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Compensation Reservoir

48 ha

📷 G Laird · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Free entryDogs welcome48 ha

Getting here

55.91174, -4.80120

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — dragonfly and damselfly activity peaks along water edges
☕Ardgowan Fishery — a good base for a longer summer day out

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — dragonfly and damselfly activity peaks along water edges
☕Ardgowan Fishery — a good base for a longer summer day out

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingCaféParking· Free

Best for

3 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Swallow +86 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Swallow +86 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Peacock +14 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Peacock +14 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

The Kelly CutWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

The Greenock CutWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

The Waterman's RoadWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

41 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 75Cycling route

Named routeRef 75National Cycle Network

Route 753Cycling route

Named routeRef 753National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route713 m

Named routeRef 753Length 713 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route586 m

Named routeRef 753Length 586 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route116 m

Named routeRef 75Length 116 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route105 m

Named routeRef 75Length 105 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

6,738 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

6,738 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds66 species

summer

2025

Goldfinch · Carrion Crow · Swallow · Stonechat · Chaffinch +61

GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
SwallowHirundo rustica
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
JackdawColoeus monedula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
RavenCorvus corax
MagpiePica pica
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
RobinErithacus rubecula
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Great TitParus major
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Greylag GooseAnser anser
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Rock DoveColumba livia
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Common GullLarus canus
DunnockPrunella modularis
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
LinnetLinaria cannabina
CurlewNumenius arquata
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
CuckooCuculus canorus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica
TealAnas crecca
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Mute SwanCygnus olor
CootFulica atra
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
SwiftApus apus
DunlinCalidris alpina
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
GoosanderMergus merganser
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
GreenfinchChloris chloris
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summerautumn

2025

Common Lizard

Common LizardZootoca vivipara

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2025

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects2 species

summer

2025

Common Red Soldier Beetle · Common Blue Damselfly

Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

6,738 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds66 species

summer

2025

Goldfinch · Carrion Crow · Swallow · Stonechat · Chaffinch +61

GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
SwallowHirundo rustica
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
JackdawColoeus monedula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
RavenCorvus corax
MagpiePica pica
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
RobinErithacus rubecula
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Great TitParus major
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Greylag GooseAnser anser
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Rock DoveColumba livia
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Common GullLarus canus
DunnockPrunella modularis
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
LinnetLinaria cannabina
CurlewNumenius arquata
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
CuckooCuculus canorus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica
TealAnas crecca
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Mute SwanCygnus olor
CootFulica atra
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
SwiftApus apus
DunlinCalidris alpina
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
GoosanderMergus merganser
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
GreenfinchChloris chloris
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summerautumn

2025

Common Lizard

Common LizardZootoca vivipara

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2025

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects2 species

summer

2025

Common Red Soldier Beetle · Common Blue Damselfly

Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 G Laird · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Compensation Reservoir

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Gourock ParkUrban park4.7 km→🌱Murdieston DamUrban park3.9 km→🦉Coves Community ParkNature reserve4.1 km→🌱Bellville Community GardenUrban park4.9 km→🌱Lady Alice ParkUrban park4 km→🌱Well ParkUrban park4.8 km→

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