting on the eight
townships and is creating several new crofts. Plockton is an
Outstanding Conservation Area. Lochalsh Woodland Garden provides
pleasant sheltered walks beside the shores of Loch Alsh. Mature
Scorts pine, oaks and beeches with developing collections of
rhododendrons, bamboo, ferns, fuchsias and hydrangeas all flourish.
Kiosk with informal interpretation of the garden and estate...'
Open All year.
Tel: 01599 566325
NTS
In
this area:
Wester Ross
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An Teallach: A832 about ten miles
north of Poolewe. A jagged ridge of
rock which draws experienced walkers and mountaineers like a magnet.
A little further up from An Teallach is the
Fisherfield Forest with
some lovely walking.
In this area:
Wester Ross
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Ben Wyvis.
SNH. The highest mountain
in the area at 1046m. The great whaleback ridge of Ben Wyvis is
covered in a carpet of woolly hair moss and is home to many
interesting plants and animals including red and roe deer, pine
marten and golden eagle. The lower slopes support dwarf shrub heath
and boglands with plants like dwarf birch, cloudberry and dwarf
cornel.
Main path for climbing starts a few miles
beyond Garve on the Ullapool road - fifteen miles west of Inverness
off the A835. A path through the forest onto the reserve is
signposted from the car park on the A835.
Note: deer stalking takes place between August and October - please
contact the Hillphones Service for advice on suitable routes at these times.
In this area:
Firthlands
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Beinn Eighe National Nature
Reserve. Impressive mountain scenery where you could find golden
eagles, red deer.'
Beinn Eighe, Britain’s first
National Nature Reserve, features wonderful mountain scenery and
ancient pinewood fragments overlooking Loch Maree.
The reserve is home to a diversity of Highland wildlife, including
red deer, golden eagle and the elusive pine marten.
The woodland is rich in moisture loving mosses and liverworts, and
the bogs support an outstanding variety of dragonflies...'
Two
miles north-west of Kinlochewe off the A832 road.
Open All year
Tel: 01445 760254
Photo credit to
John MacPherson
In this area:
Wester Ross
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Cape Wrath. The most
north-westerly point on the British mainland. It is accessible via
a ferry across the Kyle of Durness at Keodale
which connects with a mini bus in the summer months. You could of
course walk. 'The
area is outstanding for birdlife during all seasons of the year. The
area is particularity important for large populations of migratory species
that visit either during the breeding season or to over winter....A variety of
Arctic and Alpine plants may also be found here growing at sea level. This
combination is unique to this area and for this reason, much of the Cape
Wrath area is designated as a SSSI (Special Site of Scientific Interest.)...'
Web
Walking
Cape Wrath
In this area:
NW Sutherland
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Corrieshalloch Gorge
National Nature Reserve.
'This spectacular mile-long gorge, 61 m (200 ft) deep, is one of
the finest examples in Britain of a box canyon. [Meltwaters
created the gorge shortly before glaciers left the area] The river Droma which
carved this channel through hard metamorphic rock plunges 46 m (150
ft) over the Falls of Measach. The suspension bridge a little way
downstream from the falls was built by John Fowler (1817-98), joint
designer of the Forth Railway Bridge. Further downstream, a viewing
platform provides an excellent vantage point looking up towards the
falls..'.
NTS
On A835 12 miles s.east of Ullapool.
Parking in a layby off A835. A path leads to the suspension bridge.
Open access
Tel: 01445 781200
Web
In this area:
Wester Ross/NW Sutherland
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Corrimony RSPB Reserve:
22 miles/35 km south-west of Inverness, off A831
between Cannich and Glen Urquhart. Park in the Corrimony Cairns car
park.
Set in one of the most superb landscapes in Britain, Corrimony has
open moorland, conifer plantations and native woodland. Way-markers
guide visitors to Loch Comhnard which in summer attracts common
sandpipers, greenshanks and curlews, along with occasional
red-throated divers and ospreys. In winter, look for goldeneyes and
whooper swans. Black grouse are often seen in the birchwoods and
spotted flycatchers, bullfinches and wood warblers nest in the
pinewoods
Web
In this area:
Firthlands
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The Dolphin and Seal Centre at North Kessock
is run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. The centre
is one of the many great places in the Moray Firth where you can
often see dolphins and seals in their natural habitat. The
Dolphin and Seal Centre is open June - September and can provide
information about the local wildlife and where's best to see it.
