The Ariundle Nature Reserve is a lovely place to visit at any time of the year. The reserve is signposted from the centre of Strontian and there is a large car park just before you enter the woodland. There are two good walks through the woods including the one that I used as a dog walk with Meg and Gracie which follows the course of the river for a couple of miles then branches right over the footbridge over the river and across a raised footpath which takes you over the wet marsh ground before meeting up with the footpath on firmer ground and back to the car park, a very pleasant one and a half hour walk.

The reserve is a fine example of ancient coastal Atlantic oakwood and is recognised for its old oaks which support a huge and varied selection of ferns, mosses, liverworts and litchens. Apparently over 200 species of litchen have been recorded in the reserve along with over 70 species of moss and over 50 species of liverwort. There are plenty of butterflies and moths flying about in the woodland too, including pearl bordered fritillary, small pearl bordered fritillary, as for dragonflies some as large as my fingers were flitting about amongst the pools and streams. Lots of birds were flitting around amongst the trees, with Great and Blue tits and warblers, I kept my eyes open for the crossbills but on both visits to the reserve couldn’t see any although I am aware that they breed amongst the woodland.

Foot note: If you are dog walking amongst the woodlands please keep your dog/s under close control and before you set off on the walk make sure the dogs have been treated with a recognised flea and tick treatment.