Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Dogs welcome0 ha
Getting here
57.02887, -3.07419
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦76+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Capercaillie and Scottish Crossbill
- ✦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
- 🐦76+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Capercaillie and Scottish Crossbill
- ✦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 — Capercaillie, Scottish Crossbill, Chaffinch +73 more · last seen 2025
Free
Mammals — Brown Long-eared Bat, Roe Deer, Red Squirrel +12 more · last seen 2024
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Scotch Argus, Ringlet, Large Red Damselfly +73 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Good match
Plants — Green Spleenwort, Long-Stalked Yellow Sedge, Black Spleenwort +11 more · last seen 2017
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Moderate match
Historic site
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km7 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Ballater/Cambus o'May loopWalking route▾
Named routeRef YellowLocal walking route
CraigendarrochWalking route▾
Named routeRef RedLocal walking route
Riverside LoopWalking route▾
Named routeRef BlueLocal walking route
Deeside WayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
AvenueWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
8 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Deeside WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 195National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route3.4 km▾
Named routeRef 195Length 3.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route1.4 km▾
Named routeRef 195Length 1.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route34 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 34 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface pavementslabs
Main RouteCycling route172 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 172 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route83 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 83 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface other
3 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Scotland TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
Ballater & Burn o'Vat CircularMountain bike route▾
Named routeRef 2
Ballater to Gairnshiel CircularMountain bike route▾
Named routeRef 3
Photos
A glimpse of Birkhall (1978)
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
2,573 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
2,573 records · National Biodiversity NetworkCapercaillie · Scottish Crossbill · Common Gull · Chaffinch · Peregrine +31
- CapercaillieTetrao urogallus
- Scottish CrossbillLoxia scotica2024
- Common GullLarus canus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- PeregrineFalco peregrinus
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
- RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
- RavenCorvus corax
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- SnipeGallinago gallinago
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola2024
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
- Great TitParus major2024
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
- Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla2024
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
Brown Long-eared Bat
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus
Adder
🐸Amphibians3 species
spring
2026▾
Common Toad · Common Frog · Palmate Newt
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria
- Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus
Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Emerald Damselfly · Anoplotrupes stercorosus · Northern Damselfly +5
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus
- Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata
Heath Cudweed
- Heath CudweedOmalotheca sylvatica
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
2,573 records · National Biodiversity NetworkCapercaillie · Scottish Crossbill · Common Gull · Chaffinch · Peregrine +31
- CapercaillieTetrao urogallus
- Scottish CrossbillLoxia scotica2024
- Common GullLarus canus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- PeregrineFalco peregrinus
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
- RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
- RavenCorvus corax
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- SnipeGallinago gallinago
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola2024
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
- Great TitParus major2024
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
- Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla2024
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
Brown Long-eared Bat
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus
Adder
🐸Amphibians3 species
spring
2026▾
Common Toad · Common Frog · Palmate Newt
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria
- Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus
Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Emerald Damselfly · Anoplotrupes stercorosus · Northern Damselfly +5
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus
- Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata
Heath Cudweed
- Heath CudweedOmalotheca sylvatica
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Cordulegaster boltonii
Cordulegaster boltonii
Common HawkerAeshna junceaCommon HawkerAeshna junceaAzure DamselflyCoenagrion puellaAzure DamselflyCoenagrion puellaBlue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegansBlue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans