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Ice House

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeHeritage

Dogs welcome

Getting here

57.24221, -2.04674

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦122+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Carrion Crow and Red-throated Diver
✦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

🐦122+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Carrion Crow and Red-throated Diver
✦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 — Carrion Crow, Red-throated Diver, Herring Gull +119 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Carrion Crow, Red-throated Diver, Herring Gull +119 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Red Admiral, Small Heath, Common Darter +16 more · last seen 2024; Insects — Red Admiral, Small Heath, Common Darter +16 more · last seen 2024

Free

Seasonal nature

Good match

Plants — Springy Turf-moss, Whitish Feather-moss, Big Shaggy-moss +10 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Springy Turf-moss, Whitish Feather-moss, Big Shaggy-moss +10 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Ice House RouteWalking route1.7 km

Named routeLength 1.7 kmLocal walking route

Marram Grass RouteWalking route800 m

Named routeLength 800 mLocal walking route

Beach WalkWalking route600 m

Named routeLength 600 mLocal walking route

Horse RouteWalking route500 m

Named routeLength 500 mLocal walking route

Thyme WalkWalking route3.5 km

Named routeLength 3.5 kmRound tripLocal walking route

Wildlife to spot

1,947 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

1,947 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds123 species

autumn

2025

Carrion Crow · Red-throated Diver · Herring Gull · Blackbird · Magpie +118

Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
Herring GullLarus argentatus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
MagpiePica pica
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Common GullLarus canus2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
CurlewNumenius arquata
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
SwallowHirundo rustica
EiderSomateria mollissima2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina
SanderlingCalidris alba2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater
GannetMorus bassanus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
Common GuillemotUria aalge2024
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Great TitParus major2024
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
BuzzardButeo buteo
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2024
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2024
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
Great SkuaStercorarius skua
JackdawColoeus monedula
RookCorvus frugilegus2024
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
ShagGulosus aristotelis2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2024
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
RazorbillAlca torda2023
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata2023
Rock DoveColumba livia
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla2024
TealAnas crecca2024
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
DunlinCalidris alpina2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2023
Common TernSterna hirundo2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2023
Barred WarblerCurruca nisoria2023
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
WigeonMareca penelope2024
Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca2024
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2023
RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2022
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2021
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Brent GooseBranta bernicla2024
Carrion/Hooded Crow HybridCorvus corone x cornix2024
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia2024
Pallas's WarblerPhylloscopus proregulus2023
GreenshankTringa nebularia2023
SnipeGallinago gallinago2023
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2023
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2023
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2019
CuckooCuculus canorus
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
Locustella naevia naeviaLocustella naevia naevia2024
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2024
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis2024
Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhulaPyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula2023
Certhia familiaris familiarisCerthia familiaris familiaris2023
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2023
Southern CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo sinensis2023
WryneckJynx torquilla2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2022
Water RailRallus aquaticus2022
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2022
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio2022
ShovelerSpatula clypeata2022
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2022
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus2021
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola2021
Black-throated DiverGavia arctica2021
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus2021
LapwingVanellus vanellus2020
Olive-backed PipitAnthus hodgsoni2020
PuffinFratercula arctica2020
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2019
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2019
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2019
RedshankTringa totanus2018
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2018
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus2018
SwiftApus apus2018
RuffCalidris pugnax2017

🦌

Mammals7 species

autumn

2025

Rabbit · Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Grey Seal · Hedgehog +2

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2022
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2021
Grey SealHalichoerus grypus2024
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2020
Common PorpoisePhocoena phocoena2023
MoleTalpa europaea2021

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summer

2020

Common Lizard

Common LizardZootoca vivipara

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2019

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects19 species

summer

2024

Red Admiral · Small Heath · Common Darter · Small Tortoiseshell · Silver Y +14

Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019
Small HeathCoenonympha pamphilus2019
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019
Silver YAutographa gamma2018
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2019
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2018
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2019
Dark Green FritillarySpeyeria aglaja2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Yellow ShellCamptogramma bilineata2019
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2018
PterostichusPterostichus2023
11-spot LadybirdCoccinella undecimpunctata2022
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2022
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2019
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2019
Fox MothMacrothylacia rubi2018
Small WhitePieris rapae2018

🌿

Plants19 species

autumn

2025

Springy Turf-moss · Whitish Feather-moss · Big Shaggy-moss · Bluebell · Sand-hill Screw-moss +14

Springy Turf-mossRhytidiadelphus squarrosus
Whitish Feather-mossBrachythecium albicans
Big Shaggy-mossHylocomiadelphus triquetrus
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta2018
Sand-hill Screw-mossSyntrichia ruraliformis
AcaenaAcaena2024
Common CentauryCentaurium erythraea2022
Red-stemmed Feather-mossPleurozium schreberi
Juniper HaircapPolytrichum juniperinum
Wall Screw-mossTortula muralis
Grey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinata
Rough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulum
Anomalous Bristle-mossOrthotrichum anomalum
Urn HaircapPogonatum urnigerum
Pirri-pirri-burAcaena novae-zelandiae2022
Small CudweedLogfia minima2022
Lesser Meadow-rueThalictrum minus2022
AllseedLinum radiola2021
Spanish BluebellHyacinthoides hispanica2017

