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Loch Benachally

187 ha

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Free entryDogs welcome187 ha

Getting here

56.63527, -3.51639

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — dragonfly and damselfly activity peaks along water edges
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — dragonfly and damselfly activity peaks along water edges
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕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

4 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Strong match

Birds — Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow, Wheatear +32 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow, Wheatear +32 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Slender Scottish Eyebright, Shoreweed, Bilberry +176 more · last seen 2016; Plants — Slender Scottish Eyebright, Shoreweed, Bilberry +176 more · last seen 2016

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Bilberry, Common Sorrel, Autumn Hawkbit +14 more foraging species

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Cateran TrailWalking route104 km

Blairgowrie

Named routeLength 104 kmRound tripNational walking route

Atholl Woods PathWalking route11 km

Includes a short section on road. An open-sided boat shed at Mill Dam provides shelter if required.

Named routeLength 11 kmRound tripLocal walking route

Catchpenny to Butterstone PathWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Deuchary Hill from DunkeldWalking route

The final ascent is steep demanding mountain hiking but most of this route is tracks with no extreme inclines.

Named routeRound tripLocal cycle route

Butterstone Dunkeld CircularWalking route

Good tracks and quiet roads

Named route

🚴

Cycling

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Dunkeld Loch Ordie Butterstone LoopCycling route24 km

Half day cycle on mostly good tracks.

Named routeLength 24 kmRound tripLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

785 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

785 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds37 species

spring

2025

Meadow Pipit · Carrion Crow · Wheatear · Stonechat · Curlew +32

Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2023
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2021
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
CurlewNumenius arquata2023
GreenfinchChloris chloris2022
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2017
SwallowHirundo rustica2017
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
CuckooCuculus canorus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2022
BlackbirdTurdus merula2022
Stock DoveColumba oenas2022
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2022
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2022
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2017
BuzzardButeo buteo2017
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2015
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2023
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2022
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2021
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2017
House MartinDelichon urbicum2017
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2014
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2014
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2014
Redpoll (cabaret/flammea)Acanthis flammea cabaret/flammea2014
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2014
Great TitParus major2014
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2014
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2014
DunnockPrunella modularis2014
SiskinSpinus spinus2014
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2014
Coal TitPeriparus ater2014
RobinErithacus rubecula2014
SnipeGallinago gallinago2014

🦌

Mammals7 species

spring

2021

Otter · Red Squirrel · Red Deer · Fallow Deer · Mole +2

OtterLutra lutra2014
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Red DeerCervus elaphus2017
Fallow DeerDama dama2015
MoleTalpa europaea2015
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2015
American MinkNeovison vison2012

🌿

Plants184 species

summer

2016

Slender Scottish Eyebright · Common Cottongrass · Bottle Sedge · Common Yellow-sedge · Sharp-flowered Rush +179

