A short September break found me in Scotland close to Lochgilphead, very mixed weather for the week and not much opportunity for photography, then I visited Taynish.
Taynish and Loch Sween.
Taynish is a National Nature Reserve on the west coast of Scotland, west of Lochgilphead near the village of Tayvallich.
Situated on a peninsula in the heart of Knapdale, Taynish is one of the finest examples of ancient Atlantic oak woodland in Europe. With its parallel wooded ridges ‘knaps’ and waterlogged valley mires ‘dales’, Taynish forms a nucleus of mixed deciduous woodland, a remnant of the former Knapdale landscape.
Oak and Ferns create a unique atmosphere.
Having survived here for over 7000 years, this ‘temperate rainforest’ is home to a wealth of wildlife, mosses, lichens and ferns thrive in the mild, humid climate. A wide range of insect life including butterflies, moths and dragonflies flourish in rich grasslands and mires including the marsh fritillary, one of Europe’s most threatened butterflies.
The light on the peninsular is incredible.
I've visited Scotland a lot over the last thirty years, climbing, running and walking, to be honest I was unaware of the National Nature Reserve's, there are more than 50 NNRs in Scotland and Taynish is one of the finest. When I next decide to head north to Scotland I shall make sure I've checked out the 'Scotland's National Nature Reserve' website first.