Littlemill

A colourful wood where wildlife flourishes

The small forest at Littlemill hides dramatic features that tell of a landscape very different from today's peaceful glen. The ridges and lochans are leftovers from the Ice Age, formed when glaciers ground their way across the land.

Now the woodland is home to roe deer, and there's a colourful show of wildflowers in spring.

Walking trails

Littlemill route card (PDF)

Walking

Kettlehole Trail

Explore the beautiful kettle hole lochans, which are great places to spot dragonflies and other insects that breed in the water.

Rough, narrow earthy and grassy surface. Some steep slopes. Includes muddy sections.

1 ¼ miles / 1.9 km

Allow
¾ hour

More information

Large lumps of ice got stranded as the glacier broke up and created shallow hollows in the land. They’re now small lochs called ‘kettle holes’.

Walking

Esker Trail

Follow a series of strange esker ridges formed beneath glaciers during the last ice age. There are great views over Strathnairn.

Rough earthy and grassy surface, with several muddy sections and some exposed tree roots. Includes steep slopes and some steps.

1 ¾ miles / 2.7 km

Allow
1 hour

More information

This trail takes you up onto two parallel ridges called eskers - these mark the course of rivers of meltwater that flowed underneath the glacier, often carrying huge quantities of sand and gravel. When the glacier melted away, the sand and gravel was left behind as the snaking ridges we see today.

Facilities and access

Walking

Parking

Life's essentials

There's a small shop in Inverarnie, a little further along the B851.

Stay the night

Our Stay the Night trial has now closed for the season. All participating car parks have now reverted to no overnight parking permitted, in line with all our car parks.

Getting here

Head south from Inverness on the A9 for about 6 miles (9.6 km) and turn right onto the B851, signposted for Fort Augustus. Littlemill is about 1½ miles (2.4 km) along the road, on the left. 

Using SatNav?

IV2 6XH is a postcode a little further south along the B851.

Get directions

Find out more

• Forests near Inverness