Forest ranger Walks and Events, Summer 2012

Thursday 21st June

Early evening Owl Prowl

Join Ranger and Owl expert Sue Dewar for a gentle walk looking and listening for owls in their natural habitat, with a chance of seeing Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl and possibly Tawny Owl. No dogs, please.

Time: 7-9pm

Cost: £5

Meet: At 7-pm at the entrance to Treshnish Farm (off the B8073 south of Calgary) OS map ref: NM360488. Bring: good footwear, and binoculars if you have them.

Booking essential on 07867745437

Sunday 24th June

Calgary Work 'Party'

Come and help Friends of Calgary Bay get Calgary ready for the summer, Activities include a beach clean, painting, and a general spruce up followed by refreshments. Donations to tea party welcome.

Time: 2pm until 4pm

Meeting Point: Calgary Bay meeting at Camping Area

Monday 25th June

Guided walk: Moths and butterflies of Ardalanish

Join us to investigate which moths have found their way into our (harmless) trap set up overnight, and go for a walk to look for some beautiful day-flying moths and butterflies.

Meet: Ardalanish farm by the weaving mill

Time: 10am-12.30pm

Cost: £5

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405

Thursday 5th July

Guided Walk: Ancient monuments at Loch Buie

Join the Ranger and discover times past on a pleasant walk at beautiful Loch Buie. We’ll meet at the parking area in front of the church at Loch Buie, then stroll along to Moy Castle, take a short detour to the Standing Stones and then retrace our footsteps and head across Laggan Sands to the restored Mausoleum, stopping for lunch on the way. The walk is about 2 miles each way; those who don’t want to go that far can head back to their cars from the Standing Stones.

NB: Dogs must be kept on a lead as the estate will be moving and shearing sheep. Also cattle on the track.

Time: 11am-approx. 3pm

Cost: £5

Meet: Follow the Loch Buie road to the end and park in front of the church.

Bring: stout footwear, a packed lunch, and binoculars if you have them.

Booking essential on 07867745437

Tuesday 10th July

Staffa Stuff! Puffins

Make your own way to Staffa with one of the local boat operators and meet the ranger who will be on hand to answer your questions and guide you to the best place to see puffins up close. Please check the website (www.nts.org.uk) for additional dates announced throughout the season.

Time: Throughout the day

Cost: Boat trip fare

Meet: At the pier on Staffa.

Bring: sturdy footwear and a camera.

Thursday 12th July

Tracks, signs and minibeasts

Children’s event at Glen Aros. Time for young nature fans to look for clues along the Forestry track and around the old graveyard. Children from 5 to 12, adults welcome to join in. Numbers limited to 15 children.

Time: Morning but time to be confirmed

Cost: £3 (adults free)

Meet at car park beyond the Forestry Office at Glen Aros, just before the Forest gate

Bring: Good footwear or wellies if it has been wet.

Booking essential on 07867745437

Tuesday 17th July

Guided walk - Aros Park.

Come and enjoy an afternoon walk around Aros Park, learning about its history and enjoying the scenery. Numbers limited to 20

Time: 2pm - 4pm

Cost: £5

Meet in main car park in Aros Park

Bring : Good footwear and waterproof clothing

Booking on 01680300640

Thursday 19th July

Iona: Wildflower and Wildlife Wander

A gentle walk with local resident Joyce Watson and ranger Emily Wilkins, exploring a range of habitats on this beautiful island.

Time: 10.45am-1pm

Cost: £3

Meet: NTS noticeboard at the top of the pier on Iona

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405

Monday 23rd July

Fun in the Sun

Just as it says, the 'Fun' bit anyway! Outdoor fun and activities including games and art, for 5-12 year olds with Mull and Iona Ranger Service and Artist Emily Herman-Smith.

Time: 2-4pm

Cost: £3

Meet: the Main Car Park, Aros Park, Tobermory

Wednesday 25th July

Fun in the Sun

Just as it says , the 'Fun' bit anyway! Outdoor fun and activities including games and art, for 5-12 year olds with Mull and Iona Ranger Service and Artist Emily Herman-Smith.

Time: 2-4pm

Cost: £3

Meet: Fionnphort Beach.

Thursday 26th July

An evening at the Hide, Glen Seilisdeir

Join the ranger at the new eagle hide and watch the adult birds with their chicks which are close to fledging.

Time: 7.00pm-9.00pm

Cost £6 adults, £3 children

Meet: at the Sea Eagle Hide meeting place, signposted off the B8035 in Glen Seilisdeir between Gribun and Tiroran. We will drive along the Forestry track to the first hide for a brief introduction, then on to the outdoor viewing area to quietly watch the nest.

Bring: warm clothing. Numbers limited to 15.

Booking essential on 07867745437

Saturday 28th July

Fishing Competition on Loch Frisa.

Family fun to outwit the trout on Loch Frisa. See what you can catch. Lots of Prizes.

Meeting Point: Lettermore, on Loch Frisa

Time: 10am till 3pm.

Cost: Children: £2 Adults £5

Tuesday 31st July

Guided walk: Shiaba

Explore the natural and cultural history of the area around this deserted township, with spectacular views towards neighbouring islands.

