← Back✦ Historic site

Esselmont Castle

1 ha

📷 Anne Burgess · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeSeasonal

Dogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

57.35813, -2.11453

Open directionsv

Google Maps↗Driving directions Apple Maps↗Driving directions Waze↗Live driving navigation Google Transit↗Bus, rail or tram Apple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦74+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Great Tit
✦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

🐦74+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Great Tit
✦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

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

5 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Blackbird, Great Tit, Chaffinch +71 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Great Tit, Chaffinch +71 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Cow Parsley, Creeping Buttercup +24 more · last seen 2024; Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Cow Parsley, Creeping Buttercup +24 more · last seen 2024

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Common Leaf Weevil, Red-legged Shieldbug, Melanostoma scalare +9 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Common Leaf Weevil, Red-legged Shieldbug, Melanostoma scalare +9 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Formartine and Buchan WayWalking route86 km

Dyce to Fraserburgh with branch to Peterhead

Named routeLength 86 kmNational walking route

🚴

Cycling

9 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 1Cycling route

Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

NCN 1 Dundee to TainCycling route

Named routeRef 1Point-to-pointNational Cycle Network

EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part United Kingdom 1Cycling route

Named routeRef EV1International cycle route

EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 7Cycling route

Named routeRef EV12International cycle route

Main RouteCycling route3.5 km

Named routeRef 1Length 3.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route549 m

Named routeRef 1Length 549 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

3,985 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

3,985 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds75 species

winterspring

2025

Blackbird · Blue Tit · Great Tit · Chaffinch · Woodpigeon +70

BlackbirdTurdus merula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
DunnockPrunella modularis
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
RookCorvus frugilegus
SiskinSpinus spinus
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
JackdawColoeus monedula
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
Tree SparrowPasser montanus
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
BuzzardButeo buteo
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
SwiftApus apus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2023
MagpiePica pica
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
TealAnas crecca2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
GoosanderMergus merganser2024
Mute SwanCygnus olor2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2023
KnotCalidris canutus2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2024
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
SnipeGallinago gallinago2024
Rock DoveColumba livia2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2023
SanderlingCalidris alba2023
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2023
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2023
CurlewNumenius arquata2023
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2023
Anas platyrhynchos xAnas platyrhynchos x2023
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2023
WigeonMareca penelope2023
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2023
EiderSomateria mollissima2023
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
LapwingVanellus vanellus2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2023
Common GullLarus canus2022
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus2022
Barn OwlTyto alba2020

🦌

Mammals7 species

springsummerautumnwinter

2025

Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Wood Mouse · Hedgehog · Stoat +2

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
StoatMustela erminea2024
MoleTalpa europaea2024
WeaselMustela nivalis2022

🐝

Insects9 species

spring

2025

Common Leaf Weevil · Red-legged Shieldbug · Melanostoma scalare · Eristalis pertinax · Athous haemorrhoidalis +4

Common Leaf WeevilPhyllobius pyri
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
Athous haemorrhoidalisAthous haemorrhoidalis
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea
Nut Leaf WeevilStrophosoma melanogrammum
Cantharis nigricansCantharis nigricans
FroghopperCercopidae2022

🌿

Plants113 species

summer

2024

Himalayan Balsam · Dandelion · Creeping Buttercup · Cow Parsley · Annual Meadow-grass +108

Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
DandelionTaraxacum2022
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2022
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2022
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua2022
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2022
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2022
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2022
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea2022
DaisyBellis perennis2022
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2022
Common BentAgrostis capillaris2022
Meadow Crane's-billGeranium pratense2022
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2022
TimothyPhleum pratense2022
YarrowAchillea millefolium2022
Greater PlantainPlantago major2022
Red FescueFestuca rubra2022
White CloverTrifolium repens2022
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2022
CleaversGalium aparine2022
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea2022
Slender SpeedwellVeronica filiformis2022
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2022
Rubus infestusRubus infestus2022
Rubus leptothyrsosRubus leptothyrsos2022
Field Penny-cressThlaspi arvense2022
Climbing CorydalisCeratocapnos claviculata2022
Rubus vestitusRubus vestitus2022
Heath SpeedwellVeronica officinalis2021
WellingtoniaSequoiadendron giganteum2021
Red-berried ElderSambucus racemosa2021
Russian ComfreySymphytum asperum x officinale = S. x uplandicum2021
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica2021
Field-roseRosa arvensis2021
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2021
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2021
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum2021
Japanese RoseRosa rugosa2021
Goat WillowSalix caprea2021
Wavy Hair-GrassAvenella flexuosa2021
Pink PurslaneClaytonia sibirica2021
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus2021
Slender St John's-wortHypericum pulchrum2021
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata2021
Heath Wood-rushLuzula multiflora2021
SalmonberryRubus spectabilis2021
ElderSambucus nigra2021
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum2021
RaspberryRubus idaeus2021
Bush VetchVicia sepium2021
Festuca rubraFestuca rubra2021
Common ChickweedStellaria media2021
RhododendronRhododendron ponticum2021
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper2021
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea2021
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2021
Common ValerianValeriana officinalis2021
Hard-fernBlechnum spicant2021
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas2021
Marsh WoundwortStachys palustris2021
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata2021
Red CampionSilene dioica2021
Wood AvensGeum urbanum2021
Tall FescueSchedonorus arundinaceus2021
BrambleRubus fruticosus2021
European LarchLarix decidua2021
Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanum2021
BeechFagus sylvatica2021
Wild CherryPrunus avium2021
Common SallowSalix cinerea2021
Heath BedstrawGalium saxatile2021
Reed Sweet-grassGlyceria maxima2021
Common NettleUrtica dioica2021
Hybrid LarchLarix decidua x kaempferi = L. x marschlinsii2021
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2021
Lady's BedstrawGalium verum2021
PolypodyPolypodium vulgare2021
OsierSalix viminalis2021
Common FigwortScrophularia nodosa2021
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2021
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2021
Giant FescueSchedonorus giganteus2021
AshFraxinus excelsior2021
Scots PinePinus sylvestris2021
Great Wood-rushLuzula sylvatica2021
RowanSorbus aucuparia2021
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis2021
Wych ElmUlmus glabra2021
Pill SedgeCarex pilulifera2021
Water Forget-me-notMyosotis scorpioides2021
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2021
Downy BirchBetula pubescens2021
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea2021
HazelCorylus avellana2021
Thyme-leaved SpeedwellVeronica serpyllifolia2021
Common Hemp-nettleGaleopsis tetrahit2021
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens2021
Common DuckweedLemna minor2021
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella2021
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2021
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria2021
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis2021
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2021
Silver BirchBetula pendula2021
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2021
Sweet CicelyMyrrhis odorata2021
HawthornCrataegus monogyna2021
Stag's-horn ClubmossLycopodium clavatum2021
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis2021
Noble FirAbies procera2021
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2021
BlackthornPrunus spinosa2021

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

3,985 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds75 species

winterspring

2025

Blackbird · Blue Tit · Great Tit · Chaffinch · Woodpigeon +70

BlackbirdTurdus merula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
DunnockPrunella modularis
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
RookCorvus frugilegus
SiskinSpinus spinus
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
JackdawColoeus monedula
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
Tree SparrowPasser montanus
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
BuzzardButeo buteo
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
SwiftApus apus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2023
MagpiePica pica
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
TealAnas crecca2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
GoosanderMergus merganser2024
Mute SwanCygnus olor2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2023
KnotCalidris canutus2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2024
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
SnipeGallinago gallinago2024
Rock DoveColumba livia2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2023
SanderlingCalidris alba2023
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2023
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2023
CurlewNumenius arquata2023
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2023
Anas platyrhynchos xAnas platyrhynchos x2023
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2023
WigeonMareca penelope2023
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2023
EiderSomateria mollissima2023
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
LapwingVanellus vanellus2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2023
Common GullLarus canus2022
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus2022
Barn OwlTyto alba2020

🦌

Mammals7 species

springsummerautumnwinter

2025

Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Wood Mouse · Hedgehog · Stoat +2

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
StoatMustela erminea2024
MoleTalpa europaea2024
WeaselMustela nivalis2022

🐝

Insects9 species

spring

2025

Common Leaf Weevil · Red-legged Shieldbug · Melanostoma scalare · Eristalis pertinax · Athous haemorrhoidalis +4

Common Leaf WeevilPhyllobius pyri
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
Athous haemorrhoidalisAthous haemorrhoidalis
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea
Nut Leaf WeevilStrophosoma melanogrammum
Cantharis nigricansCantharis nigricans
FroghopperCercopidae2022

