This is a telltale sign at the end of a long training run when I’m needing a rest! Stunning views on this well maintained path with plenty of benches to stop and enjoy it all. Bear right here to continue on a footpath, soon climbing a long flight of steps. Another path connects these trails to the village of Kinlochewe. With a cluster of mountain peaks, ancient pinewoods, secretive crossbills and soaring golden eagles, it’s no wonder that Beinn Eighe was Britain’s first National Nature Reserve. The reserve was set up in 1951 — 65 years ago this month — to protect the largest fragment of ancient Caledonian pinewood in northwest Scotland, the Coille na Glas Leitir (Wood of the Grey Slope). Orange patches of northern prongwort can be found on Beinn Eighe’s north-facing slopes. Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre, Aultroy NH 0199 6299 We are guided by the internal SNH instruction note “Fire Plans and Firefighting on SNH Occupied Land” (A2145299). The path is steep and very rough in places, so it can be challenging for less experienced walkers. You will need to wear hillwalking boots and take food and warm waterproof clothing, as the weather can change quickly and the top of the trail is very exposed. With so much ground to cover, a handheld GPS is a useful tool. An amazing trail that takes you up the Beinn Eigh mountain ridge towards two munro's (a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 feet (914 m)): Ruadh-Stac Mor and Spidean Coire nan Clach. This loop trail takes you up through ancient woodland, rugged grasslands and heath, to the beautiful heights of the mountain terraces. The Pinecone trail and the path to Kinlochewe have flat, level surfaces and low gradients. Route Scotland: Beinn Eighe (western summits) - Torridon, Scotland (United Kingdom) An amazing trail that takes you up the Beinn Eigh mountain ridge towards two munro's (a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 feet (914 m)): Ruadh-Stac Mor and Spidean Coire nan Clach. The forest here is of Scots pines, some 300 years old. Torridon takes in Liathach, 1,054 m (3,456 ft) and Beinn Alligin, 985 m (3,230 ft), and is composed mainly of … It rises over 1,000m at its highest point and presents an uncompromising assortment of cliffs, screes, corries and buttresses to anyone who ventures high into the range. The mountains of Torridon are some of the most magnificent in Scotland. This curves north and heads between the east end of Liathach on your left and the west end of Beinn Eighe on the right. Visit Beinn Eighe NNR. It started winding up through the woodland … YCW2020 A Day in the Life – Freshwater and Wetlands Advice Manager Iain Sime, Cairt-làir – lus beag le cliù mòr / Tormentil – little plant with a big reputation, A new way to benefit nature on farms and crofts, #YCW2020 A Day in the Life – Peatland ACTION Project Officer Matthew Cook. The longer Buzzard trail explores more open ground, providing excellent views of the Beinn Eighe ridge and surrounding countryside. Climb up the stone path to reach the loch, whereupon is revealed the great sight of the Triple Buttress of Beinn Eighe, across the loch under the summit of Coinneach Mhor. Read more. On the A832, just before Kinlochewe, is the Beinn Eighe … Beinn Eighe is Britain’s oldest National Nature Reserve. This is one of the rare surviving fragments of 'The Great Wood of Caledon', which once clothed most of the Highlands. Northern prongwort is a liverwort which, along with their close cousins the mosses and hornworts, belong to a specialised group of plants known as bryophytes. They would also have been among the first plants to re-colonise the British Isles at the end of the last Ice Age, as the retreating glaciers left a rocky, barren landscape stripped clean of any soil. Mountain Biking on the Pony path, at the foot of Beinn Eighe, Scotland - Descente Vtt au pied de Beinn Eighe, sur le sentier des poney. It centres around the Beinn Eighe range of rugged peaks, edges and scree slopes. A layered composition with Liathach rising behind the main ridge of Beinn Eighe . Beinn Eighe was the first National Nature Reserve in Britain and was initially established to protect an important remnant of ancient pinewood at Glas Leitir where there are now trails with a car park and information point. Torridon & Beinn Eighe. 894646. Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail: Fantastic views on an easy to follow path. The path then emerges at a track. Since commencing his placement last summer, Stuart has been gaining practical experience in a broad range of NNR duties. The icy sections of path along with … Another path branches off it at the west end of Beinn Eighe and leads around the end of Sail Mor, the mountain's most westerly spur. Beinn Eighe is a multi-peaked mountain at the southern end of Loch Maree in the northwest Scottish Highlands. Beinn Eighe is largest mountain in the Torridon range - a complete mountain range in itself. © Stuart MacKenzie. Scotland: Beinn Eighe (western summits) Hiking trail in Torridon, Scotland (United Kingdom). The spectacular path climbs very steeply through a wide range of habitats from magnificent ancient pinewoods up onto a bare, ice-scraped plateau of quartzite rocks. So what makes bryophytes so interesting? © Stuart MacKenzie. A sign of my weary legs lay in my stumbling a little on too many occasions, not lifting my feet enough when walking. Please, The subscription details associated with this account need to be updated. The centre itself also had a lot of interesting exhibits. - See 45 traveler reviews, 49 candid photos, and great deals for Kinlochewe, UK, at Tripadvisor. Mountain hiking, hillwalking and scrambling routes up Beinn Eighe in Torridon including the Munro summits of Ruadh-stac Mor and Spidean Coire nan Clach and other peaks such as Sail Mhor, the Triple Buttress of Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Ruadh-stac Beag, Meall a'Ghiuthais and the Black Carls. The trail is primarily used for … Another very good reason for carrying out these surveys is quite simply to increase our knowledge and understanding of this otherwise little known species. As you might imagine, this involves an awful lot of leg work, as well as making good use of a handheld GPS device. From here a path leads all the way around the back of Liathach. Follow the signposted path to the Coire Mhic Nobuil. Over the course of my placement at Beinn Eighe NNR, I’ve been surveying and monitoring northern prongwort to help determine the spread and distribution of this unusual little plant. Beinn Eighe is a mighty mountain. Parking at the sizeable car park in Glen Torridon, follow the excellent path through Coire Dubh Mhòr, which is a pass between Liathach and Beinn Eighe, crossing the river at some stepping stones. Preferring damp habitats, bryophytes don’t require soil, gaining their nutrition entirely from rainwater. As the path contours round the base of Sàil Mhòr, it splits at a cairn. I’d never been back to climb Beinn Eighe’s other Munro, the outlier of Ruadh-stac Mor, so today’s plan was to head out of the corrie up the scree to reach the ridge and climb that Munro, then follow the ridge to Spidean before descending. You can find out a lot more about liverworts from the SNH website. The mountains, seas and lochs in this part of Scotland are some of the finest in the world. This makes bryophytes especially important as a ‘pioneer species’, colonising areas that are otherwise unable to support plant life. It does however take me to some remote parts of the Reserve that are otherwise rarely visited. Date of experience: August 2020. We aren’t experienced hikers but thoroughly enjoyed this trail. The good news is that my surveys have so far revealed northern prongwort to be a lot more widespread than was first realised. Beinn Eighe is a mighty mountain. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. At the heart of the reserve is the Beinn Eighe ridge, a huge cluster of of rugged peaks, ridges and scree-covered slopes between Loch Maree and Glen Torridon. Detailed information on wildfire response can be found in SG Wildfire Operational ... Pony Path adjacent to A832 NH 022 627 Any Vehicle Orange in colour and growing up to 20 cm long in small dense clusters on Beinn Eighe’s north-west slopes, northern prongwort (Herbertus borealis) is a species of plant that is not just unique to Scotland, it grows only in the area of Beinn Eighe and nowhere else in the world! For the more experienced and prepared hiker, this area offers plenty of opportunities for a challenging and rewarding day out. Our path from the shore of Loch Maree rose beside a rushing stream through banks of bracken and bilberry. Scottish Natural Heritage has laid out a very clear and well-marked mountain trail to guide walkers who don’t mind a steep and slithery ascent, on a circuit that takes in the top of one of the mountain’s eastern peaks. Walking | Mountain Trail, Beinn Eighe NNR | Summary:Billed as Britains only waymarked mountain walk, this superlative walk is one of a kind. We enjoyed a beautiful walk - the Buzzard trail - at the Beinn Eighe nature reserve. And with its white quartzite upper reaches and scree-covered flanks, and its surprisingly complex and extensive topography, Beinn Eighe is in our view the most magnificent in Torridon: though it's a close run thing with its westerly neighbour, Liathach. This is encouraging, as