Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Dogs welcome0 ha
Getting here
57.04915, -2.86523
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦71+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Chaffinch
- ✦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
- 🐦71+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Chaffinch
- ✦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 — Robin, Chaffinch, Coal Tit +68 more · last seen 2026
Free
Birds — Robin, Chaffinch, Coal Tit +68 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Black Darter +66 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Good match
Plants — Red Bog-moss, Sphagnum divinum, Fine Bog-moss +5 more · last seen 2025
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Moderate match
Historic site
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km13 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
Deeside WayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
13 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Tarland WayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Deeside WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 195National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route168 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 168 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route5.4 km▾
Named routeRef 195Length 5.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route215 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 215 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface other
Main RouteCycling route76 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 76 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Ballater & Burn o'Vat CircularMountain bike route▾
Named routeRef 2
Scotland TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
3,647 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
3,647 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds46 species
summerwinter
2026▾
Great Tit · Chaffinch · Robin · Wren · Coal Tit +41
- Great TitParus major
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
- SiskinSpinus spinus2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- Scottish CrossbillLoxia scotica2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
- RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2025
- CuckooCuculus canorus2025
- RavenCorvus corax2025
- Redpoll (cabaret/flammea)Acanthis flammea cabaret/flammea2025
- Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacus2025
- DipperCinclus cinclus2025
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
🦌Mammals4 species
summerautumnwinter
2025▾
Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Red Deer · Mole
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
- Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
- Red DeerCervus elaphus
- MoleTalpa europaea
🦎Reptiles2 species
springsummer
2026▾
Common Lizard · Slow-worm
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
- Slow-wormAnguis fragilis2025
🐸Amphibians1 species
spring
2026▾
Common Frog
- Common FrogRana temporaria
Common Blue Damselfly · Emerald Damselfly · Common Darter · Black Darter · Red-legged Shieldbug +16
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
- Black DarterSympetrum danae
- Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
- Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum
- Large Red Damselfly
Sphagnum divinum
- Sphagnum divinumSphagnum divinum
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
3,647 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds46 species
summerwinter
2026▾
Great Tit · Chaffinch · Robin · Wren · Coal Tit +41
- Great TitParus major
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
- SiskinSpinus spinus2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- Scottish CrossbillLoxia scotica2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
- RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2025
- CuckooCuculus canorus2025
- RavenCorvus corax2025
- Redpoll (cabaret/flammea)Acanthis flammea cabaret/flammea2025
- Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacus2025
- DipperCinclus cinclus2025
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
🦌Mammals4 species
summerautumnwinter
2025▾
Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Red Deer · Mole
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
- Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
- Red DeerCervus elaphus
- MoleTalpa europaea
🦎Reptiles2 species
springsummer
2026▾
Common Lizard · Slow-worm
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
- Slow-wormAnguis fragilis2025
🐸Amphibians1 species
spring
2026▾
Common Frog
- Common FrogRana temporaria
Common Blue Damselfly · Emerald Damselfly · Common Darter · Black Darter · Red-legged Shieldbug +16
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
- Black DarterSympetrum danae
- Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
- Northern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatum
- Large Red Damselfly
Sphagnum divinum
- Sphagnum divinumSphagnum divinum
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataBombus monticola subsp. scoticusBombus monticola subsp. scoticusBombus monticola subsp. scoticusBombus monticola subsp. scoticusSouthern HawkerAeshna cyaneaSouthern HawkerAeshna cyaneaField GrasshopperChorthippus brunneusField GrasshopperChorthippus brunneusSpiked ShieldbugPicromerus bidensSpiked ShieldbugPicromerus bidensGolden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltoniiGolden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltoniiMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusEyed LadybirdAnatis ocellataEyed LadybirdAnatis ocellataLarch LadybirdAphidecta obliterataLarch LadybirdAphidecta obliterataCommon HawkerAeshna junceaCommon HawkerAeshna junceaGreen Tiger BeetleCicindela campestrisGreen Tiger BeetleCicindela campestrisBilberry BumblebeeBombus monticolaBilberry BumblebeeBombus monticolaTree BumblebeeBombus hypnorumTree BumblebeeBombus hypnorumPine WeevilHylobius abietisPine WeevilHylobius abietis