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Hopes Reservoir

30 ha

📷 Jim Barton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Free entryDogs welcome30 ha

Getting here

55.84961, -2.72515

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
✦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

☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
✦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

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

5 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Mallard, Red Grouse (scotica), Little Grebe +82 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Mallard, Red Grouse (scotica), Little Grebe +82 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Suillia notata, Limnophora exuta, Phaonia incana +9 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Suillia notata, Limnophora exuta, Phaonia incana +9 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Good match

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Core PathsWalking route

East Lothian Core Path Network

Named routeLocal walking route

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Capital TrailMountain bike route

Named route

Wildlife to spot

6,040 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

6,040 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds57 species

springsummerautumnwinter

2025

Red Grouse (scotica) · Mallard · Jackdaw · Chaffinch · Carrion Crow +52

Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
Greylag GooseAnser anser
RavenCorvus corax
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
House MartinDelichon urbicum
SwallowHirundo rustica
JayGarrulus glandarius
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
SnipeGallinago gallinago
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
BlackbirdTurdus merula
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
SiskinSpinus spinus
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
CuckooCuculus canorus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
RookCorvus frugilegus
Common GullLarus canus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Common GuillemotUria aalge
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
GoosanderMergus merganser
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
WigeonMareca penelope
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
CurlewNumenius arquata
LapwingVanellus vanellus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
SwiftApus apus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Great TitParus major
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus

🦌

Mammals1 species

winter

2025

Brown Hare

Brown HareLepus europaeus

🐝

Insects8 species

summer

2025

Phaonia incana · Limnophora exuta · Phaonia errans · Thricops cunctans · Helina fratercula +3

Phaonia incanaPhaonia incana
Limnophora exutaLimnophora exuta
Phaonia erransPhaonia errans
Thricops cunctansThricops cunctans
Helina fraterculaHelina fratercula
Black SnipeflyChrysopilus cristatus
Limnophora ripariaLimnophora riparia

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

6,040 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds57 species

springsummerautumnwinter

2025

Red Grouse (scotica) · Mallard · Jackdaw · Chaffinch · Carrion Crow +52

Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
Greylag GooseAnser anser
RavenCorvus corax
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
House MartinDelichon urbicum
SwallowHirundo rustica
JayGarrulus glandarius
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
SnipeGallinago gallinago
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
BlackbirdTurdus merula
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
SiskinSpinus spinus
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
CuckooCuculus canorus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
RookCorvus frugilegus
Common GullLarus canus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Common GuillemotUria aalge
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
GoosanderMergus merganser
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
WigeonMareca penelope
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
CurlewNumenius arquata
LapwingVanellus vanellus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
SwiftApus apus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Great TitParus major
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus

🦌

Mammals1 species

winter

2025

Brown Hare

Brown HareLepus europaeus

🐝

Insects8 species

summer

2025

Phaonia incana · Limnophora exuta · Phaonia errans · Thricops cunctans · Helina fratercula +3

Phaonia incanaPhaonia incana
Limnophora exutaLimnophora exuta
Phaonia erransPhaonia errans
Thricops cunctansThricops cunctans
Helina fraterculaHelina fratercula
Black SnipeflyChrysopilus cristatus
Limnophora ripariaLimnophora riparia

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Jim Barton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hopes Reservoir

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Fort and homesteadsHistoric site4 km→⛳Castle Park Golf CourseGolf course4.3 km→⛳Castle Park Golf ClubGolf course4.3 km→💧Hopes ReservoirReservoir0 m→✦Hare LawHistoric site1.1 km→✦The CastlesHistoric site2.7 km→

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