the greater the area of its distribution, then the greater its chances of long term survival. Beinn Eighe was the first National Nature Reserve in Britain and was initially established to protect an important remnant of ancient pinewood at Glas Leitir where there are now trails with a car park and information point. Anticlockwise circuit of Ben Eighe from P on A896. Walked round the back into Coire Mhic Fhearchair, up the scree to the left of the Triple Buttress, then to the two Munros and a direct descent to the path to the car park. welshyboyo: 30/06/2018: Beinn Eighe Munros and Tops from Glen Torridon: Geoff Briggs: 28/05/2018 View on vast woods, lake and hills of the UK`s oldest Nature Reserve Beinn Eighe at Loch Maree, Scotland. It's really an entire mountain range comprising several distinct summits, two of which are Munros ( Beinn Eighe - Ruadh-stac Mor, 1010m, and Beinn Eighe - Spidean Coire nan Clach, 993m). Well, they just happen to be among the oldest of all plant groups, having been among the first plants to colonise the land around 500 million years ago. Growing in dense clusters up to 20 cm long, northern prongwort is distinguishable by its tiny prong-like leaves and numerous side-shoots. As these primitive plants grew and died, over many generations their decaying remains would have helped form the first thin layers of soil, eventually allowing for higher plants to gain a foothold. Stuart is currently working with us a one year placement at Beinn Eighe NNR following his completion of an HND in Countryside Management at SRUC. For visitors who would like to find out more about Beinn Eighe, there’s a visitor centre … The complete range covers some 10 km and dominates the north side of Glen Torridon. Beinn Eighe (Western Submits) Unspecified trail in Kinlochewe, Scotland (United Kingdom). Given that some of our most important medicines have derived from the plant world, some of those being only recent discoveries, then there’s no telling what secrets these hidden gems might reveal to us in the future. Beinn Eighe Path. Regular monitoring can also reveal the presence of pollutants entering the food chain that could be potentially hazardous to species higher up the chain, including us humans. Detailed information on wildfire response can be found in SG Wildfire Operational ... Pony Path adjacent to A832 NH 022 627 Any Vehicle This section of the ridge makes a fine traverse with magnificent views; it may involve less scrambling than Beinn Alligin or Liathach, but compensation comes when Coire Mhic Fhearchair is reached during the descent; this is the most spectacular of all Torridon's corries. Personality: Few would deny that Beinn Eighe is one of the best mountains in Scotland, if not the UK. It is also Britain ’s oldest National Nature Reserve, established in 1951 with the primary aim of preserving ancient pinewood. As northern prongwort is confined to a very limited area – only in the area of Beinn Eighe, it is particularly vulnerable to summer wildfires, the event of which could be potentially disastrous for the species. This makes them particularly well suited to the damp, nutrient-poor soil on the slopes of Beinn Eighe. From a distance the pale scree slopes on the mountain-side look like barren fields of snow, but get up close and you’ll be amazed by the diversity of wildlife […] Beinn Eighe NNR might be best known for Scots pine, red deer and golden eagles, but if you happen to be walking the old ‘Pony path’ into the heart of the Reserve, and you take a glance down at your feet … So, it was back to the old traditional method of using the map to plan the day. This is a great place to stop for a break, a remote and peaceful location. This has involved the regular monitoring of known plots and recording any new colonies that I find. This is one of the rare surviving fragments of 'The Great Wood of Caledon', which once clothed most of the Highlands. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. From a distance the pale scree slopes on the mountain-side look like barren fields of snow, but get up close and you’ll be amazed by the diversity of wildlife that thrives on this reserve. I don't know when, but I know I will be back to fully explore the awesome majesty that is Beinn Eighe. Hills of Beinn Eighe, Scotland. NatureScot's Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve is in the heart of Wester Ross. Please. With a cluster of mountain peaks, ancient pinewoods, secretive crossbills and soaring golden eagles, it’s no wonder that Beinn Eighe was Britain’s first National Nature Reserve. A very well maintained and marked route with stunning views. If arriving from Achnasheen in the east it is the eastern tops that