Nature Reserves

Scotland's Adventure Coast

Argyll and the Isles has an intimate mixture of land and sea, forest and farmland with huge contrasts in the scale and character of its many landscapes. With such a contrast, this area may hold a richer biodiversity than any comparable area in Scotland!

Argyll’s National Nature Reserves, woodlands, forests and wildlife centres are home to a huge range of rare plants, animals including Scotland’s only wild beaver population and birds from white-tailed eagles to barnacle geese. The region’s hills, ancient forests, remote shores and seas are teeming with fabulous flora and fauna, so keep your eyes peeled as you explore Argyll’s wild places.

Nature Reserves

Argyll has some of the finest remaining Atlantic oak woods in the country. They’re home to some magnificent wildlife and an array of rare ferns, lichens and mosses. 

Glasdrum Wood near Creagan Bridge is one of Scotland's National Nature Reserves. Ash and oak dominate this beautiful woodland. 

Taynish National Nature Reserve, just south of Tayvallach, is one of the largest remaining oak forests in Britain.

The woodland, grassland, heath, saltmarsh and shoreline are home to an amazing variety of wildlife. 

Shian Wood, managed by the Scottish Widlife Trust, is an ancient semi-natural woodland typical jutting out from the southern shore of Loch Creran. 

Moine Mhor (the great Moss) National Nature Reserve is a lowland raised bog and one of Europe’s rarest and most threatened wildlife habitats.

This rugged and beautiful landscape near Crinan is home to dragonflies, hen harriers, curlews and other moorland and wetland species. 

RSPB

Argyll & the Isles has three RSPB Nature Reserves.

The Coll RSPB Nature Reserve, is a key site in the Corncrake Recovery Programme and a haven for wintering geese, breeding waders and farmland birds.

Over on Islay, an island which is world renowned its birdlife, there are two RSPB reserves both offering trails, hides and visitor information. The Oa RSPB Reserve at the southern end of the island has wild sea cliffs and open moorland, making it the perfect habitat for birds of prey. Loch Gruinart RSPB Reserve at the northern end of the island is the place to watch the wintering geese arrive.

Inspiration

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