Loch of Kinnordy

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 Loch of Kinnordy, B951, Kirriemuir DD8 5HT

Grid ref: NO361539

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

This shallow loch is situated in a natural basin surrounded by farmland and attracts all types of wildlife. One favourite summer visitor is the osprey, but you're just as likely to see otters, red squirrels and deer as wildfowl, not to mention butterflies and dragonflies aplenty.

Plan your visit

Covid-19 update: The car park and trails are open at the site. Hides are now open but with reduced capacity. Please note masks must be worn (unless exempt) inside hides and a 2m distance observed.

The reserve is open daily from dawn to dusk - it is closed occasionally on Saturdays during September and October (please contact the reserve to confirm).

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome

Facilities

Car park
Pushchair friendly
Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Nearest rail station is Dundee (19 miles (30 km) from reserve). From Dundee, take the A90 north towards Aberdeen. At Kirriemuir junction branch left (signposted Kirriemuir, Forfar), head along Forfar Road (A926) to Kirriemuir.

By bus

Kirriemuir town centre. The reserve can be reached on foot either along the B951 or along the footpath from the top of Kirriemuir Den.

By bike

Nearest Sustrans routes are National Route 1 Edinburgh to Aberdeen (nearest point is Carnoustie 28 miles (45 km) from reserve), and Route 77 Dundee to Pitlochry (nearest point is Dunkeld, 27 miles (43 km) from reserve).

By road

The reserve is located 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Kirriemuir on the B951 to Glenisla road. Follow the tourist signs to The Glens, Alyth and Blairgowrie until you reach the Glenisla road. The reserve is on the right, a mile along the Glenisla road.

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

There is a footpath from Kirriemuir to the reserve which starts at the top of Kirriemuir Den, on the junction of Slade and Cortachy Roads. The reserve is signposted from the start of the path.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

11 degrees, Cloudy

Contact Loch of Kinnordy

RSPB Loch of Kinnordy, B951, Kirriemuir DD8 5HT
lochleven@rspb.org.uk
01577 862355

What will you see?

Our star species

Gadwall

This subtly plumaged dabbling duck occurs here on open water and breeds in the vegetation.

Great spotted woodpecker

Great spotted woodpeckers can be seen visiting the feeding station, where their preferred food is peanuts.

Osprey

Ospreys arrive in spring from their African wintering grounds.

Water rail

They may venture out onto exposed mud when the water drops in late summer and autumn or onto ice in winter.

Whooper swan

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

Ospreys return from Africa in late March and can be seen fishing around the loch. Spring is the time to watch breeding waders, such as lapwings, snipe and curlews carrying out their aerobatic displays over the marsh.

Breeding wildlife, such as shovelers, gadwalls and mute swans begin to emerge from loch vegetation with their young. Sedge warblers and reed buntings sing from the tops of reeds. The reserve is at its scenic best as loch vegetation begins to bloom, providing colourful floral displays from plants such as the regionally important nodding bur-marigold.

Lower water levels provide ideal feeding opportunities for migrating wading birds such as greenshanks, snipe and ruffs. Wintering populations of whooper swans, pink-footed and greylag geese return from their northern breeding grounds. Mixed flocks of tits, goldcrests and treecreepers can be seen along the reserve trails.

Resident wildfowl populations are boosted by the return of wintering ducks, including goldeneyes, goosanders and wigeons. Red squirrels take advantage of the peanuts provided at the feeding station. Great spotted woodpeckers can be seen and heard calling, whilst on the water a sighting of a kingfisher is a possibility.

About Loch of Kinnordy

Habitat

Loch of Kinnordy is a reserve which includes the habitats of marshland, woodland and loch.

Conservation

What makes Loch of Kinnordy special is its mosaic of open water, reedbed and marsh scrubland habitats. This is how we want it to stay but the loch has other ideas!

The water here is high in nutrients which create the perfect conditions for plants to grow, from pond weed and algae to bulrush and eventually shrubs and trees. Over time, the loch would naturally turn from open water into woodland. In the past this was not a problem as other lochs would form in its place but today, due to human intervention, there is no space for new wetlands to form. This makes Loch of Kinnordy an important lifeline for wetland wildlife.

This is where the hard graft comes in. We need to control the vegetation at the reserve to protect the open water habitat. This can be done using machinery, grazing Highland cows or the old fashioned way - by hand!

By removing vegetation and monitoring water quality and wildlife we can work to maintain the mosaic of habitats that are vital to those wetland species who call Kinnordy home.

Site information

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

Loch of Kinnordy has been awarded SSSI, Ramsar and Natura 2000 status.

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