Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Dogs welcome0 ha
Getting here
57.04329, -3.17643
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦53+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Lapwing and Curlew
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦53+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Lapwing and Curlew
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Lapwing, Curlew, Chaffinch +50 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Lapwing, Curlew, Chaffinch +50 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Antler Moth, Dotted Clay, Chestnut-coloured Carpet +153 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Rusty Fork-moss, Common Slender Eyebright, Tea-leaved Willow +119 more · last seen 2019
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Moderate match
Historic site
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Deeside WayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Scotland TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
Ballater to Gairnshiel CircularMountain bike route▾
Named routeRef 3
Photos
Abergeldie Castle after the flood
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
3,027 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
3,027 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds31 species
winterspringsummer
2025▾
Lapwing · Curlew · Common Sandpiper · Whinchat · Mistle Thrush +26
- LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
- CurlewNumenius arquata
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2024
- Barn OwlTyto alba2024
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2024
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2024
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2024
- Common GullLarus canus2024
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2023
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
- GoosanderMergus merganser2023
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2021
- SwiftApus apus2021
Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Badger · Rabbit · Red Deer +7
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2024
- Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2024
- BadgerMeles meles2020
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2023
- Red DeerCervus elaphus2022
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
🦎Reptiles1 species
springsummer
2024▾
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians3 species
spring
2021▾
Palmate Newt · Common Frog · Common Toad
- Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus
- Common FrogRana temporaria
- Common ToadBufo bufo
🐝Insects53 species
springsummer
2025▾
Four-spotted Chaser · Emerald Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Bee Beetle +48
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2024
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2024
- Bee BeetleTrichius fasciatus2024
- Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Creeping Lady's-tresses · Common Rock-rose · Cuspidate-leaved Bramble · Common Wintergreen
- Creeping Lady's-tressesGoodyera repens2022
- Common Rock-roseHelianthemum nummularium
- Cuspidate-leaved BrambleRubus mucronulatus2021
- Common WintergreenPyrola minor2020
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
3,027 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds31 species
winterspringsummer
2025▾
Lapwing · Curlew · Common Sandpiper · Whinchat · Mistle Thrush +26
- LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
- CurlewNumenius arquata
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2024
- Barn OwlTyto alba2024
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2024
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2024
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2024
- Common GullLarus canus2024
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2023
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
- GoosanderMergus merganser2023
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2021
- SwiftApus apus2021
Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Badger · Rabbit · Red Deer +7
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2024
- Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2024
- BadgerMeles meles2020
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2023
- Red DeerCervus elaphus2022
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
🦎Reptiles1 species
springsummer
2024▾
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians3 species
spring
2021▾
Palmate Newt · Common Frog · Common Toad
- Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus
- Common FrogRana temporaria
- Common ToadBufo bufo
🐝Insects53 species
springsummer
2025▾
