Glen Hurich Polloch Forest Visitor Guide

A wild, remote glen with sweeping views of Loch Shiel

The woods, rivers and lochs here are full of wildlife. Watch out for red deer, golden eagles and the rare black-throated diver.

Explore the quiet trails here for superb views of Loch Shiel, Loch Doilet and the River Polloch. Discover the fascinating ruined lead mines at Corrantee.

Rainforests

Oakwoods once grew all along the Atlantic coast from Norway to Spain. The woodland here at Glen Hurich is a rare surviving fragment of those ancient forests. There was once a much larger population here producing charcoal, bark for leather tanning and timber for building. Later the woods were planted with non-native coniferous species. This stopped the oak wood species expanding. Now, with local community support, the conifers are gradually being removed and the oakwood habitat restored.

These semi-natural woodlands are home to some of the best collections of lower plants (plants which do not flower) in the whole of Europe. The clean air, moist climate and long continuity of woodland cover have combined to produce ideal conditions for lichens, mosses and liverworts. On the edges of the Sunart oakwoods in early summer, you might also be lucky enough to spot the rare chequered skipper butterfly.