← Back✦ Historic site

Gelston Castle

📷 Billy McCrorie · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Dogs welcome

Getting here

54.90459, -3.90884

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦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

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦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

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Strong match

Birds — Goldeneye, Redwing, Whooper Swan +38 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Goldeneye, Redwing, Whooper Swan +38 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Dingy Skipper, Cuckoo-Spit Insect, Common Blue +69 more · last seen 2024; Insects — Dingy Skipper, Cuckoo-Spit Insect, Common Blue +69 more · last seen 2024

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Seasonal nature

Good match

Plants — Common Tamarisk-moss, Heath Plait-moss, Waved Silk-moss +1 more · last seen 2021; Plants — Common Tamarisk-moss, Heath Plait-moss, Waved Silk-moss +1 more · last seen 2021

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Threave Estate WalkWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

18 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 7Cycling route

Named routeRef 7National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route8.8 km

Named routeRef 7Length 8.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route339 m

Named routeRef 7Length 339 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Alternative RouteCycling route112 m

Named routeRef 7Length 112 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route905 m

Named routeRef 7Length 905 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route242 m

Named routeRef 7Length 242 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

1,970 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

1,970 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds47 species

winterspringautumn

2026

Goldeneye · Red Kite · Redwing · Whooper Swan · Fieldfare +42

GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
Red KiteMilvus milvus
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
PintailAnas acuta2025
OspreyPandion haliaetus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
SwallowHirundo rustica2022
RobinErithacus rubecula2024
BuzzardButeo buteo2024
Great TitParus major2023
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2022
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2022
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
House SparrowPasser domesticus2022
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2022
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2022
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2022
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
JackdawColoeus monedula2022
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2022
Turtle DoveStreptopelia turtur2022
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2022
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2022
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2022
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
RavenCorvus corax2024
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
DipperCinclus cinclus2022
Mute SwanCygnus olor2021
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2021
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos2021
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra2020
NuthatchSitta europaea2019
JayGarrulus glandarius2019

🦌

Mammals4 species

summerautumn

2026

Grey Squirrel · Red Squirrel · Pine Marten · Brown Hare

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Pine MartenMartes martes2025
Brown HareLepus europaeus2025

🐝

Insects72 species

springsummer

2024

Dingy Skipper · Cuckoo-Spit Insect · Common Blue · Small Heath · Green-veined White +67

Dingy SkipperErynnis tages2019
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2021
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2019
Small HeathCoenonympha pamphilus2019
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2019
WallLasiommata megera2019
Macrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosaeMacrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosae2021
Pearl-bordered FritillaryBoloria euphrosyne2019
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2019
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2018
Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus
Conops flavipesConops flavipes2021
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2021
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2021
Campyloneura virgulaCampyloneura virgula2021
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2020
Contacyphon coarctatusContacyphon coarctatus2020
Small Pearl-bordered FritillaryBoloria selene2019
Dor BeetleGeotrupes stercorarius2021
EristalisEristalis2021
Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni2021
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2021
Eristalis horticolaEristalis horticola2021
Dexiosoma caninumDexiosoma caninum2021
Macrosiphoniella (Macrosiphoniella) millefoliiMacrosiphoniella (Macrosiphoniella) millefolii2021
Uroleucon (Uromelan) jaceaeUroleucon (Uromelan) jaceae2021
Mesembrina meridianaMesembrina meridiana2020
Broad CenturionChloromyia formosa2020
Dicheirotrichus placidusDicheirotrichus placidus2020
Helophorus aequalisHelophorus aequalis2020
Stenus nitensStenus nitens2020
Stenus bimaculatusStenus bimaculatus2020
Anacaena lutescensAnacaena lutescens2020
DytiscusDytiscus2020
Hydroporus incognitusHydroporus incognitus2020
Hydroporus nigritaHydroporus nigrita2020
Anacaena globulusAnacaena globulus2020
Ilybius guttigerIlybius guttiger2020
Elaphrus cupreusElaphrus cupreus2020
Hydraena ripariaHydraena riparia2020
Ilybius fuliginosusIlybius fuliginosus2020
Ilybius aterIlybius ater2020
Hydroporus tessellatusHydroporus tessellatus2020
Philorhizus melanocephalusPhilorhizus melanocephalus2020
Platambus maculatusPlatambus maculatus2020
Helophorus obscurusHelophorus obscurus2020
Lesteva longoelytrataLesteva longoelytrata2020
Tachyporus obtususTachyporus obtusus2020
Agabus bipustulatusAgabus bipustulatus2020
Dyschirius globosusDyschirius globosus2020
Hydroporus planusHydroporus planus2020
Hydroporus memnoniusHydroporus memnonius2020
Helophorus grandisHelophorus grandis2020
Stenus pallitarsisStenus pallitarsis2020
Stenus latifronsStenus latifrons2020
Gyrinus substriatusGyrinus substriatus2020
Agabus paludosusAgabus paludosus2020
Helophorus brevipalpisHelophorus brevipalpis2020
Pterostichus diligensPterostichus diligens2020
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2020
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2020
GraylingHipparchia semele2019
Six-spot BurnetZygaena filipendulae2019
Dark Green FritillarySpeyeria aglaja2019
Speckled YellowPseudopanthera macularia2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Rhingia campestrisRhingia campestris2019
Periphyllus acericolaPeriphyllus acericola2018
CinnabarTyria jacobaeae2018
Gwynne's Mining BeeAndrena bicolor2018
Convolvulus Hawk-mothAgrius convolvuli2017
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2017

