Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🎠Play
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome
Getting here
57.12668, -2.93444
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦80+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Goldeneye and Chaffinch
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground 125m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦80+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Goldeneye and Chaffinch
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground 125m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Goldeneye, Chaffinch, Coal Tit +77 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Goldeneye, Chaffinch, Coal Tit +77 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Northern Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser +82 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Tufted Hair-grass, Ribwort Plantain, Hard Rush / Soft Rush / Compact Rush +58 more · last seen 2025
Free
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
playground
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km10 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
The Vat TrailWalking route▾
Loch Kinord TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Little Ord TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Parkin's Moss TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Tarland SkylineWalking route▾
Named routeRef BlueLocal walking route
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Tarland WayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
5 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Ballater & Burn o'Vat CircularMountain bike route▾
Named routeRef 2
The Red SquirrelMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
The Slinky FoxMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
The Spikey HedgehogMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Party TimeMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
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
3,482 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
3,482 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds39 species
springautumn
2025▾
Goldeneye · Chaffinch · Robin · Coal Tit · Goldfinch +34
- GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Great TitParus major2024
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2024
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- SwallowHirundo rustica2024
- DunnockPrunella modularis2024
- WigeonMareca penelope2024
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
- Common GullLarus canus2024
- CurlewNumenius arquata2024
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- JackdawColoeus monedula2024
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2023
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2023
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2023
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
🦌Mammals6 species
springautumn
2025▾
Red Squirrel · Brown Long-eared Bat · Soprano Pipistrelle · Common Pipistrelle · Wild Cat Hybrid +1
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus
- Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus
- Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus
- Wild Cat HybridFelis silvestris x catus
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians1 species
summer
2025▾
Common Toad
Large Red Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Emerald Damselfly · Northern Damselfly · 7-spot Ladybird +4
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Mesembrina meridianaMesembrina meridiana
- Common Darter
White Clover · Himalayan Balsam · Waved Silk-moss · Red-stemmed Feather-moss · Broom Fork-moss +52
- White CloverTrifolium repens2023
- Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
- Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum
- Red-stemmed Feather-mossPleurozium schreberi
- Broom Fork-mossDicranum scoparium
- Grey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinata
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
3,482 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds39 species
springautumn
2025▾
Goldeneye · Chaffinch · Robin · Coal Tit · Goldfinch +34
- GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Great TitParus major2024
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2024
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- SwallowHirundo rustica2024
- DunnockPrunella modularis2024
- WigeonMareca penelope2024
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
- Common GullLarus canus2024
- CurlewNumenius arquata2024
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- JackdawColoeus monedula2024
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2023
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2023
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2023
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
🦌Mammals6 species
springautumn
2025▾
Red Squirrel · Brown Long-eared Bat · Soprano Pipistrelle · Common Pipistrelle · Wild Cat Hybrid +1
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus
- Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus
- Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus
- Wild Cat HybridFelis silvestris x catus
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians1 species
summer
2025▾
Common Toad
Large Red Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Emerald Damselfly · Northern Damselfly · 7-spot Ladybird +4
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Mesembrina meridianaMesembrina meridiana
- Common Darter
White Clover · Himalayan Balsam · Waved Silk-moss · Red-stemmed Feather-moss · Broom Fork-moss +52
- White CloverTrifolium repens2023
- Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
- Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum
- Red-stemmed Feather-mossPleurozium schreberi
- Broom Fork-mossDicranum scoparium
- Grey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinata
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Sympetrum striolatum
Sympetrum striolatum
Black DarterSympetrum danaeBlack DarterSympetrum danaeFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataBig Shaggy-moss
Big Shaggy-moss
Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus
Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus
Heath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicumHeath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicumNeat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purumNeat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purumDusky Fork-mossDicranum fuscescensDusky Fork-mossDicranum fuscescensGlittering Wood-mossHylocomium splendensGlittering Wood-mossHylocomium splendensMat-grassNardus stricta2023Mat-grassNardus stricta2023Greater PlantainPlantago major2023Greater PlantainPlantago major2023EyebrightEuphrasia2023EyebrightEuphrasia2023Heath BedstrawGalium saxatile2023Heath BedstrawGalium saxatile2023GooseberryRibes uva-crispa2023GooseberryRibes uva-crispa2023Bell HeatherErica cinerea2023Bell HeatherErica cinerea2023Common NettleUrtica dioica2023Common NettleUrtica dioica2023Fox-and-cubsPilosella aurantiaca2023Fox-and-cubsPilosella aurantiaca2023Common Dog-violetViola riviniana2023Common Dog-violetViola riviniana2023FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2023FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2023YarrowAchillea millefolium2023YarrowAchillea millefolium2023Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2023Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2023Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2023Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2023Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2023Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2023Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas2023Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas2023Wavy Hair-GrassAvenella flexuosa2023Wavy Hair-GrassAvenella flexuosa2023Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa2023Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa2023Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera2023Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera2023GorseUlex europaeus2023GorseUlex europaeus2023Silver BirchBetula pendula2023Silver BirchBetula pendula2023RaspberryRubus idaeus2023RaspberryRubus idaeus2023Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2023Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2023Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2023Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2023Broad-leaved WillowherbEpilobium montanum2023Broad-leaved WillowherbEpilobium montanum2023Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis2023Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis2023DandelionTaraxacum2023DandelionTaraxacum2023Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine2023Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine2023Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella2023Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella2023Scots PinePinus sylvestris2023Scots PinePinus sylvestris2023HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2023HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2023Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2023Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2023SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2023SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2023Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2023Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2023CowberryVaccinium vitis-idaea2023CowberryVaccinium vitis-idaea2023TormentilPotentilla erecta2023TormentilPotentilla erecta2023Bush VetchVicia sepium2023Bush VetchVicia sepium2023Creeping Lady's-tressesGoodyera repens2023Creeping Lady's-tressesGoodyera repens2023Soft-rushJuncus effusus2023Soft-rushJuncus effusus2023False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2023False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2023Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2023Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2023RowanSorbus aucuparia2023RowanSorbus aucuparia2023Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensis2023Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensis2023HeatherCalluna vulgaris2023HeatherCalluna vulgaris2023HarebellCampanula rotundifolia2023HarebellCampanula rotundifolia2023BilberryVaccinium myrtillus2023BilberryVaccinium myrtillus2023Marsh WillowherbEpilobium palustre2023Marsh WillowherbEpilobium palustre2023