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Wildlife is everywhere. Red squirrels scrabble their way across the branches, and pine marten lurk in the darkness of the forest. Crossbills crack pine cones in the tree tops. Over the moorland hen harriers glide softly, hunting for prey, and black grouse chortle. If you’re very lucky you might spot a golden eagle high in the sky, but buzzards are more common!

Here are some of our top wildlife tips for the Forest Park:

  • Glenbranter is a good place to start exploring Argyll’s wildlife: we’ve set up cameras here to watch the red squirrels.

  • Lochgoilhead’s forests are great for small woodland birds, whose song fills the air in spring.

  • Trees are part of the wildlife scene too, and at Kilmun Arboretum you can see some very exotic specimens indeed: it’s an impressive collection of trees from all over the world.

  • It’s not all about woodland wildlife. Wander along the shore at Ardgartan and you might catch a glimpse of porpoises, seals or otters in the sea loch.

  • To see our rarest resident, you’ll need diving gear. Loch Eck is home to the powan, a fish related to salmon. It only lives here and in Loch Lomond.