← Back✦ Historic site

Loch of Leys Crannog

WildlifeBirdsHeritage

Dogs welcome

Getting here

57.07020, -2.48870

Open directionsv

Google Maps↗Driving directions Apple Maps↗Driving directions Waze↗Live driving navigation Google Transit↗Bus, rail or tram Apple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

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

Best for

5 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Robin, Wren, Woodpigeon +54 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Robin, Wren, Woodpigeon +54 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Syrphus, 7-spot Ladybird, Common Carder Bee +10 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Syrphus, 7-spot Ladybird, Common Carder Bee +10 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Good match

Plants — Enchanter's-nightshade, Lesser Burdock, Common Blue-sow-thistle +10 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Enchanter's-nightshade, Lesser Burdock, Common Blue-sow-thistle +10 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Blackhall Loop TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Deeside WayWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Coy Burn TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

East TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Ley WayWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

24 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Deeside WayCycling route

Named routeRef 195National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route94 m

Named routeRef 195Length 94 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route235 m

Named routeRef 195Length 235 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route674 m

Named routeRef 195Length 674 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm

Main RouteCycling route406 m

Named routeRef 195Length 406 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route408 m

Named routeRef 195Length 408 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

24,407 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

24,407 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds57 species

summerautumnwinter

2026

Robin · Woodpigeon · Wren · House Sparrow · Carrion Crow +52

RobinErithacus rubecula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
MagpiePica pica2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Great TitParus major
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
SwiftApus apus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

autumn

2026

Red Squirrel · Soprano Pipistrelle

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2025

🐸

Amphibians2 species

summerautumn

2025

Common Frog · Common Toad

Common FrogRana temporaria
Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects13 species

summer

2025

Syrphus · Common Carder Bee · 7-spot Ladybird · Linnavuoriana decempunctata · Birch Shieldbug +8

SyrphusSyrphus
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Linnavuoriana decempunctataLinnavuoriana decempunctata
Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Eristalis intricariaEristalis intricaria
Black DarterSympetrum danae
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum
Tenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferiTenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferi
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus
Scaeva seleniticaScaeva selenitica

🌿

Plants13 species

summer

2025

Common Blue-sow-thistle · Lesser Burdock · Perennial Rye-grass · Enchanter's-nightshade · Wych Elm +8

Common Blue-sow-thistleCicerbita macrophylla
Lesser BurdockArctium minus
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Enchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetiana
Wych ElmUlmus glabra
Wild CarrotDaucus carota
Imperforate St John's-wortHypericum maculatum
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum
Perennial Sow-thistleSonchus arvensis
TimothyPhleum pratense
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Water HorsetailEquisetum fluviatile
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

24,407 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds57 species

summerautumnwinter

2026

Robin · Woodpigeon · Wren · House Sparrow · Carrion Crow +52

RobinErithacus rubecula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
MagpiePica pica2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Great TitParus major
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
SwiftApus apus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

autumn

2026

Red Squirrel · Soprano Pipistrelle

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2025

🐸

Amphibians2 species

summerautumn

2025

Common Frog · Common Toad

Common FrogRana temporaria
Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects13 species

summer

2025

Syrphus · Common Carder Bee · 7-spot Ladybird · Linnavuoriana decempunctata · Birch Shieldbug +8

SyrphusSyrphus
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Linnavuoriana decempunctataLinnavuoriana decempunctata
Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Eristalis intricariaEristalis intricaria
Black DarterSympetrum danae
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum
Tenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferiTenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferi
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus
Scaeva seleniticaScaeva selenitica

🌿

Plants13 species

summer

2025

Common Blue-sow-thistle · Lesser Burdock · Perennial Rye-grass · Enchanter's-nightshade · Wych Elm +8

Common Blue-sow-thistleCicerbita macrophylla
Lesser BurdockArctium minus
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Enchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetiana
Wych ElmUlmus glabra
Wild CarrotDaucus carota
Imperforate St John's-wortHypericum maculatum
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum
Perennial Sow-thistleSonchus arvensis
TimothyPhleum pratense
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Water HorsetailEquisetum fluviatile
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Nigel Corby · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Loch of Leys

1 / 15

Events & activities nearby

Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.

Bookable tours

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱King George V Playing FieldUrban park2.3 km→🌱Silverbank ParkUrban park1.8 km→🌱Banchory Ternan Church YardUrban park2.1 km→🌱Banchory Golf ClubUrban park2.5 km→🌱Burnett ParkUrban park2.5 km→🌱Alexander ParkUrban park2.7 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: 3f48b313-b261-4c3a-953a-f05992650f7d