RSPB - giving nature a home
Search
Close
Skip to content
Shop | Community
Log in | Sign up
  • About the RSPB
      About us
    • Our History
    • What we do
    • How the RSPB is run
    • RSPB Media Centre
    • RSPB job vacancies
    • At home & abroad
    • International
    • England
    • Northern Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Get in touch
    • Contact us
    • RSPB offices
    • Connect with us your way
      Our activities
    • Gardening for wildlife

      Gardening for wildlife

      See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus

    • Connect with us your way

      Connect with us your way

      From our regular emails to your favourite social media, there’s more than one way to keep in touch with nature

    • Our History

      Our History

      Discover how a campaign against feathers in fashion sparked a global force to save nature with more than a million members

  • Our work
      Nature conservation
    • Conservation and sustainability
    • Projects
    • Landscape scale conservation
    • Centre for Conservation Science
    • Satellite tracking birds
    • RSPB News
    • RSPB News
    • 'Our work' blog
    • Policy and Insight
    • Policy and Insight: England and Westminster
    • Casework
      Featured news
    • Mindful mornings

      Mindful mornings

      If you can’t get outside, why not bring the outside in by downloading our bird song radio app?

    • How nature can help protect our homes

      How nature can help protect our homes

      Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector.

    • Casework

      Casework

      Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places.

  • Birds and wildlife
      Wildlife guides
    • Identify a bird
    • Bird A-Z
    • Other garden wildlife
    • Guide to birdwatching
    • What is the Red List for UK birds?
    • Nature's Calendar
    • Nature's Home magazine
    • About Nature's Home magazine
    • Birds and wildlife articles
    • RSPB Podcasts
    • Nature's Home blog
    • Birds and Wildlife Advice
    • How you can help birds
    • Gardening for wildlife
    • Ask an expert
    • Wildlife and the law
    • How to report crimes against wild birds
    • Bird songs
    • Which bird song is that?
    • Most popular bird guides this month
    • Bird migration

      Bird migration

      Migrating birds have travelled thousands of miles just to get here. Find out why.

    • Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help

    • In for a duck

      In for a duck

      It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans?

  • Get Involved
      Activities
    • Big Garden Birdwatch
    • Nature on Your Doorstep
    • RSPB Competitions
    • Dolphinwatch
    • #MyClimateAction
    • Community & advice
    • Join our local groups
    • How green are you?
    • RSPB Community
    • Get involved blog
    • Volunteering & fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Fundraise
    • Help nature thrive as a corporate partner
    • Our grant funders
    • Campaigning
    • Campaigning in Scotland
    • Campaigning in Wales
    • Campaigning in England
    • Campaigning in Northern Ireland
    • The nature and climate emergency
    • Protecting wildlife sites
    • Campaign with us
    • Top activities to do
    • Nature on Your Doorstep

      Nature on Your Doorstep

      Great ideas on how your garden, or even a small backyard or balcony, can become a mini nature reserve

    • How green are you?

      How green are you?

      See some of the ways you can get into green living.

    • Campaigning

      Campaigning

  • Reserves & events
      Reserves A-Z Events Find a reserve
      Top reserves this month
    • Marshside

      Marshside

      This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region.

    • Lytchett Fields

      Lytchett Fields

      The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds.

    • Arne

      Arne

      Heathland home to more than 2565 species.

  • Fun & learning
      For teachers
    • Supporting resources
    • Wild Challenge
    • School outreach visits
    • Big Schools Birdwatch
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • School trip ideas
    • For kids
    • Fun factoids for all the family
    • Games and activities
    • Kids stories
    • RSPB kids competitions
    • For families
    • Big Wild Sleepout
    • Wild Challenge
    • Nature reserves for families
    • Robin Robin
    • Cameron's Cottage
    • Your Support
    • About Cameron's cottage
    • Latest kids' activities
    • Wild Challenge

      Wild Challenge

      Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Get out, get busy and get wild!

    • Fun factoids for all the family

      Fun factoids for all the family

      Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window.

    • Youth membership

      Youth membership

      As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home.

