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The view of the quartzite peaks of Beinn Eighe from the pine woods near Kinlochewe.
Prime pine location
Beinn Eighe (pronounced ben-ay) is the name given to the whole of the steep and imposing mountain range that lies at the heart of this reserve. The scree-covered mountains stand in stark contrast to the evergreen pinewoods on the northern slopes, which represent the largest fragment of ancient Caledonian pine forest remaining in Wester Ross. Some of the ancient trees here are more than 350 years old – often referred to as ‘granny pines’ – but their ancestral roots go back more than 9,000 years.
Chemical markers in the Beinn Eighe trees show that they’re rather different from pine trees elsewhere in Scotland, but similar to those in the south of France. Scientists think that, at the end of the last Ice Age, the west coast of Scotland was the first to become ice free, and tree seeds from farther south arrived to colonise the newly opened ground. When the rest of Scotland eventually lost its ice, pines from northern Europe colonised the ground. This adds to the importance of Beinn Eighe as a refuge for Scots pine. There are plenty of walking options around Beinn Eighe. Choose a woodland walk with a chance of spotting some local wildlife or a more arduous mountain trail of just over six kilometres, which takes three or four hours and demands sturdy footwear. There are also three short all-abilities trails, with interpretation about the reserve, which leave from the visitor centre just outside the village of Kinlochewe. In addition, there are trails from the village to the visitor centre and onto the mountain, as well as upland paths to the high ground of Beinn Eighe.
The walk that we suggest here is the 1.5 km Woodland Trail, which is a waymarked route that climbs to 100 metres and offers fine views over Loch Maree and the surrounding area. The trail starts from a car park 3 km north-west of Kinlochewe on the A832 Inverness to Gairloch road. Look out for the road signs saying ‘Glas Leitir Trails’. Use the numbered map and directions in the text to guide you round.
Coille na Glas-Leitir 4 5 3 Key
Limited parking Picnic area
Woodland trail Loch Maree
www.snh.gov.uk 0 0
kilometres miles
1 1 39 2 1 6
A832
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