Littlemill

A colourful wood where wildlife flourishes

The dramatic landscape of Littlemill has a fascinating story to tell. Glaciers from the last ice age carved out the landscape here. The retreating ice left us with the strangely named esker ridges and kettle hole lochans. Today it’s a perfect place to escape the city and relax.

The mosaic of woodland, wetland and heathland make Littlemill an oasis for wildlife. From colourful springtime flowers to summer butterflies and autumn fungi, there’s always something to see here.

Walking trails

Littlemill route card (PDF)

Walking

Kettlehole Trail

Explore the beautiful kettle hole lochans, which are great places to spot dragonflies and other insects that breed in the water.

Rough, narrow earthy and grassy surface. Some steep slopes. Includes muddy sections.

1 ¼ miles / 1.9 km

Allow
¾ hour

More information

Large lumps of ice got stranded as the glacier broke up and created shallow hollows in the land. They’re now small lochs called ‘kettle holes’.

Walking

Esker Trail

Follow a series of strange esker ridges formed beneath glaciers during the last ice age. There are great views over Strathnairn.

Rough earthy and grassy surface, with several muddy sections and some exposed tree roots. Includes steep slopes and some steps.

1 ¾ miles / 2.7 km

Allow
1 hour

More information

This trail takes you up onto two parallel ridges called eskers - these mark the course of rivers of meltwater that flowed underneath the glacier, often carrying huge quantities of sand and gravel. When the glacier melted away, the sand and gravel was left behind as the snaking ridges we see today.

Facilities and access

Walking

Parking

Life's essentials

There's a small shop in Inverarnie, a little further along the B851.

Getting here

Head south from Inverness on the A9 for about 6 miles (9.6 km) and turn right onto the B851, signposted for Fort Augustus. Littlemill is about 1½ miles (2.4 km) along the road, on the left. 

Using SatNav?

IV2 6XH is a postcode a little further south along the B851.

Get directions