In the course of this 4 mile walk you can see most of the spring flower species to be found on the island. From Rothesay take the bus to the start point which is signposted on the opposite side of the road from the Mount Stuart carpark ‘exit’ gate (GR NS103607). After a short stretch along a forestry track, you enter Cnocnicoll Wood and follow the path across the Kerrycroy Burn, before moving steadily upwards through lovely mixed woodland.
The fresh spring growth is showing at its finest. See how many trees and shrubs you can identify – these include Beech, Birch, Sycamore, Hazel, Holly, Sitka Spruce, Rowan and Rhododendron. Part way up the ascent you cross one of the remaining sections of ‘Thom’s Cut’, an ingenious system of watercourses engineered by Robert Thom in the early 19th century to supplement the water supply for Rothesay Cotton Mill.
As the path levels out and follows close to a wall, look out for tussocks of Deergrass in the wetter patches. Technically a member of the Sedge family, this attractive species is found abundantly on acid heaths and moors. Look for the tiny strap-like leaf part way up the stem which distinguishes it from Spike-rushes.
After a short section through recently felled woodland, you reach the Moor Road and join the West Island Way. As an alternative route, you can arrive here by staying on the bus until the War Memorial (see Walk 06), and from there following the full length of the Moor Road, omitting Cnocnicoll Wood.
Botanically, this part of the walk is not very diverse, crossing as it does acidic moorland of a fairly uniform nature. Red Rattle (aka Lousewort) is a good indicator of soils with poor fertility. The almost ubiquitous banks of Gorse are pleasing to the eye at this time of year (and provide an excellent habitat for birdlife) but do tend to restrict what would otherwise be an open view across the moor.
In contrast, the final part of the descent to Loch Ascog has a wonderful array of common spring flowers – Red Campion, Greater Stitchwort, Bluebells, Colt's-foot, Germander Speedwell, Celandine, Wood-sorrel and Golden Saxifrage, as well as rarer ones such as Moschatel (‘Townhall Clock’).
One of the earliest spring flowers is Colt’s-foot, a plant whose ‘Dandelion-type’ leaves usually appear well before its flowerheadss. The photo shows 3 stages of its seasonal cycle in a single plant – flowerhead opening out, in full flower, and with leaves. Soon the flowers will turn into puffballs and only its distinctive leaves will remain.
Other species with readily-identifiable leaves, but later flowering, are here also; see if you can identify Foxglove, Yellow Flag Iris, Honeysuckle, and Angelica just by their leaves before they flower.
Before climbing uphill again on the last stretch of the Moor Road, it’s well worth making a short detour along the fisherman’s path beside the loch through Lochend Wood with its extensive display of bluebells. Birdwatchers may also wish to linger in the hide on the shore of the loch.
On reaching the main road, turn right to return to Rothesay (no footway for the first half-mile). A preferable, though slightly longer alternative, is to continue across the road on the WIW (signposted) so as to join the Loch Fad track (see Walk 08) and return to Rothesay that way.
Species in flower include:
