The Otter Haven carpark is set in a spectacular location with stunning views across the Kylerhea narrows to Glenelg and the Kintail mountains.
There is a viewing hide where you may watch for otters and a variety of wildlife, such as common seals and seabirds.
The otter has two types of hair. There are stout, waterproof guard hairs and fine hairs that form a dense undercoat that provides insulation.
The otter is equipped with webbed toes and a powerful, rudder-like tail that is used for propulsion under water.
The otter can be found on many types of wetland including streams, rivers, marshes, lakes and coastal areas.
Its home range is substantial and may cover up to one hundred and thirty feet. Otters use refuges such as hollow trees or thick vegetation as lying-up places during the day. The more permanent living places, holts, may be holes under tree roots near the bank and under bridges.
The otter seeks out a secure and inaccessible holt when rearing its young. Otter breeding may occur at any time of the year, but mostly occurs in spring. The female gives birth to around two to three blind and naked cubs nine weeks later.
They are fully weaned by fourteen weeks, after which the mother will teach them how to hunt and fend for themselves. The cubs stay with the mother for around a year before leaving to establish new territories. The male does not help in rearing the young.
The diet of the otter is predominantly fish, but they do have a fondness for eels. They will feed on frogs, crustaceans, and small mammals such as mice and water voles. Otters will often lie on their back in the water and use their stomach as a feeding table. They have been known to place a large pebble on their stomach, and use it to break open shellfish.
