Tollie Red Kites

Tier levels in Scotland are under constant review and liable to change. Car parks and trails are open at the majority of our sites but please check below for full details. Please follow Scottish Government guidance on non-essential travel and if applicable stay local to your nearest reserves and green spaces. See our dedicated Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below).

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

Grid ref: NH514563

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

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

Covid-19 update: The visitor centre is currently closed and supplementary feeding sessions are not being held. Feeding sessions are primarily for viewing purposes, the kites do not rely on the food we give them. Kites are still in the area and will return to our feeding sessions when we resart them. We are working on opening this up as soon as it is safe to do so. We apologise for any inconvenience.

The visitor centre is open from 10am - 5pm, but there is open access to the outdoor viewing screens.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

Visitor centre is closed
Car park
Toilets are closed
Accessible toilets are closed
Pushchair friendly
Picnic area
Viewing points are closed
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

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

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Contact Tollie Red Kites

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

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

Food is put out daily by a team of local volunteers. Feeding time is 2.30 pm in summer (BST) and 1.30 pm in winter (GMT).

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.

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