Waterside cabins in Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve

The windswept moors of Blawhorn National Nature Reserve feel secluded and hidden away but are just a 45-minute drive from Glasgow. The land that makes up this magical nature reserve is the remnant of the raised and blanket bogs that once covered much of central Scotland. Follow the raised boardwalk around the moss and feel more than 8,000 years of history under your feet, locked into the bog’s layers of peat. As a protected nature reserve, there is no camping within the Moss. The closest organised site is in Strathclyde Country Park, a 35-minute drive west.

The reserve appears at its best when the sun is shining and so the best time to visit is from April through July when days are long. Spring is a good time for spotting red grouse in the blooming purple heather, while in summer the reserve bursts with red, fuchsia and orange colours and dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies flit around. In the autumn, there’s the possibility of seeing roe deer in the early morning or evening.

• The boardwalk that runs around the reserve is accessible and provides close-up views of the bog. 
• The closest bus stop is in Blackridge, which is connected to the reserve by a footpath network. Blackridge Railway Station is on the North Clyde Line from Helensburgh to Edinburgh and stops at Glasgow, Airdrie and Bathgate. The Reserve entrance connects with the National Cycle Network Route 7.
• Visitors should keep the Scottish Outdoor Access Code in mind as they visit the reserve. Take your litter home with you and keep dogs under close control.