Hi Jonathan

I stayed in the converted grain threshing barn owned by Angus about 300m from Gariob cottage. It certainly is a beautiful area. There was plenty of wildlife about which I have posted on Dave Winnards excellent Manchester Wildlife site. I will be going back again next spring if I can get the time off work.

Amazing! I stayed at Gariob (the cottage known by that name) a few times in the early 70's when the cottage was owned by the Forestry Commission. The ranger for Knapdale, who lived there at the time, was David Kent who came from Manchester. He now runs Great Glen Wildlife Tours:

http://www.greatglenwildlife.co.uk/about.html

Pity I didn't know you were visiting the area Dave. My uncle (who came from Lowton) was the FC's conservation ranger for the area until his retirement a few years ago. I've been visiting the area for over thirty years. A vastly underwatched place, and you're right about the scenery - breathtaking!

I have just spent a week at Gariob in the middle of the Knapdale Forest. I went mainly for some R&R with some birdwatching thrown in. I rented a small cottage close to Loch Coille Bharr which is one of the lochs where Beavers have been reintroduced to Scotland. The cottage had a small garden overlooking a water meadow with a dense broadleaved and pine forest around. Within 10 minutes of arriving 3 Ospreys glided over heading towards the loch as later I found out they roost in the tall pine trees which surround the loch. Tree pipits and Willow warblers were everywhere. Two Wood warblers visited the Blueberry bushes in the garden looking for insects every morning. Juvenile Spotted flycatchers [up to 8 at a time] were great to watch as they chased insects around the garden. Plenty of Buzzards soaring overhead and a male Sparrowhawk hunted in the meadow taking mainly Willow warblers. A Golden eagle flew over twice during the week and I saw 3 more along the coast beside Loch Sween. No Sea eagles turned up as they were further up the coast near Oban. I spent a couple of afternoons at Kilmory beach and counted 20+ Rock pipits, 10+ Wheatears, 4 Common sandpipers and a Raven around the beach. In the sea quite close to the shore were Razorbills and Guillemots fishing and Gannets flying past. Over 60 species seen throughout the week in some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.