Slender Scottish EyebrightEuphrasia scottica
Common CottongrassEriophorum angustifolium
Bottle SedgeCarex rostrata
Common Yellow-sedgeCarex demissa
Sharp-flowered RushJuncus acutiflorus
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Carnation SedgeCarex panicea
Jointed RushJuncus articulatus
Water HorsetailEquisetum fluviatile
Compact RushJuncus conglomeratus
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
BilberryVaccinium myrtillus
Bell HeatherErica cinerea
Glaucous SedgeCarex flacca
ShoreweedLittorella uniflora
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre
Heath RushJuncus squarrosus
CowberryVaccinium vitis-idaea
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris
White CloverTrifolium repens
Common ButterwortPinguicula vulgaris
Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
Few-flowered Spike-rushEleocharis quinqueflora
Marsh VioletViola palustris
Green-ribbed SedgeCarex binervis
Star SedgeCarex echinata
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Marsh WillowherbEpilobium palustre
TormentilPotentilla erecta
Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea
BugleAjuga reptans
Common SedgeCarex nigra
Heath Wood-rushLuzula multiflora
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum
Bulbous RushJuncus bulbosus
Marsh LousewortPedicularis palustris
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Hairy Wood-rushLuzula pilosa
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula
Cross-leaved HeathErica tetralix
HeatherCalluna vulgaris
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
YarrowAchillea millefolium
Round-leaved SundewDrosera rotundifolia
Marsh-bedstrawGalium palustre
Dioecious SedgeCarex dioica
Creeping Forget-me-notMyosotis secunda
Spreading Meadow-grassPoa humilis
Wood HorsetailEquisetum sylvaticum
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
Creeping WillowSalix repens
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
BrackenPteridium aquilinum
Lesser ClubmossSelaginella selaginoides
Slender St John's-wortHypericum pulchrum
Eared WillowSalix aurita
Hard-fernBlechnum spicant
DandelionTaraxacum
Yellow PimpernelLysimachia nemorum
Yellow-rattleRhinanthus minor
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
Wild ThymeThymus drucei
Marsh HorsetailEquisetum palustre
Tawny SedgeCarex hostiana
Long-Stalked Yellow SedgeCarex lepidocarpa
LousewortPedicularis sylvatica
Alpine BistortBistorta vivipara
Mat-grassNardus stricta
Tufted Forget-me-notMyosotis laxa
Bristle Club-rushIsolepis setacea
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis
Lemon-scented FernOreopteris limbosperma
Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensis
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Marsh ArrowgrassTriglochin palustris
Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Fairy FlaxLinum catharticum
Water MintMentha aquatica
Bitter-vetchLathyrus linifolius
Heath BedstrawGalium saxatile
Quaking-grassBriza media
Sheep's Fescue agg.Festuca ovina
Marsh CinquefoilComarum palustre
Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis
Heath MilkwortPolygala serpyllifolia
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Chickweed WintergreenLysimachia europaea
DeergrassTrichophorum cespitosum
Wavy Hair-GrassAvenella flexuosa
Marsh PennywortHydrocotyle vulgaris
Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella
Yellow SaxifrageSaxifraga aizoides
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Flea SedgeCarex pulicaris
Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea
Bog PondweedPotamogeton polygonifolius
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Dryopteris affinisDryopteris affinis
Oak FernGymnocarpium dryopteris
HarebellCampanula rotundifolia
Alternate Water-milfoilMyriophyllum alterniflorum
Pill SedgeCarex pilulifera
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
BlinksMontia fontana
Fen BedstrawGalium uliginosum
Brown BentAgrostis vinealis
Festuca rubraFestuca rubra
Heath-grassDanthonia decumbens
Perfoliate PondweedPotamogeton perfoliatus
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
Hare's-tail CottongrassEriophorum vaginatum
RowanSorbus aucuparia
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium
Lady's BedstrawGalium verum
Stag's-horn ClubmossLycopodium clavatum
Water AvensGeum rivale
European LarchLarix decidua
Fine-leaved Sheep's-fescueFestuca filiformis
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
SneezewortAchillea ptarmica
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Floating Bur-reedSparganium angustifolium
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Scots PinePinus sylvestris
Marsh Hawk's-beardCrepis paludosa
Toad RushJuncus bufonius
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes
JuniperJuniperus communis
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitans
Pond Water-crowfootRanunculus peltatus
Oval SedgeCarex leporina
HawkweedHieracium
Knotted PearlwortSagina nodosa
Marsh SpeedwellVeronica scutellata
Dryopteris borreriDryopteris borreri
Marsh CudweedGnaphalium uliginosum
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
Crested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatus
Lesser TwaybladeNeottia cordata
New Zealand WillowherbEpilobium brunnescens
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Water LobeliaLobelia dortmanna
Parsley FernCryptogramma crispa
Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestitaAlchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita
White SedgeCarex canescens
Brittle Bladder-fernCystopteris fragilis
Heath SpeedwellVeronica officinalis
Field Wood-rushLuzula campestris
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
Petty WhinGenista anglica
Smooth Lady's-mantleAlchemilla glabra
BogbeanMenyanthes trifoliata
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea
Hybrid LarchLarix decidua x kaempferi = L. x marschlinsii
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
Common Slender EyebrightEuphrasia micrantha
DaisyBellis perennis
Velvet BentAgrostis canina
Various-leaved PondweedPotamogeton gramineus
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Mountain PansyViola lutea
Downy BirchBetula pubescens
Poa pratensisPoa pratensis2010
EyebrightEuphrasia2010
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
PolypodyPolypodium vulgare
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra
Agrostis caninaAgrostis canina
Euphrasia arctica subsp. borealisEuphrasia arctica subsp. borealis
Toad Rush agg.Juncus bufonius2010
Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra2010
an EyebrightEuphrasia arctica2010

