00:00 Sunart & Garbh Eilean
05:14 Rahoy Hills
07:51 Ariundle

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This film covers three short hikes around Loch Sunart and Morvern on the west coast of Scotland, famed for its native temperate rainforest. The autumn colours this year have been sensational. This is my home patch and I've been meaning to make a short film about this woodland in autumn for many years.

I had a window of two sunny days which coincided with peak autumn colour so I got out and hiked three areas around Loch Sunart that have some of the best examples of temperate rainforest in Scotland, maybe even the best in Europe: Garbh Eilean (and its wildlife hide run by Forestry & Land Scotland), Rahoy Hills (Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve) and Ariundle (National Nature Reserve).

Temperate rainforest in Europe is very rare, formerly cloaking much of the Atlantic coastline from Portugal to Norway. Now a tiny fraction of it remains. Restricted to temperate, maritime regions, it's characterised by high rainfall, mosses, lichens and epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants such as polypody). You can learn more about this very special habitat here https://savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk/ Music: Cliffside by Inola, Places by Alaskan Tapes & the Moon It Rises by Shawn Williams, all licensed from musicbed.com

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and below...

Camera gear:

Canon 5DIV https://amzn.to/3LqWN9k
Wide lens https://amzn.to/3LtaYe6
Telephoto lens https://amzn.to/3LwN6qe
Wildlife lens https://amzn.to/3LK0RTI
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Hiking gear:

MSR tent https://amzn.to/42b2C29
(the tent I use has been discontinued but this is the closest to it)
Fjallraven backpack https://amzn.to/40POsSo
Sierra designs daypack https://amzn.to/3Loh8fB
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Remember that hiking and mountain climbing can be dangerous. The videos on my channel are for entertainment only (other than where specified). Always prepare well and be willing to abandon a trip if it becomes dangerous due to weather or unexpected trail conditions. If you are new to hiking and the great outdoors it's always a good idea to go with a guide or a more experienced companion.

And remember - give the wildlife some space, leave no trace, go quietly and enjoy it out there!

A word on drones - I know how annoying it is to hear a drone whizzing about when you are trying to enjoy the peace and solitude of wild places. I'm also aware of the potential to disturb wildlife with them. I always avoid flying the drone when there are other hikers around. It's one of the reasons I tend to hike at less popular times of day and in mid-week and I avoid using the drone if I do see others nearby. I never fly a drone towards wildlife or where birds are likely to be nesting.