OS Explorer 390 - Ardnamurchan

Kilchoan Community Park is a great destination for a family picnic when you are way out west on The Ardnamurchan Peninsula. The Community Park and childrens' play area is situated next to the Kilchoan Community Centre where there is a cafe, tourist information and toilet and showering facilities. Your wee ones will have a great time playing in this wildlife themed park whilst you are getting down to some serious picnicking.

As you head out along the B8007 from Salen to Kilchoan and Ardnamurchan Point you pass by a small Forestry Commission picnic site at Camas Torsa on the shores of Loch Sunart. A great place to sit and admire the views of Loch Sunart watching out for otters.

As you drive from Salen to Resipole and Strontian on the A861 you pass by the small Forestry Commission car park for Sailean nan Cuileag (The Bay of Flies). Stop off here for a lovely short walk through Atlantic oak woodland down to the shores of Loch Sunart. Look out for the wooden mushrooms on the shoreline, studded with 'wishing coins'. Take time to explore the coastline and salt marsh at low tide looking out for otters feeding on the rocks.

No holiday in Ardnamurchan is complete without a visit to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse and Exhibition Centre. Pack a picnic and enjoy eating al fresco on the most westerly point on the British mainland. There are two small picnic sites with stunning views over the The Small Isles and beyond.

This picnic site on Drynie Hill on the A861 by Kinlochmoidart is popular with camper vanners with good parking facilities and great views over Glen Moidart. The picnic site is near to the start of the Ardmollich and Silver Walks along the shores of Loch Moidart and is a good place to stop off and admire the views as you tuck into your tasty snacks.

The Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide on the shores of Loch Sunart is a great place to while a away a few hours looking out for otters, seals, eagles, terns, and other coastal wildlife. There are forestry commission car parks for the hide, one close by with disabled parking facilities and the other at Ardery, a short walk away through Atlantic oak woodland and heathland.

Take a walk through the Atlantic oakwoods at Salen and around the small lochan, Loch Na Dunaich, on the Gaelic Alphabet Trail. Look out for the trees identified with the Gaelic Alphabet and learn about Gaelic culture and history from the interpretation boards in the car park. The Lochan is a great place for dragonfly stalking and butterfly bagging in summer, though watch out for the Kelpie!