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Crathes Castle

0 ha

BirdsWildlifeSeasonal

Dogs welcome0 ha

Getting here

57.06151, -2.43981

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦66+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🛝Playground 242m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦66+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🛝Playground 242m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Parking· PaidPlaygroundToilets

Best for

6 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Robin +63 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Robin +63 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Herb-Robert, Hedge Woundwort, Navelwort +19 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Herb-Robert, Hedge Woundwort, Navelwort +19 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Syrphus, Tree Bumblebee +12 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Syrphus, Tree Bumblebee +12 more · last seen 2025

Free

Easy access

Good match

parking, toilets

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Deeside WayWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Coy Burn TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

East TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Ley WayWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

26 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Deeside WayCycling route

Named routeRef 195National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route94 m

Named routeRef 195Length 94 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route235 m

Named routeRef 195Length 235 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route674 m

Named routeRef 195Length 674 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm

Main RouteCycling route406 m

Named routeRef 195Length 406 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route408 m

Named routeRef 195Length 408 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

11,249 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

11,249 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds47 species

summerautumn

2026

Robin · Carrion Crow · Rock Dove · Woodpigeon · Goldfinch +42

RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
MagpiePica pica2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Great TitParus major2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
SwiftApus apus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025

🦌

Mammals7 species

autumn

2025

Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Wood Mouse · Badger · Field Vole +2

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus
BadgerMeles meles
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis
Pine MartenMartes martes
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus

🐝

Insects10 species

summer

2025

Syrphus · Large Red Damselfly · Syrphus ribesii · Eristalis tenax · Melanostoma mellinum +5

SyrphusSyrphus
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
Syrphus ribesiiSyrphus ribesii
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax
Melanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinum
Syritta pipiensSyritta pipiens
Phaonia angelicaePhaonia angelicae
EupeodesEupeodes
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare

🌿

Plants17 species

summer

2026

Herb-Robert · Hedge Woundwort · Navelwort · Common Figwort · Trailing St John's-wort +12

Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica2025
NavelwortUmbilicus rupestris
Common FigwortScrophularia nodosa2025
Trailing St John's-wortHypericum humifusum2025
Wild BasilClinopodium vulgare2025
RoseRosa2025
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula2025
Dove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molle2025
Goat's-beardTragopogon pratensis2025
Wild PansyViola tricolor2025
Wych ElmUlmus glabra2025
Imperforate St John's-wortHypericum maculatum2025
Remote SedgeCarex remota2025
Common Ramping-fumitoryFumaria muralis2025
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata2025
Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

11,249 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds47 species

summerautumn

2026

Robin · Carrion Crow · Rock Dove · Woodpigeon · Goldfinch +42

RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
MagpiePica pica2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Great TitParus major2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
SwiftApus apus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025

🦌

Mammals7 species

autumn

2025

Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Wood Mouse · Badger · Field Vole +2

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus
BadgerMeles meles
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis
Pine MartenMartes martes
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus

🐝

Insects10 species

summer

2025

Syrphus · Large Red Damselfly · Syrphus ribesii · Eristalis tenax · Melanostoma mellinum +5

SyrphusSyrphus
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
Syrphus ribesiiSyrphus ribesii
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax
Melanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinum
Syritta pipiensSyritta pipiens
Phaonia angelicaePhaonia angelicae
EupeodesEupeodes
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare

🌿

Plants17 species

summer

2026

Herb-Robert · Hedge Woundwort · Navelwort · Common Figwort · Trailing St John's-wort +12

Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica2025
NavelwortUmbilicus rupestris
Common FigwortScrophularia nodosa2025
Trailing St John's-wortHypericum humifusum2025
Wild BasilClinopodium vulgare2025
RoseRosa2025
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula2025
Dove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molle2025
Goat's-beardTragopogon pratensis2025
Wild PansyViola tricolor2025
Wych ElmUlmus glabra2025
Imperforate St John's-wortHypericum maculatum2025
Remote SedgeCarex remota2025
Common Ramping-fumitoryFumaria muralis2025
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata2025
Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Colin Smith · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Crathes Castle - Jacobean Art

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱King George V Playing FieldUrban park3.7 km→🌱Silverbank ParkUrban park2.6 km→🌱Banchory Ternan Church YardUrban park2.8 km→🌱Banchory Golf ClubUrban park4.4 km→🌱Burnett ParkUrban park5 km→🐄The Seed BoxVisitor farm2.6 km→

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