Ken-Dee Marshes

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 Ken-Dee Marshes Reserve, Castle Douglas DG7 2LY

Grid ref: NX699684

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

All trails and car parks (where applicable) open. Any other facilities closed.

With stunning views across the River Dee and Loch Ken, this reserve has both wetland and woodland to enjoy. There is a trail to a goose/kite viewing platform and two viewing hides, with interpretation, which provide excellent opportunities for viewing and learning about a variety of wildlife.

Plan your visit

Covid-19 update: The trails, car park and hides are 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.

Facilities

Car park
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Dumfries station is 30 miles (48 km) from the reserve.

By bus

Glenlochar, 4 miles (6 km) south of the reserve.

By road

There is a car park on the minor road 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north from Glenlochar on the B795.

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

12 degrees, Cloudy

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 722Kb

Ken-Dee Marshes trail guide

Contact Ken-Dee Marshes

RSPB Ken-Dee Marshes Reserve, Castle Douglas DG7 2LY
wood.cree@rspb.org.uk
01988 402130

What will you see?

Our star species

Pied flycatcher

It is easy to see how this bird gets its name on a spring walk around the woodland here.

Red kite

Red kites are very nearly unmistakable - check the long, forked tail and graceful, lazy, gliding flight.

Redstart

Watch out for them in spring and summer shivering their reddish tails.

White-fronted goose

A flock of Greenland white-fronted geese is generally present between late October and early April.

Willow tit

Willow tits are becoming increasingly hard to find across the country, but there is still a population here.

About Ken-Dee Marshes

Habitat

Ken-Dee Marshes is made up of wetland and woodland in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway.

Conservation

We are maintaining the reserve as a roost and feeding refuge for an internationally important population of Greenland white-fronted geese. Loch Ken remains one of the very few Scottish mainland sites where this shy species regularly winters.

We are working to maintain the reserve’s high biodiversity interest, including otters, dragonflies, and plants such as the rare pillwort. We are also managing mature stands of broadleaved trees for barn owls, redstarts, song thrushes, spotted and pied flycatchers, and willow tits.

We are managing wetland habitats for important breeding birds, including redshanks, lapwings and ducks, such as the shoveler. Work includes maintaining ditches, sluices and islands in our lagoon. The islands have become home for a large colony of black-headed gulls, which make a noisy spectacle in the summer. We are also managing areas of common reed and reed canary grass to attract more reedbed species.

Site information

Ken-Dee Marshes is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its importance for wildlife in the UK. It is also classed as a Natura 2000 and Ramsar site.

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

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Ken-Dee Marshes