Ariundle – An Atlantic Oakwood above Strontian

The walk

The Ariundle car park is a mile out of Strontian on the road to Polloch, then right at the junction, where signs lead you in. PH36 4JA is the nearest postcode. Parking is £1 for up to an hour or £3 for the day, by card or RingGo. Forestry and Land Scotland's Ariundle Trail is a 4.5 km circuit and takes about an hour and a half. It's graded moderate: uneven gravel and grass, some narrow, rocky and muddy stretches, short steep slopes, a few bridges and a long run of boardwalk. It passes through the oakwood and follows the Strontian River.

You can walk it either way, though the foresters prefer anti-clockwise, for the views up the glen to Sgurr Dhomhnuill. This is a National Nature Reserve, and the damp air keeps mosses, lichens and ferns growing on every trunk and stone. Woodland birds are here all year, and golden eagles sometimes pass overhead. In autumn the oak leaves turn and the river runs full. One of the forest's paths, the Ceum na Coille, has fallen branches across it in places and is passable with care. Dogs are welcome under close control.

The public toilets, shop and places to eat are in Strontian. The Corran Ferry is the short way to this side of Loch Linnhe when it's running, and its main boat is due a refit from November, so look at the Highland Council's Corran Ferry page first. The A861 comes round by road in any case, by the head of Loch Eil. From November to January, set off by 1.30pm.