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

1,947 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds123 species

autumn

2025

Carrion Crow · Red-throated Diver · Herring Gull · Blackbird · Magpie +118

Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
Herring GullLarus argentatus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
MagpiePica pica
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Common GullLarus canus2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
CurlewNumenius arquata
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
SwallowHirundo rustica
EiderSomateria mollissima2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina
SanderlingCalidris alba2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater
GannetMorus bassanus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
Common GuillemotUria aalge2024
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Great TitParus major2024
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
BuzzardButeo buteo
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2024
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2024
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
Great SkuaStercorarius skua
JackdawColoeus monedula
RookCorvus frugilegus2024
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
ShagGulosus aristotelis2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2024
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
RazorbillAlca torda2023
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata2023
Rock DoveColumba livia
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla2024
TealAnas crecca2024
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
DunlinCalidris alpina2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2023
Common TernSterna hirundo2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2023
Barred WarblerCurruca nisoria2023
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
WigeonMareca penelope2024
Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca2024
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2023
RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2022
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2021
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Brent GooseBranta bernicla2024
Carrion/Hooded Crow HybridCorvus corone x cornix2024
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia2024
Pallas's WarblerPhylloscopus proregulus2023
GreenshankTringa nebularia2023
SnipeGallinago gallinago2023
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2023
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2023
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2019
CuckooCuculus canorus
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
Locustella naevia naeviaLocustella naevia naevia2024
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2024
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis2024
Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhulaPyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula2023
Certhia familiaris familiarisCerthia familiaris familiaris2023
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2023
Southern CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo sinensis2023
WryneckJynx torquilla2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2022
Water RailRallus aquaticus2022
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2022
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio2022
ShovelerSpatula clypeata2022
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2022
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus2021
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola2021
Black-throated DiverGavia arctica2021
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus2021
LapwingVanellus vanellus2020
Olive-backed PipitAnthus hodgsoni2020
PuffinFratercula arctica2020
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2019
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2019
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2019
RedshankTringa totanus2018
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2018
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus2018
SwiftApus apus2018
RuffCalidris pugnax2017

🦌

Mammals7 species

autumn

2025

Rabbit · Red Squirrel · Roe Deer · Grey Seal · Hedgehog +2

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2022
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2021
Grey SealHalichoerus grypus2024
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2020
Common PorpoisePhocoena phocoena2023
MoleTalpa europaea2021

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summer

2020

Common Lizard

Common LizardZootoca vivipara

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2019

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects19 species

summer

2024

Red Admiral · Small Heath · Common Darter · Small Tortoiseshell · Silver Y +14

Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019
Small HeathCoenonympha pamphilus2019
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019
Silver YAutographa gamma2018
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2019
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2018
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2019
Dark Green FritillarySpeyeria aglaja2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Yellow ShellCamptogramma bilineata2019
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2018
PterostichusPterostichus2023
11-spot LadybirdCoccinella undecimpunctata2022
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2022
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2019
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2019
Fox MothMacrothylacia rubi2018
Small WhitePieris rapae2018

🌿

Plants19 species

autumn

2025

Springy Turf-moss · Whitish Feather-moss · Big Shaggy-moss · Bluebell · Sand-hill Screw-moss +14

Springy Turf-mossRhytidiadelphus squarrosus
Whitish Feather-mossBrachythecium albicans
Big Shaggy-mossHylocomiadelphus triquetrus
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta2018
Sand-hill Screw-mossSyntrichia ruraliformis
AcaenaAcaena2024
Common CentauryCentaurium erythraea2022
Red-stemmed Feather-mossPleurozium schreberi
Juniper HaircapPolytrichum juniperinum
Wall Screw-mossTortula muralis
Grey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinata
Rough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulum
Anomalous Bristle-mossOrthotrichum anomalum
Urn HaircapPogonatum urnigerum
Pirri-pirri-burAcaena novae-zelandiae2022
Small CudweedLogfia minima2022
Lesser Meadow-rueThalictrum minus2022
AllseedLinum radiola2021
Spanish BluebellHyacinthoides hispanica2017

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Balmedie Ice House

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🌱Balmedie Country ParkUrban park600 m→🏞️BalmedieCountry park600 m→🌱Balmedie Country ParkUrban park1.3 km→🌱Belhelvie ParkUrban park2.6 km→🌱Park of BalmedieUrban park2.8 km→🌱Potterton ParkUrban park3.4 km→

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