Geo-Trips :: A walk in the quieter side of the Monadh Mor bog forest
Monadh Mor, Black Isle
A walk from Car park on A835, Sun, 28 Feb 2016 by Julian Paren
| This trip is part of a series. | next leg |
This 3.3 mile walk starts from the Forestry Commission car park on the A 835 that serves those wishing to walk on the way-marked routes and forest roads of the Forestry Commission land. Some of the Forestry Commission land lies within the Monadh Mor Site of Special Scientific Interest; however most of the SSSI lies outside this area, is less well visited, and provides walks on small footpaths rather than forestry roads. Much to commend in doing the unorthodox! On the walk provided here, which was my first visit, there was a genuine feeling of exploration as none of the paths on the ground are on any map at all. The paths provide random loops and side trips that can create a different walk each visit. The GPS track here shows what is possible, rather than the only possible walk. The walk does visit areas of bog which can be viewed safely. The more popular walk on the Forestry Commission land provides only a very short section where that occurs.
On the map below, the grey line is the GPS track from this trip. Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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Line of bank through the Monadh Mòr bog forest
A track of sorts followed this bank with wet terrain on either side. Clearly... more
A channel of bog in Monadh Mòr bog forest
I crossed this narrow wet section successfully and soon found a good path to... more
Good track through Monadh Mòr Site of Special Scientific Interest
Found by chance in a wish to enter the heartland of the Monadh Mòr SSSI.... more
Lochan in Monadh Mòr
Monadh Mòr is a SSSI and is the UK's best example of a bog forest. Within... more
Small lochan in Monadh Mòr bog forest
A small lochan beside the footpath that traverses Monadh Mòr.
Frozen lochan in Monadh Mòr
A lochan beside the path through Monadh Mòr.
Area of bog within the Monadh Mòr bog forest
A flat open expanse within the forest that is boggy.
Area of bog within the Monadh Mòr Bog Forest
This clearing in the wood is nothing but a swamp!
All images © Julian Paren and available under a
Creative Commons licence 
.