Bottlenose dolphins, common seals and otters are all regularly
seen from the Dolphin and Seal Centre. There are also underwater
microphones you can listen to and if there are dolphins around
you can hear the clicks, squeaks and whistles that they use to
communicate and find food!
Cross Kessock bridge
(Inverness) north, take first left. Centre near TIC car
park.
Tel:
01463 731866
Open Apl - Oct
Web
Moray Firth
Dolphin Cruises: 01463 717900 Phone to book
Dolphin
Ecosse at Cromarty
Dolphin
Trips, Avoch.
In this area:
Firthlands
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Gairloch Chandlery. Chandlery goods, permits and seafishing
trips and wildlife tours
01445 712458
In this area:
Wester Ross
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Gairloch Marine Life Centre & Cruises. Pier Rd, Gairloch.
01445 712636
In this area:
Wester Ross
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Dunnet Head & Dunnet Bay: The most northerly point on the
British mainland (the annular eclipse in 2003 was watched here by
Patrick Moore). Local Ranger service give guided walks to the
headland and the nature reserve behind the sands of Dunnet Bay.
The old windmill at Castlehill makes
an interesting start to the
Flagstone Trail
In this area:
Caithness
|
Forsinard & Flow
Country. Forsinard.
The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is probably the
largest remaining expanse of blanket bog in the world, making it
important on an international scale. Set in a
prehistoric landscape of bog pools and wildlife, superb bird life
and nature trails. Live hen harrier cctv nest watch between late May
and July and weekly guided walks in summer.
01641 571225
In this area:
Caithness
|
Glen Affric. off A831 Cannich.
One of Scotland's best known glens including Dog Falls, Loch Affric,
Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin and many walks and trails. Many slopes
covered by remnants of the ancient Caledonian forest - home to the
Red Squirrel, Pine Martens, Stoats, Wildcats, Crested Tits and
unique Scottish Crossbill and rare Capercaillie and Black Grouse. If
you're lucky you will see some of the rarest dragonflies in Europe
here. Autumn is considered to be the prettiest but watch out for the
primroses and orchids in the spring, not to mention heather in late
summer - spoilt for choice!
In this area:
Firthlands
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Glen Cannich. off A831 Cannich.
The wildest of the three glens running into Strathglass
In this area:
Firthlands
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Handa Island Wildlife Reserve.
Access to the reserve is by boat from Tarbet.
'Small
ferry boat operates from Tarbet. The service operates April - early
September, Monday - Saturday from 9:30am. Crossings are on demand and weather dependent. Last outbound journey
approx. 2:00pm.- return journey at 4:30pm. Tarbet is sign-posted
from the A894, 2 miles North of Scourie. Parking and public toilets
available in Tarbet ( no toilets on Handa)...'
SWT
Tel: 01463 714746
In this area:
NW Sutherland
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Inverpolly National Nature
Reserve was formed in 1961 by combining three estates - Inverpolly,
Drumrunie and Eisg Brachaidh - and at nearly eleven thousand
hectares is the second largest reserve in Britain after the
Cairngorms.
Web
Off A835 north of Ullapool
In this area:
NW Sutherland
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Inchnadamph National Nature
Reserve. Botanical, geological and historical interest.
'The limestone area within Inchnadamph National Nature Reserve
is a mecca for botanists and cavers alike. [including the famous Uamh caves where scientists found human
remains dating back at least 4500 years, along with the bones of
animals now extinct in Scotland] Many rare and unusual
plants grow in the rich limestone soil [mountain
avens, frog orchids and holly fern] The unique geology of the area, including the oldest rocks in
Europe, has attracted both amateur and professional geologists for
over a hundred years. An interpretative visitor trail at Knockan
Crag attempts to explain it all..'
Best time to visit May to June.
Twenty miles north of Ullapool, off the A837. Parking and
interpretive panels. Track to the Allt nan Uamh caves.
Web
In this area:
NW Sutherland
|
Knockan Crag Visitor Centre.
SNH. This is one of the top Earth science sites in Scotland. It's
recognised worldwide as the place where scientists first discovered
a basic principle of geology. From studying the Crag they realised
that forces deep within the Earth can cause great masses of rock to
slide up and over much younger rock. Learn the history of the area, see the geology.
On A835 13 miles north of Ullapool. Parking, toilets, visitor
centre, leaflet and trails ranging from easy to strenuous.
