Between the Lochs 1 Dalavich The forest that stretches between Loch Awe and 2 Ardcastle Information Centre Loch Avich is by turns dramatic, peaceful and inspirational. Three trails loop through it from the Take care on the hills Forestry Commission Scotland Barnaline car park located a mile north of Contact 1 Loch Avich Trail Ardcastle Point Trail West Forest District 5 miles/8 km - Allow 2½ hrs Dalavich. Pass through ancient Atlantic oakwood 5 miles/8 km - Allow 3 hrs Please remember that the weather Whitegates, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8RS on the Dalavich on the hills can change very quickly. Tel: 01546 602518 Dalavich Oakwood Trail Oakwood trail or brave Crag Trail Even in summer, conditions on high 1 mile/1.6 km - Allow 45 min e-mail:[email protected] 2 miles/3.2 km - Allow 1 hr thundering waterfalls ground are often much colder and Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Avich Falls Trail and rapids on the Avich Hazel Burn Trail windier than at low levels, despite clear Public enquiry line 0845 FORESTS (367 3787) Falls trail. The Loch 2 miles/3.2 km - Allow 1 hr skies. If you are venturing off our waymarked trails 1¾ miles/2.8 km - Allow 45 min . For Fort onto the higher hills and mountains, here are some 3 William Discover a landscape carved from Avich trail crosses forest information Pitlochry Avich falls A9 pointers for a safe and enjoyable trip. A82 rock, cloaked with trees and that is home to red In the Living Forest on what’s Tobermory 4 available from MULL squirrels, red deer and . Crianlarich Perth Be properly equipped A849 Oban . A85 . haunted by legend. This is where the This forest is bursting with wildlife. • Forestry pine martens before A84 A9 Plan your route carefully and stick to it M90 Three trails descend through wooded • Commission 1 A82 A83 2 kingdom of Scotland was born. following an unspoilt Tell someone where you are going and when you Stirling • Lochgilphead hills and skirt pebble beaches from the expect to return Scotland shoreline. in the rest of M9 E A stroll through Dalavich Oakwoods car park off the A83, eight miles from Take adequate warm & waterproof clothing Glasgow • M8 Gaze over breathtaking views, watch iconic Wear suitable footwear Argyll and Lochgilphead. Watch common seals • ISLAY wildlife, ponder ancient monuments or simply Take sufficient food and drink surrounding A78 Rly M74 • A83 and eider ducks as you picnic by Loch areas please embrace the tranquillity to be found in the • Carry map & compass, know how to use them A76 Fyne. Roe and sika deer often graze Turn back if it gets too hard for you contact Ayr • ARRAN remarkably diverse forests of Mid Argyll & . In emergencies call 999 and ask for the POLICE among the trees. The ancient ruins of St • Moffat A Bride’s Chapel stand in a graveyard on Walkers can explore these native and timber- 2 Forestry Commission Scotland the Ardcastle Point trail. The shorter & Trossachs Forest District Tel: 01877 382383 e-mail: [email protected] producing woodlands along waymarked trails, Crag trail climbs to a great viewpoint some shared with cyclists and horse riders. 3 Forestry Commission Scotland over the loch. Lochaber Forest District Tel: 01397 702184 e-mail: [email protected] 4 Forestry Commission Scotland Fàilte do na coilltean aig cridhe Shiorrachd Tiugainn leam gu Taobh Loch Fìne What the trail symbols mean Tay Forest District Tel: 01350 727284 e-mail: [email protected] Earra-Ghàidheal, a' sìneadh eadar Loch Obha Thàin’ an samhradh buidhe braonach, agus Cinn Tìre. Fàilte do chreathall Rìoghachd na Tha na h-uillt air dol ’nan caochain, Trails are graded according to degree of difficulty and If you need this publication in an h-Alba, làn dualchais, eachdraidh, agus Eòin a’ seinn am mullach chraobhan type of conditions to be expected. alternative format, for example, in bòidhchead nàdair. Muir is speuran dhut mar sgàthan! large print or in another language, Easy Easy please contact: Nuair tha ’n saoghal gu tur air ùrach’, Sensible Footwear Muscle Loosener Nuair tha ’m fraoch an-siud fo ùr-bhlàth, The Diversity Team Mil is bainne mar am bùrn ann, Moderate Moderate Waterproof Footwear Muscle Stretcher Tel: 0131 314 6575 Cò nach dlùth’cheadh ris a’ Ghàidhealtachd? E-mail: [email protected] Strenuous Strenuous Designed by: Design & Interpretative Services, ForestryAll photographs Commission from Scotland Forestry Commission Picture Library (unless outherwiseD&IS.30K.SoE.March credited) 2011 bho Taobh Loch Fìne, le Eòghann MacColla, Bàrd Loch Fìne Hillwalking Boots Muscle Builder For information on public transport services contact: Traveline Scotland, 0871 200 2233 or www.travelinescotland.com © Crown Copyright 2011

