Heatherbank Guest House
Upper Scotstoun, Strontian,
Lochaber PH36 4JB
Tel. 01967 402201
Mobile 07921 234623
Email info@StrontianBandB.co.uk
Map/Directions

What do you get?
A warm welcome, comfortable rooms with TV/DVD, free wi-fi access and a delicious breakfast.

WILDLIFE & GEOLOGY

The wildlife at Strontian is prolific. We frequently have red deer coming into the garden and a heron regularly stalks our pond. Black grouse lec less than a mile from the house and we can hear them clearly on a still evening. Wildcats breed in the area. There are otters and seals on the shore of Loch Sunart and the pine marten is a common but elusive neighbour. Golden eagles may occasionally be seen and sea eagles fly further west on the peninsula and on nearby Mull.

There are whale, porpoise and dolphin watching boat trips. Basking sharks can be seen at the right time of year.

At Ariundle and towards Salen are the ancient Atlantic fringe oak woodlands with an abundance of flora and lichens. The higher ground supports typical wetland acid plants such as bog asphodel, butterwort and sundew.

Above Strontian are the remains of the old lead mines where the element strontium was first discovered and named after the village. At the western end of the peninsula can be found the Ardnamurchan Ring which is a huge volcanic crater formed when the Atlantic Ocean was opened up – the remains of probably two volcanoes which have been weathered down. Near Kilchoan there is a muddy limestone bearing distinct fossils.

Common Sightings at Heatherbank : Red Deer; buzzard; goldfinch; siskin; other finches; meadow pipits; heron; wheatear; long-tailed tit: stonechat; house martin; swallow, cuckoos have been recently seen; On the plant side we have milkwort; lesser butterfly orchid; northern marsh orchid; heath spotted orchid; yellow and red rattle; yellow flag iris; butterwort. Chimneysweep moths; Scotch Argus. All swallows gone by 20/9/09.

8.8.09 : We found a bird on its back outside the backdoor. It was a young Cuckoo that appeared to be stunned. When it was turned over it limped away to the cover of a bush. Ten minutes later, when disturbed, it scrambled onto the lawn and managed to take off and land on a post on the other side of the pond where it stayed for thirty minutes.

Late Sept : Red deer rut begins - 8 point stag with a harem increased to 15 by 5th Oct. - bellowing for most of the night 10m. outside the house. Some competition from a younger stag who was soon chased off, but in the meantime the hinds wandered about and the all had to be rounded up again. All quiet from 16th Oct. - rut over!

Occaisional Sightings at Heatherbank : Barn owl; black grouse; wildcat; sparrowhawk; whinchat, common lizard.

Nearby sightings: Golden plover; ringed ouzel; pine martin; otter; common seal; grey seal; golden eagle; sea eagle; ptarmigan droppings: roe deer. Chequered Skipper butterflies, also Dingy Skipper; Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary; Dark Green Fritillary. Golden eagle seen perched on a rock and ptarmigan droppings seen 1.5 miles away.