Taynish National Nature Reserve
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Overview
The wooded peninsula of the Taynish NNR has a varied mixture of habitats, ranging from shoreline, grassland, scrub, bog, heath and woodland, each of which supports an amazing variety of wildlife. In the spring you can admire a carpet of wildflowers or search for evidence of the secretive otters that build their holts in banks among the trees. You can sometimes see them around the coastline, fishing and tumbling playfully in the water. A June day on the woodland edge gives you a good chance of seeing the delicate dance of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly or the metallic flash of a dragonfly. You might also glimpse a shy roe deer in the woods. Resident birds include the soaring buzzard, the tiny wren and the great spotted woodpecker, but migrant redstart, wood and willow warblers don’t arrive until the spring, filling the woodlands with their song.
About the area
This is a county that’s all about awe-inspiring landscapes and unique island cultures. Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney put the area on the map when he wrote Mull of Kintyre, recorded in 1977 with the local pipe band backing his group.
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Nearby places to stay
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Nearby places to stay
Glendaruel Caravan Park
Glendaruel Gardens, with an arboretum, is the peaceful setting for this pleasant, well established wooded site in a valley surrounded by mountains. It is set back from the main road and...
Inver Restaurant & Rooms
Inver Restaurant & Rooms occupies a beautifully converted lochside croft on the shores of Loch Fyne, where the wild landscape of Argyll shapes both the atmosphere and experience. Inside...
The Colintraive
The Colintraive is located on 'Argyll's Secret Coast' with views onto the narrow channel that separates the mainland from the Isle of Bute. This is an ideal base for touring, with the I...
Tigh An Truish
Tigh an Truish has been a hostelry for over 250 years and is just a few miles away from Oban. Expect picture postcard views of the bridge, friendly service and fantastic cooking that ma...
Port Askaig
The Port Askaig Hotel is a family-run inn that dates back to the 18th century. The lounge enjoys fine views over the Sound of Islay to Jura, and there is a choice of popular bars – the ...
Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa
Situated in a stunning location with uninterrupted views across Loch Fyne and the surrounding landscape and close to the historical county town of Inveraray, seat of the Dukes of Argyll...
Kilmeny
Kilmeny enjoys an elevated location in the tranquil heartlands of Islay, on a 300-acre beef and lamb farm. This 19th-century farmhouse has been welcoming guests for over 40 years so hos...
Royal Hotel
Well situated in the heart of Oban, just minutes from the ferry terminal and with the shops on its doorstep, the Royal Hotel really is central. The comfortable and well-presented bedroo...
