North Highlands Highlight

Beinn Eighe

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BEINN EIGHE and Slioch to the north stand sentinel over Loch Maree. In 1951 the first National Nature Reserve was created here, consisting of 230ha of relict Caledonian Forest (G Coille na Glas Leitre, Wood of the Grey Slope) and over 4,000ha of mountain and moorland.

Woodland Trail. This type of woodland is known as temperate rainforest, where the flora and fauna are adapted to the cool, wet climate. in the last 50 years much has been done to regenerate these woodlands. The Woodland Trail is about a mile long and winds through the Scots Pinewoods which have existed here since after the end of the last ice Age.

Mountain Trail. This climbs to 550m and covers about 4 miles, passing through several climatic zones on the way. climbing through the Pinewoods, there are many ancient trees which could be up to 400 years old, as well as younger, straighter ones. Scottish Crossbills may be seen or heard here.

From the cairn at the top of the trail (550m) there are views over Loch Maree and Slioch to the north, to Ben Wyvis in the east and Kintail in the south, but the jagged ridge of Beinn Eighe to the southwest is the most impressive.

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