Wildlife & Nature

The ancient oak woods of Taynish

Taynish 15There can be few more magical landscapes than the oak woodlands of the Taynish peninsula in Argyll.Β  In summer, with the leaves filtering a cool emerald light through to the forest floor, and birdsong all around you, it feels like a sanctuaryΒ – enchanted and timeless.

Taynish 10You only have to set foot within the moss-shaded world of Taynish woods to know that they are ancient. Β Pollen taken from peat samples has revealedΒ that these oak woodlandsΒ have been growing here for about 7,000 years. Β They would have heardΒ the footsteps ofΒ the firstΒ farmers who settled in Knapdale, those sameΒ people who set up the stones of Nether Largie and Temple Wood in Kilmartin Glen, and carriedΒ their dead toΒ Dunchraigaig for burial.Β  Β Few landscapes have truly stayed the same over thousands of years, but if one of our Neolithic ancestors came back to Taynish I’d like to think he would recognise it and feel at home.

Although oak is the predominant speciesΒ there is a wide range ofΒ other trees,Β includingΒ rowan, birch, hazel, hawthorn, alder and wild cherry. Β Scottish Natural Heritage is carefully monitoring the encroachment of non-native species such as sycamore, lime and rhododendron. Β  With water all around and wildlife in abundance the woods are rarely silent, butΒ a deep feeling of peace settles on you as you walk beneathΒ the canopy.

A SUPPLYΒ OF CHARCOAL

TaynishΒ woods were the focus of some unexpected industry in the earlyΒ 19th century, when the Napoleonic wars created a keenΒ demand for iron and leather.Β  Oak bark was used for tanning hides, and charcoal fuelled the iron furnaces;Β  both of these processesΒ took their toll on the woodlands, and trees were coppiced to encourage the quick growth of new branches.

Taynish - charcoal burnerDotted around the woods are oldΒ charcoal-makingΒ platforms, where stacks of logs were covered in turf and then burnt to produce charcoal.Β  This was shippedΒ to the iron furnace at BonaweΒ on Loch Etive.Β  The industry flourished until 1876, when the furnace was closed down.

Steps in Taynish woodsTaynish 6Oak leaves, Taynish 2

Wood sorrel
Wood sorrel

Taynish 3

Taynish 2

Campion and bluebells
Campion, stitchwort and bluebells

Taynish lochan

Water lilies in Lochan Taynish
Water lilies in Lochan Taynish

There’s a good reasonΒ for all the lush foliage:Β  Taynish receives over 60Β inches of rainfall every year, and the mild, moist air allows mosses, lichens and ferns to thrive.Β  A quarter of all Britain’s bryophyte species (mosses and liverworts) are found here, and about 500 species of lichen; Β  the woodlands also support 300 species of wild flowers, and a whole host of dragonflies, damselfies, butterflies, moths and beetles.

Bluebells and stitchwort, TaynishTaynish - lichen

Lichen on rowan branch, with hazel in background
Lichen on rowan branch, with hazel in background

MARSH FRITILLARY

Marsh Fritillary, Taynish woods 1 (Colin) 2Taynish is the northernmost stronghold of the marsh fritillary, one of Europe’s most threatened butterflies and the only British butterfly protected by European law.

Birch bark with lichen
Birch bark with lichen
Milkwort
Milkwort
Stitchwort
Stitchwort

TAYNISH MILL

Taynish MillTaynish water mill was built around 1720 and for 150 yearsΒ it was used to grindΒ the grain produced byΒ the farmersΒ who lived aroundΒ Loch Sween. Β The ruins stand in a little clearing, besideΒ a clear-flowing burn.

Taynish - viewKnapdale is a landscape of low rocky hills or β€˜knaps’, and at Taynish the woodlands give way to clear hilltops where you can rest for a while and drink in the glorious views. Β  There are about 500 acres of woodland, with areasΒ ofΒ salt marsh and fen meadows.Β  In summer, the reedy fringes of Lochan Taynish areΒ literally buzzing with the neon colours of dragonflies and damselflies.

Large Red Damselflies
Large Red Damselflies
Four-spotted Chaser
Four-spotted Chaser
Common Blue Damselflies mating
Common Blue Damselflies mating

Taynish 5

Taynish 8You’re never far from water, and fromΒ some of the paths you can catchΒ the sparkle of Loch Sween through the trees. Β  The walk past the Mill brings you out on the rocky shore, where a burn bubbles its way happily into the loch.Β  As you listen to the oystercatchers’ piping calls, keep an eye open for otters, which are often glimpsed here.

As for the woodland birds, in mid-June we saw – or heard – warblers, chaffinches, robins, blackbirds and thrushes; Β  I watched a great spotted woodpecker at its nest hole, but it became agitated at the sight of me even at a distance, and I retraced my steps to leave it in peace.

Taynish and Loch Sween 3

Thrift and silverweed
Thrift and silverweed

Oak leaves, Taynish

Ragged Robin
Ragged Robin
Thyme
Thyme
Common Lizard
Common Lizard

Taynish woods (1)Visiting Taynish oak woods

Taynish is situated about one mile south of Tayvallich. Β The woodlands are a National Nature Reserve, managed by Scottish Natural Heritage.Β  It’s open all year, and admission is free.

More information: Β Β Scottish Natural Heritage

Photos taken 11th June 2015,Β Β© Colin & Jo Woolf

28 Comments

  • Moira Goodman

    What a fascinating place Jo. Very Interesting reading about the charcoal making platforms as I have never
    heard of that before. Photos are superb as usual. Would love to visit there sometime.

    • Jo Woolf

      Thank you, Moira. I was interested to find out about the charcoal-making, too. I had never seen those burning mounds in a wood before.

  • justbod

    Such a beautiful woodland! Love that there are remains from the past, such as the charcoal platforms. Your gorgeous photographs almost made me feel I was there! Am developing such a long list of places to visit next time I come to Scotland! Thank you πŸ™‚

  • thehutts

    We visited in 2011 and found this a lovely peaceful spot. Our visit also coincided with an arts festival and open studios which were well worth a visit as there are some very talented artists in the area. Sally

  • davidoakesimages

    Nice post Jo. You enjoyed a great day, thank you for taking us along. Again it also shows that despite today’s tranquil scene it also had industrial links in an earlier life, It is hard to believe just how wide our population spread across these isles prior to the migration to hot spots we call cities in search of progress!.

    • Jo Woolf

      You’re welcome, David, and thank you. That’s very true about the population and how it has changed. Taynish must have been much more populated at one time, especially in the late 1700s.

  • Caroline

    What a magical place, and wonderful photographs! I especially love the lizard and the marsh fritillary (which looks as though its wings are made of stained glass). I love the Argyll coast and can’t wait to go up there again in September.

    • Jo Woolf

      Thank you, Caroline! The lizard was a real find – Colin was very pleased! And the butterflies are lovely – in fact we think we saw one even further north recently, near Oban. There’s something about the coast of Argyll – it keeps drawing us back, and there’s so much of it. September is a fantastic time to visit!

  • Anny

    We’re on our way north in August, and now I’m champing at the bit! Wonderful photography Jo, just a few more weeks to get through!

    • Jo Woolf

      Thanks, Lorna! Taynish was a lovely place to visit and to write about. How nice it would be to sit in that cool shade right now! The damselflies are brilliant – almost fluorescent.

  • Pat

    There just has to be fairies in that wood! Wonderful pictures Jo. I am especially fond of dragonflies. That one is a beauty.

    • Jo Woolf

      I know, it’s beautiful, Susan – there’s an upside to all the rain! You can tell how clear the air is too, with all the lichen.

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