Loch Leven

PLEASE NOTE: Construction work to provide a new accessible underpass connecting the "Sleeping Giant" path from Fife to the Loch Leven Heritage Trail is currently underway at the reserve. The reserve, including the shop and café, are all open as usual although there will be some disruption because of machinery working on site. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

Address: RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Kinross KY13 9LX

Grid ref: NT160990

Set on the southern shore of the loch, this nature reserve offers a great day out for families, nature lovers and wildlife watchers alike. Ospreys visit the loch to fish during the summer, while up to 20,000 pink-footed geese fly in from Iceland come autumn.

Plan your visit

Visitor centre open from 10am - 5pm daily (open until 4pm from Christmas Eve until New Year).
Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2 January.
Trails and hides open 24 hrs a day throughout the year.
Café open 10 to 4 (lunch service until 3).

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: £5

Children: £1

Other discounts

Concessions: £3
Family: £10

Facilities

Visitor centre
Car park
Toilets
Accessible toilets
Baby changing
Pushchair friendly
Cafe
Picnic area
Binocular hire
Viewing point
Nature trails
Shop
Educational facilities
Play area

Accessibility

Download full accessibility statement (PDF)

How to get here

By bus

Buses to Kinross are available from Perth, Edinburgh and nearby towns.

By bike

From Kinross, cycle along the Loch Leven Heritage Trail, which is relatively flat and even-surfaced.

By road

The reserve is halfway between Perth and Edinburgh. From Junction 5 of the M90, follow signs for the B9097 towards Glenrothes. Once on the B9097, drive for approximately two miles before turning right into the reserve which is signposted.

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

From Kinross walk 8km along the Loch Leven Heritage Trail, which is relatively flat and even-surfaced.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Other than assistance dogs, dogs are not permitted on the wetland trail. Dogs can be walked along the Loch Leven Heritage Trail in accordance with the Scottish Access Code.

Your class can enjoy hands-on nature exploration and wildlife spotting activities through our curriculum linked programmes. Each programme is designed to last two hours - sessions run between 10am - 12pm and 12.30pm - 2.30pm. Two programmes can be combined to make a whole day visit.

Facilities include a classroom, picnic facilities and accessible toilets. Visit our school trip ideas page to see our full list of programmes.

Please contact Lauren.smith@rspb.org.uk for booking information.

13 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Loch Leven

RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Kinross KY13 9LX
lochleven@rspb.org.uk
01577 862355

What will you see?

Our star species

Lapwing

A regular feature at Loch Leven year and one of our priority breeding birds.

Little ringed plover

2013 saw the first pair of breeding little ringed plovers at Loch Leven in many years and the pair successfully raised two broods.

Pink-footed goose

Loch Leven is a fuelling station for thousands of pink-footed geese each winter.

Swallow

Swallows are commonly seen careering in and out of the reserve's 19th century courtyard.

Whooper swan

Each year, Loch Leven is home to almost 6 per cent of Scotland's wintering population of Icelandic whooper swans.

The reserve becomes a departure lounge for migratory geese and swans as they head back home to their northern breeding grounds. The departing geese make way for one of Loch Leven's most visible arrivals - swallows.

Duck and dive as nesting swallows career around the reserve outbuildings. Take a front-row seat in the hides and watch ospreys fish from the loch or see new life hatch out over tea and scones in the cafe.

The reserve waters are bubbling with activity as thousands of pink-footed geese, ducks and swans seaplane down on Loch Leven, fresh in from Iceland. The last of the summer’s dragonflies dance around the reserve alongside a large variety of butterflies and bees.

As the last of the year's natural food sources dwindle, flocks of garden birds gather at the feeders around the visitor centre and viewing hides. Birds of prey soar over Vane Hill as roe deer forage for food below. Regular winter visitors, white-tailed eagles, drop in to sample the five-star dining on offer, Loch Leven being the closest reserve to the Fife release site.

About Loch Leven

Habitat

Loch Leven is a reserve which encompasses the habitats of wetland, woodland and loch.

Conservation

Good grass - We are managing the wet grassland as a resource for wintering waterfowl, including up to 8,000 pink-footed geese, and for breeding waders such as lapwings, redshanks and snipe. Our work includes grazing, mowing and controlling rushes.
Making a mire - We are restoring lowland raised mire in order to re-establish its important plant communities, and to benefit breeding and wintering snipe. Our work includes raising and maintaining the water table and controlling birch and scrub encroachment.
Wildflower meadow bumblebee sanctuary - RSPB Scotland Loch Leven hosts the world's first bumblebee sanctuary! Created in 2007, the meadow is grazed and cut annually to provide a wildflower rich area for foraging bees.
Higher ground - We are developing a mosaic of upland habitats, including broad-leaved woodland, upland heath and acid grassland, to support breeding birds such as spotted flycatchers, tree sparrows, linnets and potentially pied flycatchers.
Being green - We are committed to providing a good-quality service whilst minimising the environmental impact of our activities. Some of the main steps we have taken to reduce our impact are:

We hold a Green Tourism Award

Recycling all plastic bottles, cardboard, paper and glass

All waste water is sent through a phosphate filtration tank

Solar and wind power feeds into the general system for electricity.

Partners

Scotlands National Nature Reserves, Rural P&K LEADER and Sustrans Community Links.

Site information

Formerly known as Vane Farm, we bought this reserve in 1967 as a centre for environmental education and it is still a fantastic place for children to explore and discover nature today.

It is classified as a Special Protection Area (SPA), designated as a Ramsar site, and as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for it's wildlife.

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What people are saying about Loch Leven

What a fantastic place - very picturesque and the cafe is a great place to take in the breathtaking views and spot the wildlife.

Greg Henderson

This was our first visit to an RSPB site, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Great facilities and a beautiful setting. The hides give great views of the birds. We highly recommend a visit.

Lindsay and Simon Lloyd

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

We have binoculars and Wild Challenge rucksacks for hire from the visitor centre, and children can get to know the wildlife here by grabbing a seasonal nature bingo. In spring and summer you can hire a pond dipping kit, and bug hunting kits are available all year. Explore the natural play area, walk the pushchair friendly Leafy Loop trail and build a minibeast mansion. We also run a programme of family and children’s events throughout the year and have special activities during school holidays.

Leisure activities

Why not make a day of it and explore the wider area?

There is a 13-mile, circular traffic-free path around Loch Leven linking Kinross with RSPB Loch Leven nature reserve and other attractions around the loch. The path is mostly barrier-free, making it suitable for cyclists, walkers and wheelchair users, but access to the trail from the reserve visitor centre is via a flight of steps or at Findatie car park by a long slope (1:12).

Cycles can be hired from the Boathouse Bistro at the pier in Kinross (tel: 01577 865 386) or at The Scottish eBike Centre (01577 864903). Mobility scooters can be hired free-of-charge from Historic Scotland at Kinross Pier (01577 862670) or halfway round the Heritage Trail at Loch Leven's Larder (01592 841000).