  • Join & Donate
      Join us
    • Choose a membership
    • Family membership
    • Youth membership
    • Gift membership
    • Nature is stronger with you on its side. Become a Life Fellow today.
    • Renew your membership
    • Donate
    • Philanthropy & Major Gifts
    • Our appeals
    • Make a one-off donation
    • Make a regular donation
    • In Memory Donations
    • Plant a celebration tree
    • In Memory Booklet
    • Leave a gift to nature in your Will
    • Why Include a Gift to Nature in Your Will
    • How to Include us in Your Will
    • Information for executors & solicitors
    • Download your free guide
    • Other ways to help
    • Gift Aid
    • Support us when you shop
    • RSPB Images
    • RSPB second-hand binocular scheme
    • Win with the RSPB
    • Payroll Giving
    • Stamp out albatross deaths
  • Login to your account Sign up for an RSPB account
  • Shop
  • Community
  • Home
  • Reserves & events
  • Reserves A-Z
  • Fairy Glen

Fairy Glen

gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
Address
RSPB Fairy Glen, Bridge St, Fortrose IV10 8UP
Grid ref
NH732580
What3Words
unit.oxidation.massaging

In a hidden glen, not far from Inverness, this small and steep-sided reserve is a magical broadleaf woodland. Follow the winding footpath to discover beautiful waterfalls, while keeping an eye out for buzzards circling overhead or a grey heron stalking fish along the glittering stream. 

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

  • Car park
  • Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Inverness is the nearest train station, approximately 14 miles from the reserve.

By bus

Regular buses from Inverness and Cromarty stop in the Highland Council-owned Fairy Glen reserve car park. Phone Rapsons on 0870 608 2 608 for details.

By bike

This reserve is near Route 1 of the National Cycle Network.

By road

From the Inverness direction, proceed through Rosemarkie village, passing the Plough Inn on your right and round the sharp left bend. After approx 150m, you will see the car park on the right.

 

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.

Other ways to get there

Within easy walking distance from the village of Rosemarkie. From the centre of the village follow the road past the Plough Inn on your right. Continue round the left-hand bend and you will see the Highland Council-owned car park after approx 150m on your right.

 

Get directions from Google Maps
View on What3Words
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Contact Fairy Glen

  • RSPB Fairy Glen, Bridge St, Fortrose IV10 8UP
  • nsro@rspb.org.uk
  • 01463 715000
  • Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

    Spotted flycatcher

    Spotted flycatcher

    A summer visitor to Fairy Glen. If you're lucky to spot one take a moment to watch it's flying antics as it tries to grab a passing fly.

    Long-tailed tit

    Long-tailed tit

    An easily recognisable 'ball on stick' gregarious bird usually found in small noisy flocks.

    Bullfinch male

    Bullfinch

    The brightly coloured males are surprisingly difficult to see.

    Perched Buzzard illustration

    Buzzard

    Buzzards can be seen circling overhead throughout the year.

    Song thrush

    Song thrush

    You can hear song thrushes singing from late winter onwards.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

The glen is beautifully carpeted with wild flowers such as lesser celandine, primrose, wood sorrel, wood anemone and bluebell. The woodland is alive with birdsong as they prepare for the breeding season.

Water avens, sweet cicily and meadowsweet are abundant, the latter filling the air with its heady scent. Adult birds busy themselves with feeding hungry mouths. Watch for dippers, flying low downstream and settling on a rock before plunging into the water looking for water invertebrates.

 

The woodlands turn all the colours of autumn, the Norway maple looks particularly spectacular in its vibrant autumnal colours.

Members of the tit family gather in flocks, keep an eye out for the noisy groups of long-tailed tit. Roe deer come down to the shelter of the glen and are easier to see through the bare trees.

 

About Fairy Glen

Habitat

A long established semi-natural broadleaf woodland in a steep-sided glen which supports a fine assemblage of plants and local birds. Walking along the public footpath through the reserve you will find two beautiful waterfalls at the end of the path.

Conservation

The woodland is mainly managed by non-intervention, with some invasive species removal and tree safety work done from time to time.

Site information

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

Fairy Glen reserve is part of a suite of reserves run by the Central Highland Reserves team, which also includes Loch Ruthven, nearby Udale Bay and Culbin Sands.

Share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

You might also be interested in

Oystercatcher haematopus ostralegus: flock at high tide roost. Snettisham RSPB reserve, England.

Udale Bay

This peaceful bay is home to thousands of wildfowl, wading birds and fishing osprey from late summer to April.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Red Alert

1 in 3 UK birds are now on the Red List of Conservation Concern. This is an emergency for UK bird life.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Join us - legacy

Become an RSPB member by signing up here.

We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy

Quick links

  • Contact us
  • Online Community
  • Vacancies
  • Media centre

Information for

  • Teachers
  • Policy makers
  • Farmers & landowners
  • Scientists

Our work in

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Email

Partnering with

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International.

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Find out more about the partnership

Fundraising Regulator logo OSCR logo

© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Charter and statutes
  • About our site
  • Modern Slavery Act

Cookie Preferences

Accepting all non-essential cookies helps us to personalise your experience

Edit settings
Accept all

Essential cookies are required

These cookies are required for basic web functions

Enable analytics cookies

Allow us to collect anonymised performance data

Enable marketing cookies

Allow us to personalise your experience

Save settings
Read our cookie policy