📌 Ardvourlie, Isle of Harris
★★★★
Overlooking a kink in Loch Seaforth, one of the bodies of water delineating the Lewis-Harris boundary, Ardvourlie Woodland is one of the largest areas of mixed native woodland in the Western Isles – though it’s still very much at regeneration stage and will “fill in” over the coming decades. A good path network takes walkers onto a low shoulder below the northern slopes of An Cliseam, accessing superb views of mountains, peatland and water. A track also extends north to Loch Ruairidh, and an observatory is visited on the return route which could offer welcome shelter on a wild day.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on A859 at Ardvourlie, Isle of Harris
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NB 187105
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.994543,-6.762467
🚌 Bus to Scaladale Centre, nearby to north
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 210 m | ⌛ 1.5-2 hr
Features: 📷 Ardvourlie Woodland viewpoints & observatory; 💧 Loch Ruairidh
⬤ Moderate | Good tracks / paths, a fair amount of ascent / descent.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise lollipop circuit with extension to Loch Ruairidh: start – keep left at path junction at 🧭 NB 180106 / 🛰️ 57.994547,-6.773299 – viewpoint to west – Loch Ruairidh – car park via track close to Loch nan Learg
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Ravens, greenshank, willow warblers, meadow pipits. Fish in the lochan, cuckoos heard, a few midges & keds.
Weather: 17°C, dull & overcast, very little wind.
June 2025