3 Glashan 4 Achnabreac some 4,000 years ago, their meaning has been 6 Crinan forgotten. There are good views towards and . Risby’s Loch Trail Achnabreac Trail Bikes and Birds Crinan Trail Explore The Forests of 2 miles/3.2 km - Allow 1 hr 1½ miles/2.3 km - Allow 45 min 3 miles/4.8 km - Allow 2-3 hrs Enjoy An easy access trail meanders around low-lying and Glashan Burn Trail Dun na Maraig Trail wetlands, dotted with broadleaved trees and Mid Argyll 1 mile/1.6 km - Allow 45 min ½ mile/0.7 km An Unforgettable View Discover fringed with conifers. Wildfowl can be watched from a hide. Cycle routes cross the forest, The trail rises from Atlantic oakwood by Crinan and Kintyre Water and Woodland The Original Brit Art including the Fire Tower mountain bike trail. harbour, passing through conifers onto forest roads with stunning views over the Sound of Jura and Kilmichael Forest swathes the hills in green right A lost culture has the Inner around Loch Glashan reservoir. From the car transformed the rock faces Hebrides. The park off the A83, one trail circles through of Achnabreac into a steep climb to pleasant broadleaved woodland about Glashan prehistoric art gallery. the ruined dun Burn while another heads through conifers to The trail from the car park of Castle pass Risby’s Loch, a haven for dragonflies. off the A816 three miles Dounie is north of Lochgilphead leads particularly to Britain’s most extensive memorable. spread of enigmatic “cup Castle Dounie ©Kilmartin House Trust www.scran.ac.uk and ring” symbols. Carved Ancient mystery A decorated rock face at Achnabreac ©Kilmartin House Trust (David Lyons) www.scran.ac.uk

Fialaidheachd na Coille 5 Dunardry Taking the Plunge Théid fiodh à Earra-Ghàidheal ùisneachadh fhathast airson The forest cascades down the craggy slopes of thaighean-còmhnaidh agus Knapdale at Dunardry (from the Gaelic Dùn Àrd- connaidh, ach ri linn Dunardry Trail Rìgh or Àrd-ruighe, height of the high king or high Rìoghachd nan Eilean 3 miles/4.8 km - Allow 2 hrs brae). Four trails can be reached from parking off gheibhte na h-uibhir eile bhon choille, eadar an dubh- Bardarroch Trail the B841 Crinan road and on a lane south of sgrìobhaidh a thigeadh bho 21/3 miles/3.7 km - Allow 1¼ hrs Cairnbaan. A rough scramble to the summit of An chnòthan-daraich, agus am Cruach Mòr is rewarded with wonderful views, bàta seang lùbach, air a togail Near to Nature sometimes shared with buzzards and ravens. à iomadach craobh-dharaich, 1½ miles/2.4 km - Allow 45 min The exhilarating Near to Nature trail climbs and craobh-ghiuthais, craobh- leamhain is eile, air an robh Green Gate Loop crosses Dunardry Burn while the easy access a’ bhirlinn. 285 yds/¼ km Green Gate Loop also bridges the gorge. 7 Knapdale 8 Kilmory The Forests of

