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The RSPB's weathered wooden sign for Loch Comhnard at Corrimony, the loch beyond among young birches and moorland under a blue sky, with wind turbines on a far hill.
Inverness

RSPB Corrimony

An RSPB nature reserve of open moorland and old Caledonian pinewood at Corrimony.

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Welcome

For a long day out among the birds of the Highlands, Corrimony is a joy.

The RSPB's waymarked trail runs for eight and a half miles, with big views of the hills as you go, so wear good boots and pack waterproofs, a picnic and a flask. Come in April or May for black grouse, gathering at first light at the spots where they display. The males, black all over, cock their tails and open them out to show a puff of white underneath. Keep well back and use binoculars, because the birds take fright if you walk towards them. Among the trees, look for crested tits, with their black and white crest, and for the Scottish crossbill, a stocky finch found only in the UK. Keep an eye on the sky, too, for golden eagles. Some of the way is over a working farm, so mind the gates and leave them open or shut as they were.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
A little further outRocpool34 min by roadSee itRocpool
Before you go

The reserve is unstaffed, with no visitor centre: just the car park, the waymarks and the birds.

Parking
In the car park the reserve shares with the Corrimony cairn.
Price
Entry is free.
Paths
The paths are natural and unsurfaced, and the RSPB says the trail may suit some pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Toilets and food
Cannich, about five miles off, has public toilets at the village hall and places to eat and drink.
Dogs
Fine under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. While ground-nesting birds breed, 1 April to 15 August, keep yours close by, ideally on a short lead, and pick up after it.
Barbecues
Leave the barbecue at home: the RSPB does not allow them here, because of the risk of fire.
By bus
The Inverness to Cannich bus will stop on request a mile and a half away.

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Where it is

At Corrimony, off the A831 on the way from Drumnadrochit to Cannich; the postcode is IV63 6TW.

Close byGlen Urquhart, Loch Ness, Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar.
  1. Oil burner and dried petals beside "Grounded" book on a windowsill tableMade in the GlenA shop in Glen Urquhart near Loch Ness run by three sisters, selling their own natural soaps, skincare, watercolours, wooden bowls and Highland gifts.3 miles 4 min by road
  2. The Loch Ness Centre building, dated 1882, with twin gabled towers and window displaysThe Loch Ness ExperienceThe Loch Ness Experience in the old Drumnadrochit Hotel, where the monster story began in 1933, with a one-hour tour of the legend and the science.9 miles 13 min by road
  3. Golden Labrador sits among heather with a loch and hills behindDog FallsRapids and dark pools in a rocky gorge in Glen Affric, the start of three waymarked trails through ancient pinewood to Coire Loch and a viewpoint.9 miles 12 min by road
  4. Man with rucksack sits on tree stump beside a still lochGlen AffricA National Nature Reserve west of Cannich, with ancient Caledonian pinewood, lochs and four Forestry and Land Scotland sites on a single-track road.10 miles 14 min by road
  5. Ruined stone tower of Urquhart Castle seen through autumn foliage on Loch NessUrquhart CastleThe ruins of a castle that was once among Scotland's largest, on a headland over Loch Ness, with the Grant Tower to climb and a café on site.11 miles 18 min by road
  6. Waterfall cutting through autumn forest, viewed from above with a footbridge crossing itPlodda FallsA waterfall of more than forty metres in a forest of Douglas firs above Tomich, with a viewing platform over the top and two waymarked trails.12 miles 33 min by road
  7. Loch Monar at the head of Glen Strathfarrar, with a small island of pines, the curved Monar dam and its intake tower, and heather hills under broken cloud.Glen StrathfarrarA private glen running west from Struy into the hills, with a 17-mile road through native Scots pinewood.12 miles 16 min by road
Directions
Standing stones and cairn at Balnuaran of Clava, framed by tree leavesAttractionsCorrimony Chambered CairnA step away
Tringa's long turf-roofed log walls on the hill, foxgloves in flower in the grass below.StruyTringa at Eagle BraeSleeps 2 · 4.7 miles
Sylvia in sunshine: a log cabin with a pale gable and oak door, whisky barrels along its gravel yard and a birch beside.StruySylvia at Eagle BraeSleeps 2 · 4.7 miles
Strix on its green slope in summer, the turf roof and deck among birch and oak, the hill behind.StruyStrix at Eagle BraeSleeps 2 · 4.7 miles
Parus on its slope at dusk above bluebells in the grass, its gable windows lit.StruyParus at Eagle BraeSleeps 2 · 4.7 miles
Cinclus on its slope among spring birches, the hills of the glen behind under a blue sky.StruyCinclus at Eagle BraeSleeps 4 · 4.7 miles
Certhia on its ridge: a two-storey log cabin of great notched logs under a turf roof, steps up to the door.StruyCerthia at Eagle BraeSleeps 4 · 4.7 miles
Ardea through old birch trunks, its turf roof and railed deck mirrored in the pond below, ferns in front.StruyArdea at Eagle BraeSleeps 4 · 4.7 miles
Loxia beyond its pond among spring birches, the cabin mirrored in the water under a blue sky.StruyLoxia at Eagle BraeSleeps 6 · 4.7 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the reserve, and when each is next free.

From above, Aquila's turf-roofed log cabin and wrap-around deck on the edge of the ridge, the glen stretching away in autumn colour.Aquila at Eagle Brae
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Struy
  • 5 miles from RSPB Corrimony
Check datesTringa's long turf-roofed log walls on the hill, foxgloves in flower in the grass below.Tringa at Eagle Brae
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Struy
  • 5 miles from RSPB Corrimony
Check datesSylvia in sunshine: a log cabin with a pale gable and oak door, whisky barrels along its gravel yard and a birch beside.Sylvia at Eagle Brae
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Struy
  • 5 miles from RSPB Corrimony
Check datesStrix on its green slope in summer, the turf roof and deck among birch and oak, the hill behind.Strix at Eagle Brae
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Struy
  • 5 miles from RSPB Corrimony
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in InvernessAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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