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Leuchars Castle

1 ha

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Dogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

56.38657, -2.88514

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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

Parking

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldeneye +77 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldeneye +77 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Creeping Thistle, Broom, Common Spotted-orchid +24 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Creeping Thistle, Broom, Common Spotted-orchid +24 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Peacock, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral +18 more · last seen 2024; Insects — Peacock, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral +18 more · last seen 2024

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Foraging

Good match

Plants — Bramble, Hogweed, Wild Strawberry +3 more foraging species

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Fife Coastal PathWalking route190 km

Named routeRef FCPLength 190 kmPoint-to-pointNational walking route

Pinecone TrailWalking route

Named route

Ice House TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Columba Way on North FCPWalking route59 km

Entirely on North section of Fife Coastal Path.

Named routeRef CWNFCPLength 59 kmPoint-to-pointNational walking route

Nature TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

48 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

NCN National Route 777Cycling route

Named routeRef 777National Cycle Network

Pine Cone TrailCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Kingdom Cycle RouteCycling route

Named routeRound tripRegional cycle route

NCN 1 St Andrews alternativeCycling route

Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

NCN 1 Loch Leven to DundeeCycling route

Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

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

Named routeRef EV12International cycle route

Wildlife to spot

5,781 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

5,781 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds83 species

winterautumn

2026

Fieldfare · Redwing · Goldeneye · Osprey · Woodpigeon +78

FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
OspreyPandion haliaetus2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2024
RedshankTringa totanus2025
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Great TitParus major2025
Red KiteMilvus milvus2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
TealAnas crecca2025
White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
EiderSomateria mollissima2025
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
SwiftApus apus2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Rock DoveColumba livia2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2024
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritus2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2023
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
CootFulica atra2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes2024
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2024
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
PintailAnas acuta2024
Common GullLarus canus2024
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
MagpiePica pica2024
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2023
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2023
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2023
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2023
ScaupAythya marila2023
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2023
Common GuillemotUria aalge2023
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2023
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2023
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2023

🦌

Mammals18 species

summer

2026

Red Squirrel · Grey Squirrel · Wood Mouse · Pine Marten · Badger +13

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2024
Pine MartenMartes martes2025
BadgerMeles meles2025
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2025
MoleTalpa europaea2025
Brown HareLepus europaeus
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2025
Feral CatFelis catus2024
Fallow DeerDama dama2024
PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2025
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus2025
Bank VoleMyodes glareolus2024
PolecatMustela putorius2024
MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi2024
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2024
BatsVespertilionidae2023

🐸

Amphibians1 species

autumn

2025

Smooth Newt

Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris

🐝

Insects26 species

summer

2025

Common Carder Bee · Red-tailed Bumblebee · Tree Bumblebee · Buff-tailed Bumblebee · Orange-tip +21

Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2023
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2023
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2023
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2023
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines
PeacockAglais io2024
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2024
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata2024
Volucella pellucensVolucella pellucens2024
Greater Bulb-FlyMerodon equestris2024
Cantharis crypticaCantharis cryptica2024
Black ClockPterostichus madidus2024
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2023
Eristalis intricariaEristalis intricaria2023
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2023
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2023
Minettia inustaMinettia inusta2023
Orthops (Orthops) basalisOrthops (Orthops) basalis2023
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2023
Scaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastri2023
Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2023
Parent BugElasmucha grisea2023
Black DarterSympetrum danae2023
Common WaspVespula vulgaris2023

🍄

Fungi1 species

summer

2025

Jelly Ear

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

🌿

Plants57 species

summer

2026

Field Forget-me-not · Spear Thistle · Common Vetch · Crosswort · Common Ragwort +52

Field Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensis2023
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2023
Common VetchVicia sativa2023
CrosswortCruciata laevipes2025
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2023
HawthornCrataegus monogyna2024
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2023
Hairy TareErvilia hirsuta2024
BrambleRubus fruticosus2024
AshFraxinus excelsior2024
Red CampionSilene dioica2024
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2023
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2023
YarrowAchillea millefolium2023
Black MedickMedicago lupulina2023
ColtsfootTussilago farfara2023
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2023
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2023
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2025
BeechFagus sylvatica2024
HollyIlex aquifolium2024
Poa pratensisPoa pratensis2023
Bird's-footOrnithopus perpusillus2023
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2023
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2023
WeldReseda luteola2023
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis2023
BroomCytisus scoparius2025
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2023
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2023
Common CouchElymus repens2023
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2023
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra2023
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense2023
Common Spotted-orchidDactylorhiza fuchsii2024
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2023
Pellitory-of-the-wallParietaria judaica
FatsiaFatsia japonica2025
OakQuercus2025
Bur ChervilAnthriscus caucalis2025
SneezewortAchillea ptarmica2025
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus2024
Common MallowMalva sylvestris2024
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea2024
BittersweetSolanum dulcamara2024
Red ValerianCentranthus ruber2024
Common Stork's-billErodium cicutarium2024
Common ReedPhragmites australis2023
Japanese RoseRosa rugosa2023
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2023
Red FescueFestuca rubra2023
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis2023
DandelionTaraxacum2023
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2023
Curled DockRumex crispus2023
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta2023
Sticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratum2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

