Leacanashie, Strome Castle and Ardaneaskan

In the pinewoods above Loch Carron, you will find evidence of pine martens — rocky outcrops providing ideal breeding sites. These small mammals, active by night, feed on small animals and sometimes berries, and females feeding young may occasionally be spotted in daylight.

Three varieties of heather appear on this walk: common heather or 'ling' (turning moors purple in late summer and autumn), cross-leaved heath (four tiny leaves in whorls with large pink flowers from June onwards), and bell heather (three tiny leaves in a whorl with bright purple flowers in July and August). Seals, otters, herons, oystercatchers, and redshanks inhabit the shores and tidal pools, and you may even see an occasional golden eagle circling overhead.

Leacanashie and Ardaneaskan are small, peaceful hamlets visited during the walk where you may not see another person all day. Both offer small parking areas for visitors exploring this quiet corner of western Scotland.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.