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…
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.
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
Breadalbane 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. See also the Ben Lawers Historic Landscape Project website. Facilities: car park, nature…
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 and wildfowl are also to be seen here.
The sand dunes and cliffs are home to over 200 species of moth. Also breeding fulmars, stonechats, terns and skylarks.
Unst, Shetland The rough moorland studded with flowering plants, mosses and grasses gives way to the cliffs around the headland. These reach up to 170 metres high and are home to an incredible range of breeding seabirds including puffins, gannets, guillemots, shags, fulmars and gulls. SNH leaflet for Hermaness Reserve is available online. Tel: 01595…
New Lanark Tel 01555 665262 The reserve covers 59 hectares of woodland along the River Clyde Gorge. The visitor centre has interactive displays, wildlife CCTV, a living “bee tree” and a gift shop. Key wildlife species include peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks, bats, otters, badgers, kingfishers and tawny owls. See the Scottish Wildlife Trust website for more…
Failford The steep sides of this river valley ravine have enabled native woodland to develop relatively undisturbed. The prolific bird life, rare flowering plants, bats and mammals make this one of the most important woodland areas in Ayrshire. Further information is available on the Scottish Wildlife Trust website.
Near Mallaig Tel 01687 462026 Reknowned for its stunning landscape, archeological sites and wildlife, Rum is well worth making the effort to visit. Around a third of the worlds population of manx shearwaters nest here in a unique mountain-top colony. Access is by CalMac ferry from Mallaig all year round, or during the summer months…
Golspie, Sutherland Tidal basin with mudflats, heath, dunes and pine woodland. Visit all year round for seald, waders and ducks. Summer also sees wild flowers, terns, waders, fishing osprey and butterflies, whilst the winter months bring wild fowl, hen harriers and peregrines. www.swt.org.uk/wildlife/popup_reserves/north/lochfleet.htm
Kingussie, Inverness-shire Tel 01540 661518 One of the most important wetlands in Europe, with nesting waders in the summer and winter migrants and roosting hen harriers over the winter months. Facilities include three woodland trails and two hides. SNH website or RSPB website