Crook of Baldoon

Following the latest mainland lockdown and island restrictions many of our facilities are currently closed. We ask that all visitors follow the latest Scottish Government restrictions on travel and group sizes and advice on physical distancing and hygiene. See below for reserve details and our dedicated Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below). Thank you for your continued support and patience in these challenging times. Stay safe everyone.

Address: Shell Rd, Newton Stewart DG8 9AF

Grid ref: NX442530

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

The Crook of Baldoon is a coastal reserve of 196 hectares lying within Wigtown Bay. Since buying the reserve, the RSPB has restored farmland and a willow crop to wet grassland. This provides a breeding habitat for lapwing and redshank, as well as increasing the richness of other wildlife.

Plan your visit

Covid-19 update: The trails, car park and viewing structure is open at the site.

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Car park cost: Free

Facilities

Car park
Picnic area
Guided walks
Viewing point

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Nearest stations are at Barrhill (about 28 miles), Dumfries (59 miles) and Stranraer (about 30 miles).

By bus

Take the 415 Bus from Newton Stewart and ask to stop south of Wigtown at Penkiln saw mill sign. Walk down Shell Road - from there it's about 1.5 miles to the reserve.

By road

From the centre of Wigtown, turn right onto the A714 for Port William, following this to the mini roundabout at Bladnoch taking the first exit left over the River Bladnoch. Staying on the A714 to Port William, after about 1 mile turn left at the sign for Penkiln saw mill. Follow this road for a further 1 mile crossing a small bridge at West Mains of Baldoon farm and carrying on past East Mains of Baldoon. Past the farm the public council road turns into a single lane track down to the Crook of Baldoon.

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

Contact Crook of Baldoon

Shell Rd, Newton Stewart DG8 9AF
crookofbaldoon@rspb.org.uk
01988 402130

What will you see?

Our star species

Golden plover

Flocks of golden plovers gather here in autumn and winter.

Lapwing

Watch the nesting lapwings here chasing predators that may come too close.

Pink-footed goose

Thousands of pink-footed geese assemble here from late September-March.

Shelduck

Colourful shelducks are present in large numbers most of the year, with smaller numbers in summer.

Whooper swan

Whooper swans arrive here in late autumn from Iceland where they spend the summer.

Some of our winter visitors can still be seen on the merse (saltmarsh) in spring, such as pink-footed and barnacle geese. Large numbers of wading birds are passing through the reserve on their way north to their Arctic breeding grounds. Lapwings, redshanks, skylarks and other birds can be seen and heard displaying over the reserve as they look for a mate and set up their nest sites.

The merse is at its most colourful in summer, with carpets of pink thrift in the early summer followed by blue sea aster in late summer and early autumn. Non-breeding lapwings and curlews may be seen out on the mudflats and terns can be observed fishing in Wigtown Bay. There is also the chance of seeing ospreys.

Autumn sees the arrival of hundreds of fieldfares and redwings into the reserve. These birds feed up on the crab apples and hawthorn berries which are present in the mature hedges we have here. Numbers of golden plovers and other wading birds start to build up at this time of the year as birds pass through on their way south.

Goose and wader numbers are at their highest in winter. Pink-footed geese are present in their thousands as are golden plovers which perform a fabulous spectacle as they pirouette above the rising tide on their way to roost. Peregrines and merlins can often be seen flying over the merse searching for prey.

About Crook of Baldoon

Habitat

Crook of Baldoon is a breathtaking panorama of saltmarsh, mudflats and hills. Cairnsmore of Fleet and the Galloway Hills act as a backdrop to wild saltmarsh and mudflats which positively ooze with birdlife. Between December and March the Crook plays host to thousands of winter visitors such as pink-footed and barnacle geese and a large number of shelducks, whooper and mute swans which feed and roost on the merse.

In the hawthorn and crab apple trees you might see hundreds of redwings and fieldfares. Along the upper saltmarsh there are wheatears, meadow pipits and skylarks, as well as linnets and goldfinches.

Conservation

Since the reserve was bought in 2010 a great deal of work has been carried out to create areas of open water and wet grassland for the birds and other wildlife that we wish to attract to the reserve. Water levels are carefully controlled to create the best conditions for wildlife to breed, feed and rest in. Lagoons have been created to give visitors the best chance of seeing the birds that are making the Crook their home. We have also been installing better footpaths, information boards and other basic visitor facilities to make your visit more enjoyable and informative.

Site information

The Crook of Baldoon is a coastal reserve of 196 hectares lying within Wigtown Bay.

This nature reserve is important for wildlife. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

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