Otter Haven

29th Aug 2011
Today we took the Glen Arroch single track road over Bealach Udal and on to Kylerhea. Here there is a small ferry crossing to the main land and a nicely situated car park above the slipway giving a nice view out over the channel. We parked the van and walked the 1K trail to the Otter Haven. A short distance down the trail there is a small toilet block and at regular intervals along the track the trees have been cleared giving a view down to the channel. At these clearings there is an information board giving information on various local wild creatures.
At the Otter Haven there is a nicely kept hide complete with information boards. The hide looks out over Kylerhea narrows. Unfortunately we we did not see any otters from the hide but we did see a number of seals in the water and on the beach. There is a log book in the hide where you are encouraged to log what you see. The previous days activity showed that an otter had been seen, it also stated that someone had been there for 30 mins and saw nothing! I think your visit to the hide should probably be for longer than 30 mins if you want to spot anything interesting. Inside the hide there are a number of sets of binoculars, if like me you forget to take yours on holiday. Find out more about the hide here.
On return to the van we had a picnic lunch overlooking the channel. That's one of the great things with a camper van, when you go out for the day you have all your things with you (apart for binoculars of course!)

Phil