5,781 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds83 species

winterautumn

2026

Fieldfare · Redwing · Goldeneye · Osprey · Woodpigeon +78

FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
OspreyPandion haliaetus2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2024
RedshankTringa totanus2025
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Great TitParus major2025
Red KiteMilvus milvus2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
TealAnas crecca2025
White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
EiderSomateria mollissima2025
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
SwiftApus apus2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Rock DoveColumba livia2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2024
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritus2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2023
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
CootFulica atra2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes2024
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2024
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
PintailAnas acuta2024
Common GullLarus canus2024
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
MagpiePica pica2024
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2023
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2023
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2023
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2023
ScaupAythya marila2023
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2023
Common GuillemotUria aalge2023
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2023
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2023
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2023

🦌

Mammals18 species

summer

2026

Red Squirrel · Grey Squirrel · Wood Mouse · Pine Marten · Badger +13

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2024
Pine MartenMartes martes2025
BadgerMeles meles2025
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2025
MoleTalpa europaea2025
Brown HareLepus europaeus
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2025
Feral CatFelis catus2024
Fallow DeerDama dama2024
PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2025
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus2025
Bank VoleMyodes glareolus2024
PolecatMustela putorius2024
MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi2024
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2024
BatsVespertilionidae2023

🐸

Amphibians1 species

autumn

2025

Smooth Newt

Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris

🐝

Insects26 species

summer

2025

Common Carder Bee · Red-tailed Bumblebee · Tree Bumblebee · Buff-tailed Bumblebee · Orange-tip +21

Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2023
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2023
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2023
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2023
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines
PeacockAglais io2024
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2024
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata2024
Volucella pellucensVolucella pellucens2024
Greater Bulb-FlyMerodon equestris2024
Cantharis crypticaCantharis cryptica2024
Black ClockPterostichus madidus2024
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2023
Eristalis intricariaEristalis intricaria2023
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2023
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2023
Minettia inustaMinettia inusta2023
Orthops (Orthops) basalisOrthops (Orthops) basalis2023
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2023
Scaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastri2023
Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2023
Parent BugElasmucha grisea2023
Black DarterSympetrum danae2023
Common WaspVespula vulgaris2023

🍄

Fungi1 species

summer

2025

Jelly Ear

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

🌿

Plants57 species

summer

2026

Field Forget-me-not · Spear Thistle · Common Vetch · Crosswort · Common Ragwort +52

Field Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensis2023
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2023
Common VetchVicia sativa2023
CrosswortCruciata laevipes2025
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2023
HawthornCrataegus monogyna2024
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2023
Hairy TareErvilia hirsuta2024
BrambleRubus fruticosus2024
AshFraxinus excelsior2024
Red CampionSilene dioica2024
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2023
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2023
YarrowAchillea millefolium2023
Black MedickMedicago lupulina2023
ColtsfootTussilago farfara2023
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2023
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2023
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2025
BeechFagus sylvatica2024
HollyIlex aquifolium2024
Poa pratensisPoa pratensis2023
Bird's-footOrnithopus perpusillus2023
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2023
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2023
WeldReseda luteola2023
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis2023
BroomCytisus scoparius2025
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2023
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2023
Common CouchElymus repens2023
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2023
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra2023
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense2023
Common Spotted-orchidDactylorhiza fuchsii2024
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2023
Pellitory-of-the-wallParietaria judaica
FatsiaFatsia japonica2025
OakQuercus2025
Bur ChervilAnthriscus caucalis2025
SneezewortAchillea ptarmica2025
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus2024
Common MallowMalva sylvestris2024
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea2024
BittersweetSolanum dulcamara2024
Red ValerianCentranthus ruber2024
Common Stork's-billErodium cicutarium2024
Common ReedPhragmites australis2023
Japanese RoseRosa rugosa2023
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2023
Red FescueFestuca rubra2023
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis2023
DandelionTaraxacum2023
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2023
Curled DockRumex crispus2023
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta2023
Sticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratum2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 kim traynor · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Site of Leuchars Castle

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🦉Eden EstuaryNature reserve3.4 km→🌱Eden EstuaryUrban park2.2 km→🌱Eden EstuaryUrban park2.8 km→🪦Leuchars CemeteryCemetery800 m→✦Polish Camp (WWII)Historic site3.3 km→🪦Vicarsford CemeteryCemetery4.1 km→

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