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Season

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

Weather today

4°C

Where is it?

Map of Balranald

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Plan a visit

57.60567,-7.51750
  • Grid ref: NF706707
  • Lat/long: 57.60567,-7.51750
  • More...
Coral sand beach and dunes at RSPB Balranald nature reservePortrait of singing corncrake, ScotlandLapwing in display flight over breeding grounds
Great yellow bumblebeeBasking sharkMachair habitat and northern Marsh orchid at RSPB Balranald nature reserve, North Uist
Beach at BalranaldFemale hen harrier flying lowBuzzard perching on wooden post
Winter-plumaged dunlin feedingOtter looking back over its shoulderFeeding flock of barnacle geese, RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve, Islay
Photo by Nigel Blake
Photo by Mike Lane
Photo by Mike Edwards
Photo by Andy Murns
Photo by Graham Catley
Photo by Steve Round
Photo by Nigel Blake
Photo by RSPB Images - Danny Green
Photo by Andy Hay

Downloads

Activity sheet
WildSquare Bingo
Download 2.8Mb PDF

Wildlife awards

Balranald is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK.

Top things to do in Spring

  1. Follow the reserve path to the sea and experience the wonderful open landscape
  2. Sit on the bench at the visitor centre and listen to the distinctive rasping corncrakes
  3. Watch lapwings and other waders brooding their eggs and chicks

Top things to do in Summer

  1. Walk through the wildflower-rich machair grasslands
  2. Can you spot a rare great yellow bumblebee?
  3. Watch for seals or even a basking shark on calm days from the visitor trail

Top things to do in Autumn

  1. Watch otters fishing in the lochs and sea
  2. Enjoy the bird of prey spectacle - hen harriers and merlins join the resident buzzards hunting
  3. Watch the hustle and bustle of the crofters harvesting their crops

Top things to do in Winter

  1. See hundreds of barnacle and greylag geese move around the reserve
  2. Walk over the machair watching for flocks of finches, larks and buntings
  3. Seaweed deposited on the beach by winter storms attracts flocks of waders and many small birds

What's on?

    Whoops! We haven't got any events planned here at the moment. Check out our main events listing to find something up your street (or at least quite near to it).

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