Balgavies Loch (Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve)

The loch and wetlands provide a varied habitat for mammals, breeding birds and plants, including the scarse tufted loosestrife, coral-root orchid and cowbane. Overwintering geese anbd wildfowl are also to be seen here.

Further information is available on the SWT website for Balgavies Loch.

Ben Lawers (National Nature Reserve)

The slopes and scree of this munro are home to a superb collection of arctic-alpine plants. Due to the nature of the landscape it is important to plan your visit and be properly equipped. Best to visit between june and august.

Further information about the reserves is available on the SNH National Nature Reserves website, including the reserve leaflet. The land is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. See also the Ben Lawers Historic Landscape Project website.

Brechin Castle Centre

Includes country park, nature trails, model farm, garden centre and gift shop. Child friendly.

www.brechincastlecentre.co.uk

Camperdown Country Park

House, park, woodland and wildlife centre. Walks, cycle paths, play area making it perfect for families. Excellent disabled facilities.

www.camperdownpark.com

Deep Sea World

112 metres long underwater tunnel with fish, sharks and rays; seal pools,and display tanks with species from round the world.

www.deepseaworld.com

Isle of May (National Nature Reserve)

Located in the entrance to the Firth of Forth, the Isle of May is home to thousands of grey seals and sea birds, including puffins, guillemots, razorbills and shags.

See the SNH National Nature Reserve website for further information, and a range of relevant online publications. See www.isleofmayferry.com for information about the boat.

Loch of the Lowes (Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve)

The main attraction at the Loch is the pair of breeding ospreys that can be viewed from the hide. Many wildfowl also breed on site, and diring winter the loch is home to around 3000 overwintering greylag geese.Facilities include visitor centre with exhibitions, interactive displays and a wildlife gift shop. Telescopes and binoculars are available in the hides.

Further information is available on the Scottish Wildlife Trust website for Loch of the Lowes.

Loch Leven (National Nature Reserve)

Loch Leven is Scotlands largest lowland freshwater loch and during the summer holds largest concentration of breeding freshwater duck in Britain. Winter time sees the arrival of overwintering geese and wildfowl, including up to 20,000 pink-footed geese.
See also the information on Vane Farm RSPB Reserve and Visitor Centre.

The SNH website gives further information about Loch Leven Reserve, plus access to the reserve leaflet.

Mills Observatory

Britain's only full time public observatory. Display area, shop and events for children including astronomy, fossils, and bat walks.

www.dundeecity.gov.uk/mills/main.htm

Montrose Basin (Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve)

The basin is an extensive enclosed estuary of the South Esk river, providing tidal mudflats much favoured by overwintering wildfowl and waders, including approximately 40,000 pink-footed geese and 1,000 greylags.
The visitor centre is well worth a visit, expecially for families. It offers uninterupted views across the basin and a selection of high powered telescopes with which to view the wildlife, plus nest box cameras.

More information on Montrose Basin is available on the Scottish Wildlife Trust website.

St Andrews Aquarium

Special exhibitions including seals and tropical fish.

www.standrewsaquarium.co.uk

Scottish Deer Centre

Many species of deer, falconry displays and an adventure playground. Also woodland trails, treetop walkways. inside shelter areas for the family picnic and children's play areas with climbing frames to amuse the youngsters. Encounter a stag or see one of the European wolves.

www.thedeercentre.co.uk

Vane Farm (RSPB Reserve)

The reserve is part of the Loch Leven National Nature Reserve. Facilities include a visitor centre with observation room, tea room and shop. The reserve also has three hides and nature trails of varying grades. As well as views of the Loch, the reserve also contains wetalnds, birch woodlands and hillside.

Further information is available from the RSPB website.