Black Devon Wetlands

We're working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Many have now re-opened in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although some facilities are not yet available. Some reserves remain closed for now. See our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

Address: RSPB Black Devon Wetlands, Alloa FK10

Grid ref: NS891915

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

Black Devon Wetlands is a quiet gem of a reserve, an area of untouched wet grassland and wetland habitat which includes freshwater pools, brackish pools and reedbeds. This new site is being developed by RSPB Scotland to be better for the people and wildlife of the Inner Forth.

Plan your visit

Covid-19 update: The trails and viewing structure are open at the site.

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, although donations are very welcome.

Children: Free, although donations are very welcome.

Facilities

Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Alloa train station is 2.5 km from the reserve.

By bus

The nearest bus stop is on Bowhouse Road, this is on the Tillicoultry to Glenochil route (C2). From the stop, turn into Riverside View and take the public footpath to reach the reserve.

By bike

The nearest Sustrans route is route 76 (round the Forth). We have cycle racks on the reserve, in the nature trail area.

By road

From the A907, take Auld Brig Road, at the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Greenside Street. Turn left into Broad Street. Turn left on to Bowhouse Road. Turn left onto Riverside View, the reserve can be reached via the public footpath at the end of Riverside View.

There is currently no designated parking for the reserve but there is limited parking in the small car park at the junction of Bowhouse Road and Riverside View. The postcode for sat-navs is FK10 1BZ. This is a residential area, so please park responsibly.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

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Contact Black Devon Wetlands

RSPB Black Devon Wetlands, Alloa FK10
innerforthreserves@rspb.org.uk
01324 832853

What will you see?

Our star species

Mute swan

Watch mute swans and their cygnets bobbing about on the water in summer.

Water rail

Listen for the screech of a resident water rail in spring.

Grasshopper warbler

Listen out for the unmistakable sound of a reeling grasshopper warbler in spring.

Teal

Teal can be seen here in autumn.

Pink-footed goose

Look out for the first of the pink-footed geese to arrive in autumn as winter approaches.

In spring, listen out for the unmistakable sound of a reeling grasshopper warbler, the harsh, scratch call of a sedge warbler (both summer migrants) or if you are lucky the distinctive squeal of a water rail. Reed buntings set up territories and you may spot a singing male perched up high. Ducks, swans and grebes often build their nests on the edge of the pools.

Summer is all about raising young, so watch out for swallows, house martins and sand martins hunting insects over the pools in large numbers to feed their chicks. Mute swans and mallards can be seen bobbing about on the water with their cygnets and ducklings, while dragonflies emerge from pools and butterflies and bees weave among wildflowers and grasses.

Autumn is generally a quiet time on the reserve, but it's worth looking out for more unusual passage migrant waders as they move from their breeding grounds to wintering grounds. Duck numbers begin to build up in the Forth and the first of the pink-footed geese arrive back in the estuary as winter approaches.

Bird numbers are at their peak on the Inner Forth during the winter months, so look out for different duck species including mallard, shelduck, teal and wigeon as well as large flocks of wintering waders. You may also spot large flocks of finches twittering as they fly across the reserve to search for seeds from thistles and teasels.

About Black Devon Wetlands

Habitat

Black Devon Wetlands is a mosaic of untouched wet grassland and wetland habitat including freshwater pools, brackish pools and reedbeds. The reserve is set back from the Inner Forth and forms an important area for large flocks of wintering wading birds and wildfowl. Our new wetland ponds and scrapes are starting to be inhabited by frogs and newts, dragonflies and small fish.

Conservation

Our newly created wetlands are already teeming with a variety of inhabitants and with the work we have carried out on the older pools to create a more open habitat, we hope to attract a wide range of wading and wetlands birds.

Site information

The Firth of Forth plays host to an internationally important assemblage of bird species. Black Devon Wetlands is just one kilometre from the Firth of Forth SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SPA (Special Protection Area) and RAMSAR area (Wetlands of international importance).

This close proximity means that the site acts as a sanctuary and high tide roost for the birdlife using the estuarine mudflats. Walking our nature trail will take you through our wetland up to the viewing mound where you can enjoy a panoramic view over the site.

From here you should be able to spot some of our hidden interpretation. You can follow the winding boardwalk down to our iconic viewing screen, featuring panels showing a year in nature at Black Devon Wetlands. Which is your favourite panel? The nature trail also takes in the pond dipping pond and specially built platforms to allow visitors and school groups to safely explore what lies beneath the surface.

Black Devon Wetlands is a small and intimate site, designed to give you a new perspective on the landscape and wildlife of the Inner Forth. Still new and developing, we hope you enjoy watching the changes over the next few years.

Latest blog posts

Read the blog

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

We run brilliant drop-in family fun sessions throughout the year. Activities often include pond dipping, bug hunting and birdwatching.

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Black Devon Wetlands