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

785 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds37 species

spring

2025

Meadow Pipit · Carrion Crow · Wheatear · Stonechat · Curlew +32

Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2023
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2021
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
CurlewNumenius arquata2023
GreenfinchChloris chloris2022
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2017
SwallowHirundo rustica2017
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
CuckooCuculus canorus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2022
BlackbirdTurdus merula2022
Stock DoveColumba oenas2022
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2022
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2022
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2017
BuzzardButeo buteo2017
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2015
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2023
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2022
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2021
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2017
House MartinDelichon urbicum2017
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2014
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2014
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2014
Redpoll (cabaret/flammea)Acanthis flammea cabaret/flammea2014
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2014
Great TitParus major2014
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2014
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2014
DunnockPrunella modularis2014
SiskinSpinus spinus2014
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2014
Coal TitPeriparus ater2014
RobinErithacus rubecula2014
SnipeGallinago gallinago2014

🦌

Mammals7 species

spring

2021

Otter · Red Squirrel · Red Deer · Fallow Deer · Mole +2

OtterLutra lutra2014
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Red DeerCervus elaphus2017
Fallow DeerDama dama2015
MoleTalpa europaea2015
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2015
American MinkNeovison vison2012

🌿

Plants184 species

summer

2016

Slender Scottish Eyebright · Common Cottongrass · Bottle Sedge · Common Yellow-sedge · Sharp-flowered Rush +179

