Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Dogs welcome
Getting here
57.09655, -2.94072
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 Chaffinch and Wren
- ✦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
- 🐦80+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Chaffinch and Wren
- ✦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 — Chaffinch, Wren, Robin +77 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Chaffinch, Wren, Robin +77 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Broken-belted Bumblebee +50 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Green Shield-moss, Capillary Thread-moss, Big Shaggy-moss +36 more · last seen 2026
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Moderate match
Historic site
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km18 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
The Vat TrailWalking route▾
Knockie ViewpointWalking route▾
Named routeRef ViewpointLocal walking route
Chapel TrailWalking route▾
Named routeRef CrossLocal walking route
Old PinesWalking route▾
Named routeRef Pine ConeLocal walking route
Ballater/Cambus o'May loopWalking route▾
Named routeRef YellowLocal walking route
11 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Deeside WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 195National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route5.4 km▾
Named routeRef 195Length 5.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route154 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 154 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface grass
Main RouteCycling route3.4 km▾
Named routeRef 195Length 3.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route215 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 215 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface other
Main RouteCycling route1.4 km▾
Named routeRef 195Length 1.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
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
Scotland TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeRegional 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
6,761 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
6,761 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds50 species
summerwinter
2025▾
Mute Swan · Wren · Mallard · Treecreeper · Chaffinch +45
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Great TitParus major
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- WigeonMareca penelope
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- SwiftApus apus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- CootFulica atra
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Common GullLarus canus
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- SwallowHirundo rustica
Red Squirrel
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
🦎Reptiles1 species
springsummer
2026▾
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians2 species
springsummerautumn
2026▾
Common Frog · Common Toad
- Common FrogRana temporaria
- Common ToadBufo bufo2025
Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Emerald Damselfly · Four-spotted Chaser · Northern Damselfly +14
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2025
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2025
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2025
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2025
- Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum2025
- 7-spot Ladybird
Capillary Thread-moss · Bruch's Pincushion · Bifid Crestwort · White Earwort · Elegant Bristle-moss +28
- Capillary Thread-mossBryum capillare
- Bruch's PincushionUlota bruchii
- Bifid CrestwortLophocolea bidentata
- White EarwortDiplophyllum albicans
- Elegant Bristle-mossOrthotrichum pulchellum
- Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum
- Heath Plait-moss
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
6,761 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds50 species
summerwinter
2025▾
Mute Swan · Wren · Mallard · Treecreeper · Chaffinch +45
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Great TitParus major
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- WigeonMareca penelope
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- SwiftApus apus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- CootFulica atra
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Common GullLarus canus
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- SwallowHirundo rustica
Red Squirrel
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
🦎Reptiles1 species
springsummer
2026▾
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians2 species
springsummerautumn
2026▾
Common Frog · Common Toad
- Common FrogRana temporaria
- Common ToadBufo bufo2025
Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Emerald Damselfly · Four-spotted Chaser · Northern Damselfly +14
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2025
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2025
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2025
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2025
- Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum2025
- 7-spot Ladybird
Capillary Thread-moss · Bruch's Pincushion · Bifid Crestwort · White Earwort · Elegant Bristle-moss +28
- Capillary Thread-mossBryum capillare
- Bruch's PincushionUlota bruchii
- Bifid CrestwortLophocolea bidentata
- White EarwortDiplophyllum albicans
- Elegant Bristle-mossOrthotrichum pulchellum
- Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum
- Heath Plait-moss
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Coccinella septempunctata
Coccinella septempunctata
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2025Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2025Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2025Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2025Glischrochilus quadripunctatusGlischrochilus quadripunctatus2025Glischrochilus quadripunctatusGlischrochilus quadripunctatus2025Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2025Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2025Common HawkerAeshna juncea2025Common HawkerAeshna juncea2025Bibio pomonaeBibio pomonae2025Bibio pomonaeBibio pomonae2025SyrphusSyrphus2025SyrphusSyrphus2025Bee BeetleTrichius fasciatus2025Bee BeetleTrichius fasciatus2025Orchid BeetleDascillus cervinus2025Orchid BeetleDascillus cervinus2025Black DarterSympetrum danae2025Black DarterSympetrum danae2025Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2025Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2025Broken-belted BumblebeeBombus soroeensis2025Broken-belted BumblebeeBombus soroeensis2025Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2025Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2025Hypnum jutlandicum
Hypnum jutlandicum
FissidensFissidensFissidensFissidensNeat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purumNeat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purumFallacious Beard-mossDidymodon fallaxFallacious Beard-mossDidymodon fallaxSilky Forklet-mossDicranella heteromallaSilky Forklet-mossDicranella heteromallaBig Shaggy-mossHylocomiadelphus triquetrusBig Shaggy-mossHylocomiadelphus triquetrusMamillate Plait-mossHypnum andoiMamillate Plait-mossHypnum andoiRusty Swan-neck MossCampylopus flexuosusRusty Swan-neck MossCampylopus flexuosusBud-headed Groove-mossAulacomnium androgynumBud-headed Groove-mossAulacomnium androgynumWall Screw-mossTortula muralisWall Screw-mossTortula muralisHair-pointed GrimmiaGrimmia trichophyllaHair-pointed GrimmiaGrimmia trichophyllaGreat Hairy Screw-mossSyntrichia ruralisGreat Hairy Screw-mossSyntrichia ruralisTrunk PawwortOrthocaulis attenuatusTrunk PawwortOrthocaulis attenuatusRough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulumRough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulumThickpoint GrimmiaSchistidium crassipilumThickpoint GrimmiaSchistidium crassipilumWood Bristle-mossLewinskya affinisWood Bristle-mossLewinskya affinisGlittering Wood-mossHylocomium splendensGlittering Wood-mossHylocomium splendensHeath Star MossCampylopus introflexusHeath Star MossCampylopus introflexusBroom Fork-mossDicranum scopariumBroom Fork-mossDicranum scopariumDusky Fork-mossDicranum fuscescensDusky Fork-mossDicranum fuscescensLittle Shaggy-mossRhytidiadelphus loreusLittle Shaggy-mossRhytidiadelphus loreusAspen Bristle-mossNyholmiella gymnostomaAspen Bristle-mossNyholmiella gymnostomaGrey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinataGrey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinataBristly HaircapPolytrichum piliferumBristly HaircapPolytrichum piliferumTumid NotchwortLophozia ventricosaTumid NotchwortLophozia ventricosaHypnum cupressiformeHypnum cupressiformeHypnum cupressiformeHypnum cupressiformeRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichum