Loch na Muilne

Address: RSPB Loch na Muilne, Ceanna'Tuath, Arnol, Isle of Lewis HS2 9DJ, UK

Grid ref: NB311494

Discover this hidden loch which nestles within a vast expanse of the exposed Atlantic coastline on the Isle of Lewis. The reserve is home to the red-necked phalarope, a rare and unusual arctic wader which arrives in late May each year to breed.

Plan your visit

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations welcome

Children: Free, but donations welcome

Facilities

No visitor centre
Car park
Toilets off-site
Accessible toilets off-site
No Refreshments
Viewing point
Nature trails
Shop off-site

Accessibility

How to get here

By road

Loch na Muilne is located in North West Lewis approximately 15 miles from Stornoway and a 25-minute drive away. From Stornoway follow the A857 to Barvas and then turn left onto the A858 to Arnol. Turn into the village and continue towards the coast, past the Arnol Blackhouse Museum and park at the RSPB carpark at the end of the road with due consideration for residents and other visitors.

The nature reserve is accessed to the North from the carpark, through a gate and a 400m walk which is waymarked by posts, taking you to a viewing area overlooking the loch.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

This nature reserve is in an important place for wildlife. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. During the ground-nesting bird breeding season (1 April to 15 August) please keep your dog under close control.

12 degrees, Light rain

Contact Loch na Muilne

RSPB Loch na Muilne, Ceanna'Tuath, Arnol, Isle of Lewis HS2 9DJ, UK
robin.reid@rspb.org.uk
01859 550 280

What will you see?

Our star species

Dunlin

The isle of Lewis is an important breeding ground for dunlins. Look out for them in their smart summer plumage.

Red-necked phalarope

Here, you can watch them as they spin about on the water searching for food.

Redshank

Keep an eye out for the redshanks' display flights over the wet fen in spring.

Whooper swan

In autumn, whooper swans stop off at Loch na Muilne on their way from Iceland.

White-fronted goose

The only wintering flock of Greenland white-fronted geese on Lewis returns to this area each year and is regularly seen at Loch na Muilne.

Nature spectacles

The breeding waders are the reserve highlight. Up to nine species of wader breed on or adjacent to the reserve including the rare red-necked phalarope. Phalaropes are an arctic breeding species only found at a few locations in northern Scotland. Their bright plumage, unusual habit of swimming as well as wading when foraging, and their male/female role reversal makes this a particularly exiting species to watch. From late spring through summer, the wetland and surrounding heathland are rich in flowers including bog bean, bog asphodel, orchids and carnivorous plants such as sundews.

Look and listen for the evocative breeding displays of wading birds including lapwings, redshanks, dunlins, snipe and golden plovers. Golden plovers congregate before moving onto the moor to breed.

If you're lucky, you may glimpse the elusive red-necked phalaropes searching for insects on the loch's surface. These rare arctic waders are the last of the summer migrants to arrive and are unusual in that they both wade and swim when foraging for insects. Watch out underfoot! The coastal heath hosts sundews and butterworts - two plants which have evolved carnivorous habits to cope with their nutrient poor environment. Northern-marsh orchids, early-marsh orchids and heath-spotted orchids along with bog asphodel provide a colourful display.

Whooper swans, on their way from Iceland to their relatively warmer winter home in UK estuaries, stop off to rest and refuel.

Snipe might be seen pottering about in the wet edges of the marsh looking for a winter meal. A small flock of Greenland white-fronted geese also winter in the area and regularly visit the reserve.

About Loch na Muilne

Habitat

The reserve comprises of two shallow lochs with wet, marshy fringes, surrounded by an area of coastal heath at the edge of the vast Lewis peatlands. Loch na Muilne is adjacent to the exposed coastline of west Lewis and lies a few hundred meters from the crofting township of Arnol.

Conservation

The reserve is most important for its breeding waders, especially the red-necked phalarope. We monitor wader populations closely here with the aim of managing the reserve to benefit these species.

Site information

The site is not staffed but we do run weekly guided phalarope watches from the viewing cairn from late May through to early July. The viewing cairn and waymarked trail provide good opportunities for viewing the wildlife on the reserve.

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Join us at one of our viewing events from late May to early July when RSPB staff will be present to help visitors to view the red-necked phalaropes and other wildlife at the reserve.

Leisure activities

From the reserve you can follow the sea cliffs along the coast north to the next crofting township of Brue, two miles away. The coastline is home to nesting seabirds including, fulmar, shag and black guillemot and gannets are often seen diving for fish.