Slender Scottish EyebrightEuphrasia scottica
Common CottongrassEriophorum angustifolium
Bottle SedgeCarex rostrata
Common Yellow-sedgeCarex demissa
Sharp-flowered RushJuncus acutiflorus
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Carnation SedgeCarex panicea
Jointed RushJuncus articulatus
Water HorsetailEquisetum fluviatile
Compact RushJuncus conglomeratus
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
BilberryVaccinium myrtillus
Bell HeatherErica cinerea
Glaucous SedgeCarex flacca
ShoreweedLittorella uniflora
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre
Heath RushJuncus squarrosus
CowberryVaccinium vitis-idaea
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris
White CloverTrifolium repens
Common ButterwortPinguicula vulgaris
Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
Few-flowered Spike-rushEleocharis quinqueflora
Marsh VioletViola palustris
Green-ribbed SedgeCarex binervis
Star SedgeCarex echinata
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Marsh WillowherbEpilobium palustre
TormentilPotentilla erecta
Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea
BugleAjuga reptans
Common SedgeCarex nigra
Heath Wood-rushLuzula multiflora
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum
Bulbous RushJuncus bulbosus
Marsh LousewortPedicularis palustris
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Hairy Wood-rushLuzula pilosa
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula
Cross-leaved HeathErica tetralix
HeatherCalluna vulgaris
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
YarrowAchillea millefolium
Round-leaved SundewDrosera rotundifolia
Marsh-bedstrawGalium palustre
Dioecious SedgeCarex dioica
Creeping Forget-me-notMyosotis secunda
Spreading Meadow-grassPoa humilis
Wood HorsetailEquisetum sylvaticum
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
Creeping WillowSalix repens
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
BrackenPteridium aquilinum
Lesser ClubmossSelaginella selaginoides
Slender St John's-wortHypericum pulchrum
Eared WillowSalix aurita
Hard-fernBlechnum spicant
DandelionTaraxacum
Yellow PimpernelLysimachia nemorum
Yellow-rattleRhinanthus minor
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
Wild ThymeThymus drucei
Marsh HorsetailEquisetum palustre
Tawny SedgeCarex hostiana
Long-Stalked Yellow SedgeCarex lepidocarpa
LousewortPedicularis sylvatica
Alpine BistortBistorta vivipara
Mat-grassNardus stricta
Tufted Forget-me-notMyosotis laxa
Bristle Club-rushIsolepis setacea
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis
Lemon-scented FernOreopteris limbosperma
Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensis
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Marsh ArrowgrassTriglochin palustris
Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Fairy FlaxLinum catharticum
Water MintMentha aquatica
Bitter-vetchLathyrus linifolius
Heath BedstrawGalium saxatile
Quaking-grassBriza media
Sheep's Fescue agg.Festuca ovina
Marsh CinquefoilComarum palustre
Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis
Heath MilkwortPolygala serpyllifolia
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Chickweed WintergreenLysimachia europaea
DeergrassTrichophorum cespitosum
Wavy Hair-GrassAvenella flexuosa
Marsh PennywortHydrocotyle vulgaris
Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella
Yellow SaxifrageSaxifraga aizoides
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Flea SedgeCarex pulicaris
Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea
Bog PondweedPotamogeton polygonifolius
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Dryopteris affinisDryopteris affinis
Oak FernGymnocarpium dryopteris
HarebellCampanula rotundifolia
Alternate Water-milfoilMyriophyllum alterniflorum
Pill SedgeCarex pilulifera
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
BlinksMontia fontana
Fen BedstrawGalium uliginosum
Brown BentAgrostis vinealis
Festuca rubraFestuca rubra
Heath-grassDanthonia decumbens
Perfoliate PondweedPotamogeton perfoliatus
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
Hare's-tail CottongrassEriophorum vaginatum
RowanSorbus aucuparia
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium
Lady's BedstrawGalium verum
Stag's-horn ClubmossLycopodium clavatum
Water AvensGeum rivale
European LarchLarix decidua
Fine-leaved Sheep's-fescueFestuca filiformis
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
SneezewortAchillea ptarmica
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Floating Bur-reedSparganium angustifolium
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Scots PinePinus sylvestris
Marsh Hawk's-beardCrepis paludosa
Toad RushJuncus bufonius
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes
JuniperJuniperus communis
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitans
Pond Water-crowfootRanunculus peltatus
Oval SedgeCarex leporina
HawkweedHieracium
Knotted PearlwortSagina nodosa
Marsh SpeedwellVeronica scutellata
Dryopteris borreriDryopteris borreri
Marsh CudweedGnaphalium uliginosum
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
Crested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatus
Lesser TwaybladeNeottia cordata
New Zealand WillowherbEpilobium brunnescens
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Water LobeliaLobelia dortmanna
Parsley FernCryptogramma crispa
Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestitaAlchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita
White SedgeCarex canescens
Brittle Bladder-fernCystopteris fragilis
Heath SpeedwellVeronica officinalis
Field Wood-rushLuzula campestris
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
Petty WhinGenista anglica
Smooth Lady's-mantleAlchemilla glabra
BogbeanMenyanthes trifoliata
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea
Hybrid LarchLarix decidua x kaempferi = L. x marschlinsii
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
Common Slender EyebrightEuphrasia micrantha
DaisyBellis perennis
Velvet BentAgrostis canina
Various-leaved PondweedPotamogeton gramineus
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Mountain PansyViola lutea
Downy BirchBetula pubescens
Poa pratensisPoa pratensis2010
EyebrightEuphrasia2010
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
PolypodyPolypodium vulgare
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra
Agrostis caninaAgrostis canina
Euphrasia arctica subsp. borealisEuphrasia arctica subsp. borealis
Toad Rush agg.Juncus bufonius2010
Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra2010
an EyebrightEuphrasia arctica2010

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Lis Burke · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Eastern shore, Loch Benachally

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Blackcraig Walled GardenUrban park4.8 km→💧Loch BenachallyReservoir0 m→✦Saw millHistoric site4.4 km→✦Benachally MonumentHistoric site1.4 km→✦BogmillHistoric site3.7 km→✦Blackcraig Lime KilnHistoric site4.8 km→

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