Open all year
Tel: 01854 613418
Web
In this area:
NW Sutherland
|
Loch Maree Islands. SNH. Three large islands and about 40 small ones
make up this reserve. They support one of the most ancient and least
disturbed fragments of native pinewood left in Scotland, with an
unusual patchwork of well-grown juniper scattered throughout. The
islands and provide important breeding sites for black-throated
divers.
Best times fro May to August. Boat trips operate during the summer
from Loch Maree Hotel which also has a viewing hide. tel 01445
760288
Ten miles northwest of Kinlochewe off A832.
n this area:
Wester Ross
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Loch Fleet Wildlife Reserve.
Golspie,
Dornoch. See
seals and birds on the coast. '2,833 acres (1,147 ha) of tidal basin and sand dunes, coastal heath
and some planted pine woodland. It is an SSSI. In the summer, the
ranger leads guided walks around the reserve. A cottage next to the
reserve is being developed as an educational and interpretative
centre...'
Loch Fleet lies 2 miles (3 km) south of Golspie on the A9, and about 5 miles north of Dornoch. OS Map: 21 NH 794965
Cars can be
parked at Little Ferry or in lay-bys around the basin
Open all year
Tel: 01408 633602
In this area:
Firthlands
|
Loch a' Mhuilinn. (SNH) The most northern remnant
of a native oak woodland in Britain survives in this reserve. It
clearly shows the stunting effect of westerly gales, with some of
the oaks reduced to a creeping form near the sea. The reserve also
features grassland, peat bog, freshwater and seashore, so it
attracts a wide range of wildlife. The best time to see it is in
spring for the woodland flowers.
Four miles south of Scourie, off the A894 on the north-eastern shore
of Edrachillis Bay. Parking near entrance and road/track into the
heart of the reserve.
n this area:
NW Sutherland
|
MacKenzie
Charters & Marine. Portmahomack, Tain. Sea angling and
dolphin/nature cruises. Rods and tackle provided.
01862 871257
In this area:
Firthlands
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Munlochy Bay Nature Reserve, off A832. Home to heronries, migrating geese and lots of wading
birds and wildfowl.
In this area:
Firthlands
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Northcoast Marine Adventures. Scarfskerry, Thurso.
Marine/wildlife/scenic/white-water adventures by Jetdrive rigid
inflatable boat from John o' Groats harbour. Visit seals at close
quarters in caves.
07867666273
In this area:
Caithness
|
Plodda Falls. off A831 Cannich.
100ft high falls outside the conservation village of Tomich.
In this area:
Firthland
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Rassal Ashwood. Rassal is one of Scotland's few natural ashwoods and
the most northerly in Britain. The underlying limestone creates
unusually fertile soils, which support many flowering plants. The
woodland was once managed to provide feeding for grazing sheep and
cattle - so many trees show signs of coppicing or repeated
harvesting.
Two miles north of Kishorn off the A896. Roadside parking with
interpretive panel and woodland walk
n this area:
Wester Ross
|
Scourie & Fangmore. A894.
Good bathing at Scourie. Fishing opportunity for wild brown trout
and game. Boat rips from Fangmore to visit seal colonies onshore of
Loch Laxford.
In this area:
NW Sutherland
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Strathfarrar.
Beautiful unspoiled glen, much of it a nature reserve. off A831
In this area:
Firthlands
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Talmine & Melness.
off A838 .On
west of Kyle of Tongue. Small harbours, views and seals lazing on
the beach.
In this area:
NW Sutherland
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Udale Bay Nature Reserve. A few
miles from Cromarty and is one of the best estuary mudflats in the
country. 'Udale Bay
is an extensive area of mudflat, saltmarsh and wet grassland on the
Cromarty Firth. From late summer to April, the nature reserve
supports large numbers of wildfowl and wading birds. Best visited
within two hours of the high tide, there can be spectacular views of
flocks of wading birds. In autumn, up to 5,000 wigeons feed on the
beds of eel-grass that grow in the Bay. Late summer is a good time
to see fishing ospreys...'
In this area:
Firthlands
|
Scottish Natural Heritage
Royal Society
for the Protection of Birds
Scottish Wildlife
Trust
map for north Scotland with links to points of interest
Scottish Wildlife
Watch
John Muir Trust
National Trust for Scotland (northern sections)
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