Wildlife Trail Kilmory Loch Trail Mid Argyll 1 mile/1.6 km - Allow 1 hr 2 miles/3.2 km - Allow 1 hr Welcome to the forests Barnluasgan Oakwood Trail Kilmory Red Trail 1½ miles/2.4 km - Allow 1 hr 1 mile/1.6 km - Allow 30 min in the heart of Argyll, and Kintyre Loch Coille-Bharr Trail stretching from Loch Awe to 3 miles/4.8 km - Allow 2 hrs In the Castle Grounds Kintyre. Welcome to the cradle of the Kingdom of Scotland, full of heritage, history, and natural beauty. Arichonan Township From the car park at Kilmory 1¼ miles/2 km - Allow 1 hr Castle, trails snake through a woodland park once planted 1 Dalavich The Return of the Beaver with rhododendrons now In the heart of Knapdale forest you can watch reclaimed by nature. Picnic 2 Ardcastle wildlife, explore ruins, discover lochs and by Kilmory Loch, watch encounter a long-absent animal. Three car parks wildfowl or climb Dun Mor 3 Glashan link to trails off the B8025 to Tayvallich, with an for views over Lochgilphead. information centre at Barnluasgan. Beavers were Kilmory Loch reintroduced to Knapdale (from the Norse 4 Achnabreac

Cnapadal, Lumpy Hill Valley, adopted into European Beaver Gaelic) after centuries of absence. You might 5 Dunardry spot one at dusk or dawn from the Loch Coille- The Mull of Kintyre coastline ©Scottish Viewpoint Bharr trail. You will certainly see the felled trees, 6 Crinan ingenious dams and flooded woodland. Discover more at www.scottishbeavers.org.uk 7 Knapdale The easy access Wildlife trail circles peaceful Key to maps Barnluasgan Loch. 8 Kilmory A short trail from the 9 Tarbert Gleann a Gealbhan car park leads to the evocative ruins of 10 Carradale Arichonan, whose people were evicted 11 Beinn Ghuilean

in 1848. Arichonan of peace the enjoying Artist

Tarbert Castle Trail Permits for fishing 9 Tarbert 10 Carradale 11 Beinn Ghuilean at Loch Awe, Loch Avich and Loch Glashan are available at Tarbert Castle Trail “We can begin to see Deer Hill Trail local hotels and Beinn Ghuilean Trail tackle shops 1 mile/1.6 km - Allow 45 min how handsome some 3 miles/4.8 km 1½ miles/2.4 km - Allow 2 hrs of the mixed planting - Allow 2 hrs Corranbuie Trail is going to be, with all 3 miles/4.8 km - Allow 2 hrs the colours of larch Sally’s Trail On the Shoulders of a Giant and Scotch [pine] and 1 mile/1.6 km Above the Norseman’s Harbour the various spruces - Allow 40 min Climb Beinn Ghuilean (from the Gaelic Beinn Golden and cypresses.” Ghualainn, Hill of the Shoulders) for stunning This is a legendary place. Climb above the Eagle Kirnashie Trail Naomi Mitchison, views and rich wildlife. The trail passes through pretty fishing port with its medieval castle for 6 miles/9.7 km Carradale, 1955 - Allow 3 hrs mixed forest from the southern fringes of spectacular views to either side of Kintyre. Campbeltown. The trails lead off from the quayside. Hilltop Drama Norsemen hauled their boats overland and From Cnoc nan Gabhar, sweep Robert the Bruce turned a castle into a royal your gaze from – stronghold at Tarbert. Native broadleaves are Argyll’s highest point – to the regenerating around the gentle Tarbert Castle island of Arran. Two routes lead These forests are trail. Higher up on the Corranbuie trail you to the summit while Sally’s trail places to work as

well as enjoy. Please might glimpse golden eagles, as well as roe explores the woodland below. Warning Forest watch out for vehicles Operations Park in Carradale (from the No unauthorised and sika deer and black grouse. Please obey all signs & directions persons allowed and follow any signs We apologize for any inconvenience beyond this point Norse Càrradal, Brushwood you see, to ensure

Fearann mo Rùin Cinn Tìre Valley), off the B879. We apologize for any inconvenience you have a safe visit. Neul a’ snàmh air an speur, The diverse forest supports Duilleach eadar è ’s mo shùil; abundant wildlife, including Ùr bàrr-uaine gruag a’ bheithe, red, sika and roe deer, black Leug nan leitir cas mun Lùib. and red grouse and many bho Do Bheithe Bòidheach, le bàrd an Tairbeirt Deòrsa mac Iain Deòrsa birds of prey.

Arran from Cnoc nan Gabhar Land of my Love Kintyre A cloud swimming in the sky, Foliage between it and my eye; Fresh and green-topped the tresses of the birch, A jewel of the steep slopes about Loup.

From To a Beautiful Birch Tree, by Tarbert poet George Campbell Hay