IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE CAR PARK WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 3rd -7th FEBRUARY 2025 INCLUSIVE TO ENABLE ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE WORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT.
Please note that parking is provided solely for the use of Trust staff, volunteers and visitors to the reserve, From time to time the parking area will be closed to enable delivery and storage of materials. There is no overnight parking.
An ancient wet semi-natural woodland. Shian Wood stands on a low, flattened ridge jutting out of Loch Creran. In spring, the floor is cloaked with wildflowers, enticing many butterflies. The reserve provides an important refuge for many rare moss and lichen species associated with temperate rainforest.
Why visit?
Highlights include:
- Carpets of spring flowers
- Saltmarsh on loch edges
Best time to visit?
- May to Jun for spring flowers
- May to Jul for breeding birds
Visit for:
- birdwatching
- woodlands
- wildflowers
- coasts
- scenery
- mammals
- archaeology
Other information
Woodland birds dart through the trees and breeding birds nest where wet heath merges into reedbeds and saltmarsh near the shore.
The reserve is a wild and wet place. Access around the reserve is by rough track with some sections of aggregate path and boardwalk. The track can become extremely wet in places. Visitors are advised to wear stout footwear.
Please keep dogs on a lead.
As with most damp places in Argyll, sheep ticks are abundant. Please be tick aware.