Beinn Eighe Woodland and Mountain Trails

Submitted by George Farquhar on Thu, 2011-01-20

Two walks on Beinn Eighe, with stunning views of Loch Maree and Slioch. Both trails are on good paths, so stout shoes or boots are adequate for these walks.

In the car park you can purchase excellent booklets which enhance your enjoyment of the walks. These walks are possible during the stalking season (1st – 15th September) but don’t stray from the paths (telephone Kinlochewe 244/254 for more detailed information on walking during the stalking season).

Dogs are not permitted on these walks. Camping is permitted only at the official campside by Taagan Farm, close to the main raod at the head of Loch Maree. It is intended for short-stay campers only. Caravans are not allowed on the reserve.

Drive north of Kinlochewe on the A832 until you reach a sign for the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve. Just beyond this is a car park on the right-hand side of the road. Both walks start from here (NH002650). Leave the car park, following the path which takes you under the road and to the start of both walks. For the Mountain Trail continue straight on, and for the Woodland Trail cross the river on the footbridge.

Beinn Eighe Woodland Trail

Woodland Trail:

Height: 300 ft
Distance: 1 miles
Difficulty: Easy.
Total Time: Allow about 30 minutes for this walk, but you will probably want to spend more time looking at the scenery and wildlife.
Navigation: The paths are signposted and well-maintained.
Starting Point: Car park just off the A832, north of Kinlochewe (NH002650).
Public Transport: Post bus service from Achnasheen to Gairloch..

This walk takes you through one of the most important nature conservation areas in Britain. It was established by the Nature Conservancy Council to help preserve the natural Caledonian pine woodland on the south-west shore of Loch Maree. The path is a circular one, with a viewpoint overlooking Loch Maree, Slioch and the Letterewe oakwoods. The walk takes you through a variety of scenery which is rich in wildlife: the pine woodland is the natural home of the elusive pine marten. Wildcats and otters frequent the area round the west-side of the Loch Maree, and the boggy areas are home to dragonflies. The Nature Conservancy booklet on the Woodland Trails says of dragonflies:

Dragonflies are excellent indicators of the well-being of the environment. In their larval stage they require unpolluted water, whilst the adults need a suitable range of habitats in which to feed and breed. A site holding a range of dragonfly species can be considered to be ecologically healthy. The reserve supports 13 different species of these aerial hunters, a remarkably high number for northern Scotland. Several of these species are nationally rare.

View of Slioch and Loch Maree
from the Beinn Eighe Woodland Trail.

Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail

Mountain Trail:

Height: 1800 ft
Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard.
Total Time: Allow about 2 hours.
Navigation: The paths are not always clear, but a series of cairns indicates the route to the summit.
Starting Point: Car park just off the A832, north of Kinlochewe (NH002650).
Public Transport: Bus to Kinlochewe.

The Scottish Natural Heritage guide to the Mountain Trail describes the Mountain Trails as follows:

The Mountain Trail climbs through different zones of climate, vegetation and wildlife. These zones are found at different levels up the mountain and match the gradual changes found in nature as you move towards the Poles. For every 1000 feet you climb there are the same changes in temperature and vegetation that you would find by travelling 600 miles north. On the trail this impression is reinforced by increased exposure to wind and rain. The climb up the trail is therefore like a journey towards the Arctic.

This walk starts by climbing up through natural pine woodland, some of the large granny pines being over 350 years old. From this point on, the path zigzags steeply up past the Tansley Bog and Trumpet Rock to the summit, a cairn and Lunar Loch. The path is not always clear, but a series of cairns mark the route. The path now descends beside a steep gorge until it joins up with the Woodland Trail

Waterfall on the Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail.
View back over to Beinn Eighe from the Mountain Trail.
Map of Woodland and Mountain Trails.