Landscapes & Nature Reserves Archives

Glen Nant Visitor Guide

Craig Neil June 22, 2023620 Views Landscapes & Nature Reserves 12 min read

The Glen Nant National Nature Reserve in Argyll is an enchanting woodland sanctuary that breathes life into the term ‘natural beauty’.

This 836-acre wildlife paradise is a testament to the region’s diverse flora and fauna, providing a home for an array of species from delicate wildflowers to elusive red squirrels.

Packed with a mosaic of habitats, Glen Nant is renowned for its ancient oakwoods, some of which are centuries old and are a haven for over 250 different types of rare lichens and mosses.

East Lothian Regions of Scotland The Lothians

Musselburgh Lagoons Visitor Guide

Craig Neil June 10, 20231745 Views Landscapes & Nature Reserves 13 min read

Nestled along the picturesque coastline of East Lothian lies a lesser-known treasure that’s sure to captivate nature enthusiasts and sightseers alike.

Musselburgh Lagoons is a diverse habitat that’s a hotspot for a multitude of bird species, from waders such as curlews and redshanks to gulls, terns and eider ducks.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor to East Lothian, this undiscovered gem promises to offer a unique and unforgettable experience.

East Lothian Regions of Scotland The Lothians

Aberlady Bay Visitor Guide

Craig Neil January 23, 20231038 Views Landscapes & Nature Reserves 13 min read

Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve is a small but exceptionally scenic stretch of East Lothian coastline situated between the coastal villages of Longniddry and Gullane.

It is a popular destination for walkers as well as photographers due to the wildlife that thrives near the beach overlooking the Firth of Forth.

Visitors can see a wide variety of animal species at the reserve from pink-footed geese to frogs and caterpillars, while keen-eyed observers might spot pods of dolphins swimming in the waters of the bay.

Isle of Skye Inner Hebrides Regions of Scotland The Hebrides

Sligachan Visitor Guide

Craig Neil November 14, 20221208 Views Landscapes & Nature Reserves 15 min read

Sligachan is an area on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.

The landscape at this location is breathtaking as it’s comprised of heather-covered moorland crisscrossed by a number of rivers, with the entire scene framed by the imposing Red and Black Cuillin mountains.

Sligachan is a popular destination for photographers as well as walkers who use it as a central base to explore the rest of Skye.

Harris & Lewis Outer Hebrides Regions of Scotland The Hebrides

Pairc Peninsula Visitor Guide

Craig Neil October 19, 2022933 Views Landscapes & Nature Reserves 15 min read

The Pairc peninsula – also known as the Parish of Lochs – is situated on the southeast corner of the Isle of Lewis between Loch Eireasort and Loch Shiphoirt.

This vast and almost entirely uninhabited area covers over 68,000 acres of rolling hills and rugged coastline, pockmarked by countless freshwater lochs.

Visitors to Pairc will find one of the wildest places in the Outer Hebrides which appears hauntingly desolate at first glance but is, in fact, a haven for wildlife such as the enigmatic white-tailed eagle.

Stirlingshire Central Scotland & Tayside Regions of Scotland

Devil’s Pulpit & Finnich Glen Visitor Guide

Craig Neil September 7, 20222945 Views Landscapes & Nature Reserves 15 min read

The Devil’s Pulpit is a deep sandstone gorge hidden amongst the woodland and rolling fields of Finnich Glen, around 14 miles north of Glasgow.

This geological curiosity earned its name from an unusual rock outcrop that legend says was the site of sermons given by the devil, perhaps inspired by the fact that the swirling waters beneath it are blood red in appearance.

Regions of Scotland Midlothian The Lothians

Swanston, Pentland Hills Visitor Guide

Craig Neil May 5, 2022998 Views Landscapes & Nature Reserves 10 min read

The Pentland Hills are located south of Edinburgh where they span Midlothian and West Lothian in a regional park that’s over 38 square miles in size.

There are 9 peaks over 1,500 feet in the Pentlands and more than 600,000 people visit them each year.

There are a number of entry points to the park but one of the best is at Swanston, which is just a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh city centre.

The Highlands Regions of Scotland

North Morar Visitor Guide

Craig Neil May 3, 2022760 Views Landscapes & Nature Reserves 13 min read

North Morar is a remote region of Lochaber in the Scottish Highlands that lies between Loch Morar to the south and Loch Nevis to the north.

The peninsula is a popular destination for hill walkers, but it also sees crowds of tourists arriving from the Jacobite steam train which has its final destination at Mallaig – an attractive fishing village on the northern tip of the North Morar peninsula.