Around Kinlochewe, different trail profiles meet: in the reserve, flat forest trails contrast with a very steep, rocky Mountain Trail. There are also views of the Beinn Eighe ridge, a variety of habitats and a distinctive geological profile. When planning your visit, both the type of trails and the route between the village and the reserve are therefore important.

Forest trails with different profiles

The Pinecone Trail is one of two routes that start in the forest by the visitor centre. Its surfaces are level and flat, with gentle gradients. The longer Buzzard Trail offers a different experience: it passes through more open terrain and provides views of the Beinn Eighe ridge and the surrounding landscape. The two trails therefore differ both in terrain and scenery: flat surfaces and gentle gradients on one, more open terrain and views on the other.

A woodland walk in the reserve also offers opportunities to observe nature. Birds you may spot include crossbills, meadow pipits and lesser redpolls. These species give a woodland walk a focus of its own, alongside comparing the trail profiles: you can look out for birdlife or choose a trail based on its terrain and views.

Mountain Trail: habitats and trail conditions

The Mountain Trail passes through a variety of habitats, from ancient pinewoods to a bare quartzite plateau. Distinctive cairns mark the route. The trail is also very steep and rocky, and its upper sections are exposed to the elements. This makes its profile markedly different from the flat surfaces of the Pinecone Trail. Trail conditions can vary, so it is sensible to check the current conditions before setting out.

The sequence of pinewood and open plateau makes the change in landscape forms a distinctive feature of this route. When comparing your hiking options, the Mountain Trail offers different impressions from the two routes that start in the forest by the visitor centre: it reaches a bare quartzite plateau, while the Buzzard Trail offers views of the Beinn Eighe ridge.

Geology and historic routes

The Slioch-Kinlochewe geological area has a very well-exposed geological profile. The foreland contains the Lewisian Gneiss Complex and the rocks of the Torridon Group; the profile extends across the Moine Thrust Belt to the Moine rocks in the east. For anyone interested in geology, the spatial sequence of the rocks offers a distinct way to experience the landscape, alongside the changing trails and habitats in the reserve.

The history of the routes offers another perspective: the Loch Maree Post Road was used as a drove road. Anyone interested in the landscape and its former uses will find a specific historical connection here, alongside the natural history. Geology, birdwatching, trail conditions and historic land use are different reasons to consider Kinlochewe as a destination.

Getting there and finding your way

From Kinlochewe village, reach the reserve by travelling three kilometres northwest on the A832 Inverness–Gairloch road. The nearest bus stop to the reserve is in Kinlochewe; bus services from Inverness are limited. If you plan to travel by bus, it is worth checking the timetable for the service from Inverness. This means you can take the village and the reserve into account as separate reference points when planning your arrival: the bus stop is in the village, while the entrance to the reserve is three kilometres to the northwest.

Discover more destinations: Fort Augustus, Portskerra, Duntulm, Isleornsay, Bowermadden, Strontian, Dalchreichart, Ardersier

For the overview of the wider region: Highland.