Between Edinburgh And Glasgow Is A Wetland Nature Reserve With Boardwalk Trails And Unique Wildlife

Scotland's nature has inspired many artists and poets over the years, including the country's own legendary poet, Robert Burns. Sometimes you need to venture deep into the wilderness to find this nature. Other times, you need only drive 30-odd miles from the nearest city. Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve (NNR) is the latter, located close to both Glasgow (26 miles) and Edinburgh (31 miles). As such, it's an ideal day trip from either city or a convenient detour if you're driving between the two.

Blawhorn Moss NNR is an ecologically important wilderness that's one of the last remaining raised and blanket bogs in the country's center. The various layers of this bog contain thousands of years of history and provide habitats for some very unusual insects and native animals. Don't worry — you won't be expected to walk through the actual bog. A specially designed timber boardwalk passes over the peat, letting visitors venture deep into the reserve and see its various sides.

This boardwalk begins shortly after you leave the car park and creates a loop route that takes you into the wetland's center before returning. As you stroll along the timber, you'll encounter various sculptures and informational displays that teach you more about the creatures here and the bog's importance. The reserve has earned positive marks from past visitors, with one review on Google calling it a "fascinating find."

One of the best parts of Blawhorn Moss NNR is its unique British wildlife and plant life. It offers a year-round display of interesting ecosystems, too, with different seasons drawing out various animals, insects, and plants. Summer is when dragonflies, butterflies, and roe deer can be seen, as well as various flowering plants. Roe deer are unique to the British Isles, dating back to 6,000 B.C. and earlier. Their fur is most vibrant during summer, when it becomes bright red.

Fall, meanwhile, sees white bog cotton and sundews change the wetland's tapestry. The sundews are one of the wetland's biggest attractions — unique carnivorous plants that eat dragonflies and other insects. Winter is possibly the least interesting time to visit. This is when the bog appears frozen and has little wildlife other than birds and deer. However, snowy days can be particularly beautiful. You get more wildlife here once spring rolls back around, including red grouse and short-eared owls. Red grouse are particularly distinct, found only in this uplands region. The views out towards the mountains and surrounding forest are also lovely year-round.

You don't need long here, but if you have a car, Blawhorn Moss NNR is easily combined with Pentland Hills Regional Park's unique wildlife and hiking, only one hour away. You can drive to Blawhorn Moss NNR in about one hour from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Blawhorn Moss NNR is also only a 25-minute drive if you're staying in Whitburn, an ex-mining town with lovely parks. If you're based in Edinburgh and are seeking a walk that combines history and culture, consider the Royal Mile, one of the best sightseeing walks in Europe, according to Rick Steves.