Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Dogs welcome
Getting here
57.08562, -2.92556
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦85+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Chaffinch and Robin
- ✦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
- 🐦85+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Chaffinch and Robin
- ✦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, Robin, Blue Tit +82 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Tit +82 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly +46 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Green Shield-moss, Capillary Thread-moss, Big Shaggy-moss +37 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
8 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Tarland WayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
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
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
Photos
Celtic Cross near the shore of Loch Kinord
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
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Wildlife to spot
11,863 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
11,863 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds49 species
summerautumnwinter
2025▾
Mute Swan · Chaffinch · Wren · Mallard · Blue Tit +44
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WigeonMareca penelope
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Great TitParus major
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- SwiftApus apus
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- CootFulica atra
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- TwiteLinaria flavirostris
- LinnetLinaria cannabina
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Common GullLarus canus
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
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
Emerald Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Four-spotted Chaser · 7-spot Ladybird +13
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2025
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2025
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2025
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2025
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Common Hawker
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
11,863 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds49 species
summerautumnwinter
2025▾
Mute Swan · Chaffinch · Wren · Mallard · Blue Tit +44
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WigeonMareca penelope
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Great TitParus major
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- SwiftApus apus
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- CootFulica atra
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- TwiteLinaria flavirostris
- LinnetLinaria cannabina
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Common GullLarus canus
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
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
Emerald Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Four-spotted Chaser · 7-spot Ladybird +13
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2025
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2025
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2025
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2025
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Common Hawker
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
Aeshna juncea2025
Aeshna juncea2025
Black DarterSympetrum danae2025Black DarterSympetrum danae2025Glischrochilus quadripunctatusGlischrochilus quadripunctatus2025Glischrochilus quadripunctatusGlischrochilus quadripunctatus2025Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2025Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2025Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2025Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2025Sericomyia silentisSericomyia silentis2025Sericomyia silentisSericomyia silentis2025Bibio pomonaeBibio pomonae2025Bibio pomonaeBibio pomonae2025SyrphusSyrphus2025SyrphusSyrphus2025Bee BeetleTrichius fasciatus2025Bee BeetleTrichius fasciatus2025Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum2025Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum2025Orchid BeetleDascillus cervinus2025Orchid BeetleDascillus cervinus2025Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2025Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2025Broken-belted BumblebeeBombus soroeensis2025Broken-belted BumblebeeBombus soroeensis2025Hypnum 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