🌿

Plants5 species

spring

2021

Common Tamarisk-moss · Heath Plait-moss · Waved Silk-moss · Early Dog-violet · Bank Haircap

Common Tamarisk-mossThuidium tamariscinum
Heath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicum
Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum
Early Dog-violetViola reichenbachiana2019
Bank HaircapPolytrichum formosum2018

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

1,970 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds47 species

winterspringautumn

2026

Goldeneye · Red Kite · Redwing · Whooper Swan · Fieldfare +42

GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
Red KiteMilvus milvus
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
PintailAnas acuta2025
OspreyPandion haliaetus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
SwallowHirundo rustica2022
RobinErithacus rubecula2024
BuzzardButeo buteo2024
Great TitParus major2023
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2022
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2022
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
House SparrowPasser domesticus2022
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2022
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2022
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2022
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
JackdawColoeus monedula2022
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2022
Turtle DoveStreptopelia turtur2022
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2022
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2022
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2022
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
RavenCorvus corax2024
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
DipperCinclus cinclus2022
Mute SwanCygnus olor2021
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2021
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos2021
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra2020
NuthatchSitta europaea2019
JayGarrulus glandarius2019

🦌

Mammals4 species

summerautumn

2026

Grey Squirrel · Red Squirrel · Pine Marten · Brown Hare

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Pine MartenMartes martes2025
Brown HareLepus europaeus2025

🐝

Insects72 species

springsummer

2024

Dingy Skipper · Cuckoo-Spit Insect · Common Blue · Small Heath · Green-veined White +67

Dingy SkipperErynnis tages2019
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2021
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2019
Small HeathCoenonympha pamphilus2019
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2019
WallLasiommata megera2019
Macrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosaeMacrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosae2021
Pearl-bordered FritillaryBoloria euphrosyne2019
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2019
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2018
Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus
Conops flavipesConops flavipes2021
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2021
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2021
Campyloneura virgulaCampyloneura virgula2021
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2020
Contacyphon coarctatusContacyphon coarctatus2020
Small Pearl-bordered FritillaryBoloria selene2019
Dor BeetleGeotrupes stercorarius2021
EristalisEristalis2021
Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni2021
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2021
Eristalis horticolaEristalis horticola2021
Dexiosoma caninumDexiosoma caninum2021
Macrosiphoniella (Macrosiphoniella) millefoliiMacrosiphoniella (Macrosiphoniella) millefolii2021
Uroleucon (Uromelan) jaceaeUroleucon (Uromelan) jaceae2021
Mesembrina meridianaMesembrina meridiana2020
Broad CenturionChloromyia formosa2020
Dicheirotrichus placidusDicheirotrichus placidus2020
Helophorus aequalisHelophorus aequalis2020
Stenus nitensStenus nitens2020
Stenus bimaculatusStenus bimaculatus2020
Anacaena lutescensAnacaena lutescens2020
DytiscusDytiscus2020
Hydroporus incognitusHydroporus incognitus2020
Hydroporus nigritaHydroporus nigrita2020
Anacaena globulusAnacaena globulus2020
Ilybius guttigerIlybius guttiger2020
Elaphrus cupreusElaphrus cupreus2020
Hydraena ripariaHydraena riparia2020
Ilybius fuliginosusIlybius fuliginosus2020
Ilybius aterIlybius ater2020
Hydroporus tessellatusHydroporus tessellatus2020
Philorhizus melanocephalusPhilorhizus melanocephalus2020
Platambus maculatusPlatambus maculatus2020
Helophorus obscurusHelophorus obscurus2020
Lesteva longoelytrataLesteva longoelytrata2020
Tachyporus obtususTachyporus obtusus2020
Agabus bipustulatusAgabus bipustulatus2020
Dyschirius globosusDyschirius globosus2020
Hydroporus planusHydroporus planus2020
Hydroporus memnoniusHydroporus memnonius2020
Helophorus grandisHelophorus grandis2020
Stenus pallitarsisStenus pallitarsis2020
Stenus latifronsStenus latifrons2020
Gyrinus substriatusGyrinus substriatus2020
Agabus paludosusAgabus paludosus2020
Helophorus brevipalpisHelophorus brevipalpis2020
Pterostichus diligensPterostichus diligens2020
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2020
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2020
GraylingHipparchia semele2019
Six-spot BurnetZygaena filipendulae2019
Dark Green FritillarySpeyeria aglaja2019
Speckled YellowPseudopanthera macularia2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Rhingia campestrisRhingia campestris2019
Periphyllus acericolaPeriphyllus acericola2018
CinnabarTyria jacobaeae2018
Gwynne's Mining BeeAndrena bicolor2018
Convolvulus Hawk-mothAgrius convolvuli2017
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2017

🌿

Plants5 species

spring

2021

Common Tamarisk-moss · Heath Plait-moss · Waved Silk-moss · Early Dog-violet · Bank Haircap

Common Tamarisk-mossThuidium tamariscinum
Heath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicum
Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum
Early Dog-violetViola reichenbachiana2019
Bank HaircapPolytrichum formosum2018

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Billy McCrorie · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Useful places within 5 km

🌱Market HillUrban park4.4 km→🌱Lochside ParkUrban park3.8 km→🌱Lochside ParkUrban park3.8 km→🌱Threave GardenUrban park3.3 km→🌱Fair GreenUrban park3.9 km→✦Mill PondHistoric site3.6 km→

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