you see first - the quartz rock giving the appearance of a snow-topped peak overlooking the small village of Kinlochewe. This brings you into one of the most stupendous corries in Scotland, the north facing Coire Mhic Fhearchair at a height of some 590m. This short, attractive walk in the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve begins from the visitor centre - a great source of information. Beinn Eighe NNR might be best known for Scots pine, red deer and golden eagles, but if you happen to be walking the old ‘Pony path’ into the heart of the Reserve, and you take a glance down at your feet now and again, there’s a fair chance you might spot one of the world’s rarest plants. The path soon reaches a junction; turn right, ignoring the lesser path straight ahead. Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. There are great views of the eastern scree-girt peaks of Beinn Eighe ahead, and Slioch behind. On my way to Ruadh-stac Mhor, the highest point of the walk and the second Munro summit, I admired the views off the ridge as much as possible. Well worth a visit. Surveying and monitoring bryophytes like northern prongwort can provide early indications of change in the habitats where these plants grow. Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail. Starting the walk, we headed up the very good path between Beinn Eighe and Liathach. Nature is all around you here, so take some time to enjoy this magical place. This isn’t a stroll in the park, though, and you need to be properly equipped for a mountain walk before you tackle it. The path may have been great but the weather was not as it had started to rain with no sign of better weather to come. Stuart MacKenzie, SRUC Placement at Beinn Eighe NNR. Munros: Ruadh-Stac Mor and Spidean Coire nan Clach The walk starts from the Car Park found just at the beginning of the path that climbs up the corrie to the first top Spidean Coire nan Clach. It rises over 1,000m at its highest point and presents an uncompromising assortment of cliffs, screes, corries and buttresses to anyone who ventures high into … 2 Where the path forks go right and follow this as it traverses north then east around the flanks of Sail Mhor, Beinn Eighe's north-western peak. The walk has a good path through the pinewoods leading past several excellent sculptures but perhaps the greatest attraction is the superb views of Beinn Eighe and Slioch. Walking | Mountain Trail, Beinn Eighe NNR | Summary:Billed as Britains only waymarked mountain walk, this superlative walk is one of a kind. Beinn Eighe’s hidden Gem Beinn Eighe NNR might be best known for Scots pine, red deer and golden eagles, but if you happen to be walking the old ‘Pony path’ into the heart of the Reserve, and you take a glance down at your feet now and again, there’s a … © David Genney. I had already walked the path out to Coire Mhic Fhearchair and there was an obvious descent path from Spidean Coire nan Clach in the centre of the Beinn Eighe mass – all I had to do was to find a breach in the defences of Beinn Eighe. Old weathered tree trunk on the path of Beinn Eighe Woodland Trail on the shores of Loch Maree, Scotland. Discover Beinn Eighe NNR for yourself  on the NNR website. A beautifully restored stalker’s pony path runs between the two hills, Ruadh-stac Beag (little red peak) and Meall a’ Ghiubhais (pine hill), offering easy access to both. The trail can take quite long, not because of the distance or the height, but because of the breathtaking views. We have noticed that there is an issue with your subscription billing details. Beinn Eighe is Britains oldest nature reserve and was created in 1951. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Registered in England No. Beinn Eighe is the bulkiest of the trinity of great Torridon peaks. This latest Beinn Eighe NNR report comes from Stuart MacKenzie. It is difficult to write about Beinn Eighe without drowning in superlatives. Before the ridge begins to steepen leave path and cross scree fields in a W direction to enter narrow valley between Beinn Eighe’s NE ridge and Ruadh-stac Beag. This is a fabulous trail to explore the hills of Beinn Eighe and this trail is the only waymarked mountain trail in Britain. The spectacular path climbs very steeply through a wide range of habitats from magnificent ancient pinewoods up onto a bare, ice-scraped plateau of quartzite rocks. Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre, Aultroy NH 0199 6299 We are guided by the internal SNH instruction note “Fire Plans and Firefighting on SNH Occupied Land” (A2145299). This burn runs between Liathach and Beinn Eighe before passing under the road. 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