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Natural history
Strachur lies in a gap through the hills where the glacier that created Loch Fyne spilled over to excavate Srath Curra (Heron Valley) and Loch Eck on its way south. The silvery grey or greenish schists rocks you see most often here date from a time, about 500 million years ago, when a collision between two continents welded an early Scotland onto an early England.
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Wildlife
There is abundant wildlife. A large bird of prey over the estate woodlands could be a golden eagle but it is far more likely to be a buzzard; smaller ones could be kestrels or sparrow hawks. Peregrines are seen occasionally and tawny owls can be heard at night. Shore, burn and ornamental lochan all support heron and duck, while the Eas Dubh burn is a good spot for dippers.
The lower woods have the small roe deer, but they are very shy. Red deer are in the forestry plantations and on the hill, and common seals are in Loch Fyne, where eider duck are prominent among the wide variety of sea birds. You might just see a fox edging around the whin (gorse) above the barn in search of rabbits.
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Natural woodland
Natural woodland around Strachur is dominated by oak and birch, with a variety of other trees present. Strachur Park's woodland is managed, with attractive varieties of rhododendron and azalea between the walled garden and the old mill.
In spring the ground east of the walled garden gives first daffodils, then bluebells in abundance: beautiful amongst the sunlit birches.
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