Walk - Isle of Harris - Ardvourlie Woodland Walkway- Western Isles
Ardvourlie woodland walkway. A lovely walk with stunning views of Loch Seaforth and the Harris Hills. Clisham seen from the woodland and Ardvourlie moorland. The path has been laid with stones to make this easy to follow winding route up the hilly moorland a Harris walk, well worth doing. It only takes an hour or two and the views are definitely rewarding.
An important event. People of North Harris take ownership of their Land. The plaque in the centre of this monument marks the event in 2003 when the people of North Harris became proud owners of their own land.
The North Harris Trust was established in 2003 to enable the community buy-out & management of the 55000 acre North Harris Estate (and subsequently the 7,500 acre Loch Seaforth Estate), a large part of the Isle of Harris.
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Views of The Harris Hills, The Clisham
As well as the lovely views of Loch Seaforth and The Main Road winding below through Harris & Lewis, you also get splendid views of the Harris Hills as you get further up the Ardvourlie walkway. If you are lucky at the right time of year you may even spot the deer
One of the Most Pure Breeds of Deer
The North Harris deer herd is thought to be one of the most pure red deer herds in Scotland as they have not interbred with the non-native Sika deer which has spread through large areas of the mainland.
Mountain Hares
There are also mountain hares, although these are often elusive, usually staying on the high ground throughout the year and often sheltering behind boulders or peat banks during the day to avoid predation by the golden eagles
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Recreation of Woodland Forest
The woodland that was originally to be seen in this area is no longer to be seen, however a new area of woodland has been planted to recreate a beautiful forest area for locals and tourists alike to enjoy.
Habitats for Birds and Wildlife
It is also home to much woodland life. Three hundred acres of hillside have been planted with 200,000 trees, which will provide food and shelter to birds and wildlife.
There are rowan tress, birch, alder, willow, holly and juniper
1000m Walkway - Picnic Tables - Panoramic Views of Loch Seaforth and the Clisham
Walkway Climbs to 100 metres in height
The 1000m walkway climbs to a height of 110 meters. The walk has been designed very cleverly so as to take advantage of the contours, and therefore isn't as steep as it might have been.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables at various beauty spots give panoramic views of both Loch Seaforth, the north cliffs of the Clisham. Otters reside around the shores of Loch Seaforth, and porpoises can sometimes be seen on the loch.
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The view of Loch Seaforth from the Ardvourlie moorland is just stunning. The moorland too with the heather in the foreground and the Harris hills to the rear creates a great view.
Loch Seaforth forms the boundary between Harris and Lewis.The photo to the right is of Loch Seaforth which stretches for fourteen miles and is the largest sea loch in the Western Isles. The loch was named after Lord Seaforth.
The ownership of Lewis passed from the MacKenzies of Kintail through the Seaforth family
Wildflowers and the Lock Seaforth View
As you sit on this bench looking out to Loch Seaforth, you can see all around you many tiny wildflowers.
The bog cotton, or cotton grass as it is often called, all over the damp moorland.
Also the tiny yellow tormentil wildflowers, a member of the rose family which thrives on the acid soils, not to mention the lovely heathers all around.
Plaque Commemorates the People Being Owners of the Land
The plaque - situated on the monument at the beginning of the Ardvourlie Woodland Walkway, commemorates the day in 2003 when the people of Harris became proud owners of their land.
In March 2003 the 62,500 acres (253 km2) North Harris Estate was purchased by the North Harris Trust, a development trust, on behalf of the local community.
Once you walk through the gate, the path meanders gently up the slope, the heather lining the pathway looks just stunning.
Heathers
There are three different types of heather to be seen on the islands - Bell Heather, Ling heather and Cross Leaved Heath Heather
Graham walking up the Ardvourlie Walkway Path - Heather lines the way.
Ardvourlie - Heather Lines the Walkway Route
We are lucky here in The Western Isles as otters are becoming a little more often to be seen. Otters can often be seen on the shores of loch Seaforth, though the one pictured below was actually one of a family we were lucky to see playing and feeding at Flodabay in Harris.
The pied wagtails, really are a sweet looking bird, aptly names as you can see their tails "wagging" up and down. We saw several wagtails along the Ardvourlie woodland way walk.
The buzzards are now quite successful in the Western Isles and are a splendid looking bird to see, especially when in flight. It's wingspan varies from 4ft to 6ft across. The red grouse is a lovely looking bird, which loves the heather, infact 90% of its dies is the heather.The Ardvourlie pathway, winds down, back towards the starting point, along the way there is still plenty to see on the moorland, as tiny lochs appear with the Clisham in the background
A close up of Ling Heather
Loch Seafort - View from Ardvourlie Walk
As you get further up the walkway - views of
The Main Road & Loch Seaforth
Seat Looking out to Loch Seaforth
Bog Cotton - Wildfowers and Grasses
Tiny Yellow Wildflowers - Tormentil
Western Isles Wildlife - An Otter
This one was at Flodobay
Views of the Harris Hills & The Clisham
Seen from the Ardvourlie Walkway
Pied Wagtail - Western Isles
Bird Sightings Ardvourlie
