Loch of Strathbeg

All of Scotland’s wild places and green spaces are vital for the survival of its unique, amazing wildlife. If you plan to head out to these areas please respect and protect Scotland’s great outdoors. As guidelines change, we ask that all visitors follow the latest Scottish Government restrictions and advice. 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. Stay safe everyone.

Address: RSPB Scotland Loch of Strathbeg, Starnafin, Crimond AB43 8QN

Grid ref: NK055577

What3Words: shops.fallback.storyline

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

As Britain's largest dune loch, Strathbeg is a vital wintering and staging post for up to a fifth of the world's pink-footed geese. It's also home to a wide variety of wetland wildlife, such as breeding terns and gulls, migrating waders and wintering wildfowl.

Plan your visit

Covid-19 update: The car park, visitor centre, toilets, hides and trails are open at this reserve.

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

Visitor centre
Car park
Toilets
Accessible toilets
Refreshments facilities are closed
Picnic area
Guided walks is closed
Viewing point
Nature trails
Educational facilities are closed

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

Most accessible railway station is 38 miles (61 km) away in Aberdeen.

By bus

Nearest bus stop is in Crimond village. In the village, walk towards the church. Beside the church is a small road with a brown nature reserve sign.

By road

From A90 in the village of Crimond, take the turn beside Kirk, following the brown tourist sign to nature reserve. At the T-junction at the end of the road, turn left. After approximately 500 m, turn right at reserve entrance.

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

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Groups are welcome. Please ring in advance if advice or staff assistance is required.

Any enquiries should be made to the East Scotland Regional Office, 01224 624824, email: esro@rspb.org.uk

Contact Loch of Strathbeg

RSPB Scotland Loch of Strathbeg, Starnafin, Crimond AB43 8QN
strathbeg@rspb.org.uk
01346 532017

What will you see?

Our star species

Common tern

Watch common terns raising their young on the island in spring and summer.

Pink-footed goose

Up to one fifth of the world population assemble here from late September to March.

Tree sparrow

Subtly different from the house sparrow, tree sparrows are much less common.

Whooper swan

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

The changeover of the birds as geese and waders give way to terns, gulls and warblers.

The dunes are in bloom with pansies and violets.

The return of the geese, with huge flocks coming in to roost.

Flocks of waders and the possibility of otters foraging on the ice.

About Loch of Strathbeg

Habitat

Loch of Strathbeg is a site of international importance comprising a shallow freshwater loch with surrounding wetland, dunes and grassland. It provides wintering habitat for a number of important wetland bird species, particularly wildfowl. In spring, the site has a diversity of breeding birds. Strathbeg is one of the best-known localities for migrant birds in Scotland and adjacent fields and pools provide important roosting and feeding sites for geese.

Conservation

Working for wildfowl - We're working to maintain an annual population of at least 20,000 wintering wildfowl, including whooper swans, pink-footed geese and teals. Grazing and water level controls help us maintain a suitable balance of open water and grassland.
Other habitats - We're improving the wet grassland for breeding waders, including lapwings and redshanks, by maintaining a low sward, controlling scrub and rushes, and managing seasonal flooding. Work includes grazing, upgrading sluices and clearing invasive plants. We are also managing dry grassland for wintering geese and farmland birds, by rotating grassland and arable, and maintaining hedgerows and margins.
Monitoring - We're monitoring all species and habitats to inform our management. This includes winter wildfowl counts and standard monitoring of other birds. We also monitor key mammal, fish and plant species, plus water levels, sward height and soil quality.
Restoration - Here at the Loch of Strathbeg, we're restoring 22 hectares of fen meadow through a mixture of mechanical cutting and grazing by our herd of Konik ponies. The meadow had become dominated by soft rush - the ponies eat the rush making room for smaller, more delicate flowering plants.

Partners

We'd like to offer a big thanks to:

The European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas - For helping us to manage the reserve for breeding and wintering birds.
Save our Magnificent Meadows, Heritage Lottery Fund and Plantlife - For helping us to restore the Fen Meadow on Mosstown Marsh through Save our Magnificent Meadows (2014 - 17)
Scottish Natural Heritage - For their contribution to everything we do.
Gillman Trusts - For all their help and support.
Coastal Communities Fund - For their contribution to our upgraded volunteer accommodation and Visitor Centre in 2015-16.
RSPB Aberdeen & District Local Group and Friends of Strathbeg - For their significant contributions and support to the reserve over many years.

Site information

The Loch of Strathbeg reserve covers 894ha, of which 473ha is a designated SPA/RAMSAR site for wildlife, primarily geese and swans, and 740ha is SSSI, for both wildlife and geological reasons.

Sand dunes and coastal features comprise 43 per cent, 29 per cent is surrounding grassland and 24 per cent open water and wetland or reedbeds.

The RSPB took over the original element of the site in 1973, and has since purchased the fields around Savoch, Mosstown and Netherton.

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Activities and events

Activities for children and families

The reserve holds a number of family and children events. There is also an area for younger children in the visitor centre with colouring activities and puzzle sheets.

For more information on events and to book tickets, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/lochofstrathbeg

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Loch of Strathbeg