📌 Strathnairn, Highland
★★★
The partly wooded countryside at Littlemill, Strathnairn is a glaciologist’s paradise. The glen used to be under the belly of a huge glacier, which left several tell-tale signs after it retreated. Esker ridges – snake-like mounds of earth deposited by meltwater channels underneath the ice – litter the landscape, with paths along their crests making exploration easy. There are also numerous kettleholes: water-filled depressions left over when blocks of ice melted in situ. From higher parts of the route there are some good views of the surrounding hills too, but this is a circuit which will appeal more to ice geeks.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Littlemill trailhead, on the B851 2 mi southwest of the A9 junction
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 701365
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.400544,-4.163133
❌ No public transport within 1 mi. Bus stops at B851 / B861 junction (1.5 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 50 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: 🧊 Littlemill eskers & kettleholes
⬤ Easy | Clear but sometimes narrow paths, some tracks. Intermittent waymarking.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – path junction at 🧭 NH 702365 – edge of Littlemill quarry at 🧭 NH 706368 – gravel pit at 🧭 NH 701354 – first path junction – start. Route combines blue & red routes on map 🔗 here with further extension to south
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Butterflies, woodland birds, hares.
Weather: About 20°C with sunny intervals, some large clouds around.
July 2018