Meet: Bunessan village carpark (to share lifts up the track to start of walk)

Time: 10am-1pm

Cost: £5

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405

Thursday 2nd August

Guided walk: Garmony to Fishnish

A gentle, mostly flat walk alongside the Sound of Mull with fantastic views along the Sound and across to Morvern. Plenty of seabirds to spot, wild flowers and grass or gravel path. Distance: approximately 4 miles return trip.

Time: 10am-3pm

Cost: £5

Meet: Garmony Forestry Commission car park.

Bring: stout footwear, a packed lunch and binoculars if required.

Booking essential on 07867745437

Friday 3rd August

Meet the Ranger Service at Bunessan Show.

Tuesday 7th August

Guided walk – Erraid

A walk exploring the natural and cultural history of this tidal island (setting for Robert Louis

Stevenson’s ‘Kidnapped’), stopping off at the seal colony, lighthouse observatory and a beautiful sandy beach.

Footwear with ankle support recommended as some of the route is over boggy, uneven ground.

Meeting point: Knockvologan farm

Time: 2pm-5pm

Cost: £5

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405

Thursday 9th August

Meet the Ranger Service at Salen Show

Tuesday 14th August

Guided walk: Market Bay

Please call for details

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405.

Thursday 16th August

A World Apart- the Isle of Ulva

Come and join the Mull and Iona Ranger Service on a guided walk around a small part of this tranquil Island, giving you a taster for future visits.

During this exploration there will be opportunities to learn about the islands past and to be given a window of island life now.

Time: 10am-1.30pm

Cost: £5 not including ferry fare and lunch

Meet: Ulva Ferry, Mull Side

Bring: waterproofs, good footwear, binoculars.

Booking on 01680300640

Tuesday 21st August

Tracks, signs and minibeasts

Children’s event at Garmony. Time for young nature fans to look for clues in this lovely area alongside the Sound of Mull. Children from 5 to 12, adults welcome to join in. Numbers limited to 15 children.

Time: 10am-12pm

Cost: £3 (adults free)

Meet at the Forestry Commission Garmony car park.

Bring: Good footwear or wellies if it has been wet.

Booking essential on 07867745437

Thursday 23rd August

Iona: Wildflower and Wildlife Wander

A gentle walk with local resident Joyce Watson and ranger Emily Wilkins, exploring a range of habitats on this beautiful island.

Time: 10.45am-1pm

Cost: £3

Meet: NTS noticeboard at the top of the pier on Iona.

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405.

Tuesday 28th August

Staffa Stuff! Geology

Make your own way to Staffa with one of the local boat operators and meet up with a resident geologist and ranger who will be on hand to answer your questions and guide you to the most interesting geological and wildlife sites.

Time: Throughout the day

Cost: Boat trip fare

Meet: At the pier on Staffa.

Bring: sturdy footwear and a camera.

Thursday 30th August

Balliscate Chapel with Dr. Clare Ellis

To be confirmed

Bring: waterproofs, good footwear, binoculars

Wednesday 5th September

Iona: Marble Quarry geological walk

Join the ranger service and geologist Seamus Westland to explore the rough terrain of southern Iona, investigate its geological history and discover one of the island’s most intriguing and best hidden scheduled ancient monuments.

Time: 10.15am-4pm

Cost: £6

Meet: NTS noticeboard at the top of the pier on Iona

Bring: walking boots with good ankle support, waterproofs, a packed lunch and drink.

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405.

Wednesday 12th September

Eagles and Owls at Loch Frisa eagle hide

An evening event watching the beautiful scenery based at the Loch Frisa eagle hide. We may see the Sea Eagles come into roost, or the resident Barn Owls hunting for prey. If all is quiet at the hide we can take a gentle stroll along the Forestry track.

Time: 7pm for around 2 hours

Cost: £5

Meet: At the top end of the Loch Frisa Forestry Commission track, off the Craignure-Tobermory road at Aros. (NB NOT the Forestry Commission offices turning). We’ll drive to the hide in convoy in our own vehicles and park there.

Bring: good footwear, binoculars

Booking essential on 07867745437

Wednesday 19th September

Guided walk: Burg and Bearraich

An all day hill walk to the top of Bearraich. We’ll look at the rich natural and cultural history of the area and take in some spectacular views of Mull and surrounding islands and seascapes. The route is rough and wet at times with no footpath in places.

Time: 10am-6pm

Cost: £10

Meet: NTS carpark at Tiroran

Bring: walking boots with good ankle support, waterproofs, a packed lunch and drink. Binoculars and a camera would be a good idea too.

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405.

Wednesday 26th September

Bat Walk at Aros Park with Steve Irvine

Join the ranger on an evening walk accompanied by Forestry Commission Wildlife Ranger Steve Irvine, looking and listening for bats in Aros Park. Using bat detectors we can identify the different species around the park.

Time: 9.30pm

Cost: £5

Meet: Main car park at Aros Park.

Booking essential on 07867745437

Wednesday 3rd October

Stargazing and bats event

Please call for details.

Booking essential on 01681 700659 or 07717581405.

Wednesday 10th October

Deer Rut Walk.

Come and listen and watch out for the 'Monarchs' of the glen, Mull's red deer with Forestry Commission wildlife rangers, Steve Irvine and James Greig

Meeting Point: Loch na Gualine Dubh Car Park

Time

Cost: £5

Booking on 01680300640