Glen Nant

Watching wildlife

There’s plenty to see at Glen Nant. Look out for huge mounds of pine needles and other woodland debris that are the homes of busy colonies of wood ants. The sunny glades in the open woodland attract butterflies and moths, and listen out for warblers and woodpeckers in the trees. You may also spot deer and red squirrels here.

In spring and summer, the woods are bright with bluebells, primroses, wild garlic and wild honeysuckle. You’ll also see how native trees and plants are re-establishing themselves where the conifers are being removed.

These oakwoods, and their array of lichens, mosses and ferns, are internationally important and have been designated a National Nature Reserve. We’re working with Scottish Natural Heritage to manage and restore this valuable remnant of semi-natural woodland.

Long distance cycle route

If you are exploring the area by bike, National Cycle Route 78 passes Glen Nant. This scenic on-road route already links Campbeltown at the tip of the Kintyre Peninsula with Oban and will soon be extended to reach Inverness, via Fort William and Fort Augustus.

A surprising history

Pause to listen at Glen Nant today and you’re likely to hear the chatter of woodland birds and the babbling River Nant. It was very different 400 years ago, when Glen Nant was the centre of a forest industry.

Richard Ford & Company set up an iron furnace at Bonawe, near Taynuilt, in 1753. It required thousands of tons of charcoal each year to fuel the furnace. Timber from Glen Nant was burnt on special ‘hearths’ in the wood, to make the charcoal, which was then carried by pony to Bonawe. You can visit the Bonawe furnace today: it’s cared for by Historic Scotland.

The timber came from oaks that were coppiced – cut down to stumps that would send out lots of new shoots. After 20 years or so, there would be enough new growth to cut them again. You can still see evidence of coppicing here: some of the trees have many trunks emerging from the massive old stumps or ‘stools’.

Contact: West Argyll Forest District

Address: Whitegates, Lochgilphead, Argyll

Postcode: PA31 8RS

Telephone: 0300 067 6650

Email: westargyll@forestry.gsi.gov.uk