Four-spotted Chaser · Emerald Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Bee Beetle +48
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2024
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2024
- Bee BeetleTrichius fasciatus2024
- Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Creeping Lady's-tresses · Common Rock-rose · Cuspidate-leaved Bramble · Common Wintergreen
- Creeping Lady's-tressesGoodyera repens2022
- Common Rock-roseHelianthemum nummularium
- Cuspidate-leaved BrambleRubus mucronulatus2021
- Common WintergreenPyrola minor2020
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2022
2022
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2021Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2021WeaselMustela nivalisWeaselMustela nivalisMountain HareLepus timidus2021Mountain HareLepus timidus2021OtterLutra lutra2021OtterLutra lutra2021MoleTalpa europaea2020MoleTalpa europaea2020Field VoleMicrotus agrestis2020Field VoleMicrotus agrestis2020Cordulegaster boltonii2024
Cordulegaster boltonii2024
Northern February RedBrachyptera putata2021Northern February RedBrachyptera putata2021Empis tessellataEmpis tessellataEmpis tessellataEmpis tessellataGreater Horntail WaspUrocerus gigasGreater Horntail WaspUrocerus gigasBilberry BumblebeeBombus monticolaBilberry BumblebeeBombus monticolaRed Mason BeeOsmia bicornisRed Mason BeeOsmia bicornisConops quadrifasciatusConops quadrifasciatus2024Conops quadrifasciatusConops quadrifasciatus2024Bumblebee RobberflyLaphria flava2024Bumblebee RobberflyLaphria flava2024Bronze FusehornArge ustulata2024Bronze FusehornArge ustulata2024Herina frondescentiaeHerina frondescentiae2024Herina frondescentiaeHerina frondescentiae2024Rhinoceros BeetleSinodendron cylindricum2024Rhinoceros BeetleSinodendron cylindricum2024Coccidula rufaCoccidula rufa2024Coccidula rufaCoccidula rufa202418-spot LadybirdMyrrha octodecimguttata202418-spot LadybirdMyrrha octodecimguttata2024Hairy Wood AntFormica lugubris2023Hairy Wood AntFormica lugubris2023Spear Thistle LacebugTingis (Tingis) cardui2023Spear Thistle LacebugTingis (Tingis) cardui2023Psococerastis gibbosaPsococerastis gibbosa2023Psococerastis gibbosaPsococerastis gibbosa2023Odontocerum albicorneOdontocerum albicorne2023Odontocerum albicorneOdontocerum albicorne2023Poplar BorerSaperda carcharias2023Poplar BorerSaperda carcharias2023Leptura quadrifasciataLeptura quadrifasciata2023Leptura quadrifasciataLeptura quadrifasciata2023Common HawkerAeshna juncea2023Common HawkerAeshna juncea2023a weevilCurculionidae2023a weevilCurculionidae2023Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria2023Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria2023stonefliesPlecoptera2023stonefliesPlecoptera20235-spot LadybirdCoccinella quinquepunctata20225-spot LadybirdCoccinella quinquepunctata2022Larch LadybirdAphidecta obliterata2022Larch LadybirdAphidecta obliterata2022Volucella bombylansVolucella bombylans2022Volucella bombylansVolucella bombylans2022EristalisEristalis2022EristalisEristalis2022Striped LadybirdMyzia oblongoguttata2022Striped LadybirdMyzia oblongoguttata2022Rhagium mordaxRhagium mordax2022Rhagium mordaxRhagium mordax2022Black Carrion BeetlePhosphuga atrata2022Black Carrion BeetlePhosphuga atrata2022Violet Ground BeetleCarabus violaceus2022Violet Ground BeetleCarabus violaceus2022Common Ground-hopperTetrix undulata2022Common Ground-hopperTetrix undulata2022Pine Cone BugGastrodes grossipes2022Pine Cone BugGastrodes grossipes2022Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2022Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2022Notiophilus biguttatusNotiophilus biguttatus2022Notiophilus biguttatusNotiophilus biguttatus2022Platycheirus granditarsusPlatycheirus granditarsus2021Platycheirus granditarsusPlatycheirus granditarsus2021Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2021Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2021Eremocoris abietisEremocoris abietis2021Eremocoris abietisEremocoris abietis2021Thanatophilus rugosusThanatophilus rugosus2021Thanatophilus rugosusThanatophilus rugosus2021Red-Breasted Carrion BeetleOiceoptoma thoracicum2021Red-Breasted Carrion BeetleOiceoptoma thoracicum2021Black Sexton BeetleNicrophorus humator2021Black Sexton BeetleNicrophorus humator2021Nicrophorus vespilloidesNicrophorus vespilloides2021Nicrophorus vespilloidesNicrophorus vespilloides2021Protonemura praecoxProtonemura praecox2021Protonemura praecoxProtonemura praecox2021Poplar LutestringTethea or2019Poplar LutestringTethea or2019Lesser Swallow ProminentPheosia gnoma2019Lesser Swallow ProminentPheosia gnoma2019PeacockAglais io2019PeacockAglais io2019Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019Grey DaggerAcronicta psi2019Grey DaggerAcronicta psi2019