🌿

Plants113 species

summer

2024

Himalayan Balsam · Dandelion · Creeping Buttercup · Cow Parsley · Annual Meadow-grass +108

Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
DandelionTaraxacum2022
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2022
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2022
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua2022
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2022
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2022
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2022
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea2022
DaisyBellis perennis2022
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2022
Common BentAgrostis capillaris2022
Meadow Crane's-billGeranium pratense2022
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2022
TimothyPhleum pratense2022
YarrowAchillea millefolium2022
Greater PlantainPlantago major2022
Red FescueFestuca rubra2022
White CloverTrifolium repens2022
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2022
CleaversGalium aparine2022
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea2022
Slender SpeedwellVeronica filiformis2022
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2022
Rubus infestusRubus infestus2022
Rubus leptothyrsosRubus leptothyrsos2022
Field Penny-cressThlaspi arvense2022
Climbing CorydalisCeratocapnos claviculata2022
Rubus vestitusRubus vestitus2022
Heath SpeedwellVeronica officinalis2021
WellingtoniaSequoiadendron giganteum2021
Red-berried ElderSambucus racemosa2021
Russian ComfreySymphytum asperum x officinale = S. x uplandicum2021
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica2021
Field-roseRosa arvensis2021
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2021
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2021
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum2021
Japanese RoseRosa rugosa2021
Goat WillowSalix caprea2021
Wavy Hair-GrassAvenella flexuosa2021
Pink PurslaneClaytonia sibirica2021
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus2021
Slender St John's-wortHypericum pulchrum2021
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata2021
Heath Wood-rushLuzula multiflora2021
SalmonberryRubus spectabilis2021
ElderSambucus nigra2021
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum2021
RaspberryRubus idaeus2021
Bush VetchVicia sepium2021
Festuca rubraFestuca rubra2021
Common ChickweedStellaria media2021
RhododendronRhododendron ponticum2021
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper2021
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea2021
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2021
Common ValerianValeriana officinalis2021
Hard-fernBlechnum spicant2021
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas2021
Marsh WoundwortStachys palustris2021
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata2021
Red CampionSilene dioica2021
Wood AvensGeum urbanum2021
Tall FescueSchedonorus arundinaceus2021
BrambleRubus fruticosus2021
European LarchLarix decidua2021
Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanum2021
BeechFagus sylvatica2021
Wild CherryPrunus avium2021
Common SallowSalix cinerea2021
Heath BedstrawGalium saxatile2021
Reed Sweet-grassGlyceria maxima2021
Common NettleUrtica dioica2021
Hybrid LarchLarix decidua x kaempferi = L. x marschlinsii2021
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2021
Lady's BedstrawGalium verum2021
PolypodyPolypodium vulgare2021
OsierSalix viminalis2021
Common FigwortScrophularia nodosa2021
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2021
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2021
Giant FescueSchedonorus giganteus2021
AshFraxinus excelsior2021
Scots PinePinus sylvestris2021
Great Wood-rushLuzula sylvatica2021
RowanSorbus aucuparia2021
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis2021
Wych ElmUlmus glabra2021
Pill SedgeCarex pilulifera2021
Water Forget-me-notMyosotis scorpioides2021
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2021
Downy BirchBetula pubescens2021
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea2021
HazelCorylus avellana2021
Thyme-leaved SpeedwellVeronica serpyllifolia2021
Common Hemp-nettleGaleopsis tetrahit2021
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens2021
Common DuckweedLemna minor2021
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella2021
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2021
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria2021
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis2021
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2021
Silver BirchBetula pendula2021
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2021
Sweet CicelyMyrrhis odorata2021
HawthornCrataegus monogyna2021
Stag's-horn ClubmossLycopodium clavatum2021
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis2021
Noble FirAbies procera2021
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2021
BlackthornPrunus spinosa2021

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Anne Burgess · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Esslemont Castle

1 / 15

Events & activities nearby

Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.

Bookable tours

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Pitmedden ParkUrban park4.7 km→🌱Gordon ParkUrban park2.1 km→🌱Gordon ParkUrban park2.2 km→🌱Deer ParkUrban park3 km→🌱Meiklemill ParkUrban park1.8 km→🌱Auchterellon ParkUrban park2 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: 873baa9f-0021-4b59-8f94-2b2bb00a5ffb