Largiebaan Reserve
Situated on the western side of the Mull of Kintyre and almost 4 miles north of the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse, Largiebaan is the SWT’s second largest reserve, covering 1,700 hectares.
With stupendous scenery and very special and varied wildlife—including several types of birds of prey, unusual montane flora on the cliffs, and, in autumn, a breeding colony of grey seals—Largiebaan Reserve certainly merits the extra effort required to get there.
What Can You Do There?
Largiebaan offers spectacular cliff scenery for walkers and photographers, with views across the Atlantic to Northern Ireland, Rathlin Island, Islay, and Jura.
While a footpath is available through part of the Reserve, further exploration requires that visitors hike through some rough country. Visitors should note that Largiebaan Reserve’s rough terrain makes it unsuitable for disabled visitors.
What Might You See There?
Largiebaan Reserve has plenty of interesting features and diverse wildlife. Metamorphic rocks (including limestone) are capped with thin acidic soil and peat. Bogs and heaths dominate with patches of acid grassland and bracken, while the native woodland fragments are expanding.
Along the 6-km coastal strip, jutting cliffs with steep slopes and truncated corries drop dramatically into the Atlantic. Breeding seabirds can be found on small ledges along the black cliff faces. At the cliff base before the tide comes, feral goats are often seen. Within the Dun Ban SSSI, mountain avens carpet scree faces, while other Arctic-alpines thread through fescues, sedges and tiny mosses.
Largiebaan boasts beautiful wildflowers from June through September, while grey seals are best spotted in November. A large variety of birds can be seen year-round.
Animals
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Birds
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- Roe Deer
- Red Deer
- Grey Seal
- Sika Deer
- Feral Goat
- Adder
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- Golden Eagle
- Guillemot
- Razorbill
- Shag
- Fulmar
- Raven
- Kestrel
- Peregrine
- Barn Owl
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Plants
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Insects
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- Purple Saxifrage
- Orchid
- Campion
- Mountain Avens
- Roseroot
- Kidney Vetch
- Rock Samphire
- Yellow Milk-vetch
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- Transparent Burnet Moth
- Large Heath Butterfly
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What You Should Know About the Reserve
- Open 24 hours all the year round
- The Reserve does not offer Disabled Access
- Dog owners: Please note that Largiebaan is a working sheep farm, so please keep dogs on leads, particularly during lambing. Keeping dogs on leads during the breeding bird season (April to August) will also reduce disturbance to wildlife. As always, dog owners are required to clean up after their dogs.
- Parking: If coming by car, there is parking at the junction leading to Glenahanty, Gartnacopaig and Largiebaan.
- Download the Largiebaan Reserve Map.
How to Get There
There are 3 alternative routes to Largiebaan Reserve, all involving a long walk, unless you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Route 1: Heading south out of Campbeltown on the B842, take the right turn onto the unclassified road immediately after Auchencorvie Cottage (Auchencorvie Farm is marked on the OS map). Follow signs for Dalsmirren, heading for the forestry track that starts at Grid Ref NS 646 135. You’ll be coming down the hill, and will see the reddish orange stone of the recently upgraded forestry track on the right. Follow the forestry track as far as possible, ensuring that there is space for a vehicle to get past you after you’ve parked.
Unless you have a vehicle with large ground clearance, such as a 4-wheel drive, it is strongly advised that you park at this junction* and walk the distance of just over a mile to Glenahanty. If you do have a 4-wd, we ask that you do not drive any further, but park at the bottom the hill here.
From Glenahanty, it is just over 2 miles to the cliffs.
Route 2: Walk along the Kintyre Way southwards from Macrihanish, approximately 5 miles over rough country. Parking is available at Ballygroggan, approximately 1 mile south of Macrihanish.
Route 3: Walk along the Kintyre Way northwards via Glenadale, approximately 3 miles over rough country. Amod Farm is approximately 4 miles on minor roads, from the southern end of the Kintyre Way at Dunaverty, west of Southend.