Tollie Red Kites

Address: RSPB Tollie Red Kites Natural Reserve, Dingwall IV7 8HQ

Grid ref: NH514563

What3Words: nuns.relief.undivided

With stunning views across Easter Ross to Ben Wyvis, Tollie Red Kites provides close-up views of our most graceful bird of prey. See volunteers feed the birds every day from a specially-converted farmstead building, an ongoing partnership between RSPB Scotland and the Brahan Estate. The last 800m to the site is along farm tracks.

Plan your visit

Feeding sessions are now running Wednesday - Sunday each week starting at 2pm. There is no need to book but places are limited and will be issued on a first come first serve basis. We recommend arriving at 1.45pm.

At present we can only take cash payment for tickets so please bring this with you as well as appropriate clothing for being outdoors.

The Visitor Centre and toilets are open during the feeding sessions but closed at all other times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: No

Adults: £5

Children: £3
Free entrance for under 5s

Student: £3

Free entrance for carers: Yes

Other discounts

Family ticket (2 adults and children) - £12 / RSPB members family ticket - £10

Concession rate (RSPB members, students, Brahan Estate Holiday let residents) - £3

Facilities

Visitor centre is closed
Car park
Toilets
Accessible toilets
Pushchair friendly
Picnic area
Viewing point
Nature trails
Educational facilities

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is in Dingwall, 4.5 miles (7.25 km) away. By car, take the road from Dingwall to the A835. Turn right at the roundabout for Ullapool. Take the second right turn after the roundabout (signposted Tollie Red Kites). Directly after Keithtown, turn left and follow the track for half a mile to the centre.

By bus

Buses run from Dingwall to Maryburgh. From Maryburgh it's a walk of 2.5 miles (4 km) to Tollie.

By bike

National Route 1 passes through Maryburgh.

By road

We're 15 miles north-west of Inverness, just off the main road to Ullapool (A835) between Maryburgh and Contin. Take the second right turn after the Maryburgh roundabout (signposted Tollie Red Kites). Directly after Keithtown, turn left and follow the track for half a mile to the centre.

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

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Places at feeding events are limited to allow for social distancing and allocated on a first come first serve basis. If you intend to bring a group larger than 10 people please contact us beforehand on nsro@rspb.org.uk.

Please follow the latest Scottish Government COVID-19 restrictions on group sizes.

Contact Tollie Red Kites

RSPB Tollie Red Kites Natural Reserve, Dingwall IV7 8HQ
nsro@rspb.org.uk
01463 715000
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Red kite

Red kites are the star attraction here. The kites were reintroduced to north-east Scotland after being absent for decades.

Great spotted woodpecker

Look and listen for great spotted woodpeckers around Tollie. In spring, you could hear males 'drumming'.

Osprey

Ospreys breed not far from Tollie, so keep your eyes open for them flying overhead from spring to autumn.

Common raven

You can see ravens' plummeting display flights from late winter, through the spring.They are present year round.

Whitethroat

Whitethroats arrive at Tollie in late April and can be seen in the scrubby areas until early autumn.

The red kites are becoming territorial and you can see aerobatic bonding activities at this time of year. The scrubland, near the car park, attracts summer migrants such as whitethroats and willow warblers. Stonechats can also be seen and heard.

This is the quietest time for red kites at Tollie but usually some of the male birds from the nearby nest come and feed daily. Ospreys fly over regularly - they breed nearby. The flowering plants around the centre attract plenty of butterflies and other insects.

Red kite numbers begin to build up again and it's always exciting to spot the young birds - which can be identified by the colour of their wing tags. Great spotted woodpeckers and a host of finches and tits should be visiting the feeders beside the building. Occasionally sparrowhawks and kestrels pass through.

This is the busiest time for the red kites which are often joined by ravens and buzzards. The interactions between the birds can be fascinating to watch. The nearby woodland sometimes hosts crossbills and siskins and there is always the chance of a brambling or two joining the chaffinches at the feeders.

About Tollie Red Kites

Habitat

Tollie Red Kites is a reserve mainly comprised of agricultural, woodland and scrub habitats.

Conservation

Tollie Red Kites is a partnership between RSPB Scotland and the Brahan Estate.

Site information

Charges apply for this site - see Entrance charges for more details. Please note we are currently only accepting cash payments.

Food is put out Wednesday - Sunday by a team of local volunteers. Feeding time is at 2:00pm, however we recommend arriving at 1:45pm.

The visitor centre has a fully glazed gable-end, so you will be able to get excellent views of the feeding table. Other windows let you get close-up views of smaller birds using feeders. A viewing screen outside gives great opportunities for taking photographs.

The site has a wildlife garden and chilren's acitvities.

Tollie will be open over the festive period unless government restrictions prevent this and all updates will be on the Tollie red kites Facebook page.

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Pencils and crayons and drawing paper are available for children in the centre along with floor puzzles and self-led outdoor activities.

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Tollie Red Kites