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Mercat Cross

📷 Wikipedia · Mercat cross · CC BY-SA 3.0

BirdsWildlifeInsects

Dogs welcome

Getting here

57.73999, -4.07287

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

🐦96+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Capercaillie and Chaffinch
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🛝Playground on site — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦96+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Capercaillie and Chaffinch
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🛝Playground on site — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Parking· FreePlayground

Best for

4 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Capercaillie, Chaffinch, Great Tit +93 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Capercaillie, Chaffinch, Great Tit +93 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Small Blue, Dingy Skipper, Buff-tailed Bumblebee +17 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Small Blue, Dingy Skipper, Buff-tailed Bumblebee +17 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

John O'Groats Trail (Alness to Tain)Walking route

Named routeRef JoG03Local walking route

Aldie Burn TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

9 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

NCN 1 Dundee to TainCycling route

Named routeRef 1Point-to-pointNational Cycle Network

EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route

Named routeRef EV12International cycle route

NCN 1 Cromarty alternativeCycling route

Named routeNational Cycle Network

Alternative RouteCycling route3.4 km

Named routeRef 1Length 3.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Alternative RouteCycling route5 km

Named routeRef 1Length 5 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route6.4 km

Named routeRef 1Length 6.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

18,023 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

18,023 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds95 species

springautumn

2026

Red Kite · Capercaillie · Great Tit · Robin · Chaffinch +90

Red KiteMilvus milvus2025
CapercaillieTetrao urogallus2024
Great TitParus major2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
PintailAnas acuta2025
WigeonMareca penelope2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
RedshankTringa totanus2025
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
TealAnas crecca2025
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2025
KnotCalidris canutus2025
DunlinCalidris alpina2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
Mute SwanCygnus olor
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2025
OspreyPandion haliaetus2024
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025
Light-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla hrota2025
Brent GooseBranta bernicla2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2024
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2025
ShovelerSpatula clypeata2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
GannetMorus bassanus2025
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
EiderSomateria mollissima2025
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Crested TitLophophanes cristatus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2024
Rock DoveColumba livia2024
GadwallMareca strepera2024
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2024
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2024
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2024
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2024
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2024
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024

🦌

Mammals2 species

autumn

2025

Red Squirrel · Red Deer

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Red DeerCervus elaphus2024

🐝

Insects20 species

springsummer

2026

Small Blue · Dingy Skipper · Buff-tailed Bumblebee · Black Darter · Early Bumblebee +15

Small BlueCupido minimus2024
Dingy SkipperErynnis tages2024
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2024
Black DarterSympetrum danae2025
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum
11-spot LadybirdCoccinella undecimpunctata2025
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2025
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2025
Cantharis pellucidaCantharis pellucida2025
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2024
CommaPolygonia c-album2024
Hydroptila forcipataHydroptila forcipata2024
Eyed LadybirdAnatis ocellata2024
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2024
Volucella pellucensVolucella pellucens2024
Grypocoris (Lophyromiris) stysiGrypocoris (Lophyromiris) stysi2024
Carabus problematicusCarabus problematicus2024
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2024
Bombus lucorumBombus lucorum2024
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2024

🌿

Plants108 species

springsummerautumn

2024

Broom · Dandelion · Cock's-foot · Pedunculate Oak · Hedera helix +103

BroomCytisus scoparius
DandelionTaraxacum
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Hedera helixHedera helix
BrambleRubus fruticosus
NipplewortLapsana communis
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Scots PinePinus sylvestris
BrackenPteridium aquilinum
GorseUlex europaeus
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Dryopteris filix-masDryopteris filix-mas
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
HollyIlex aquifolium
BeechFagus sylvatica
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis
daffodilsNarcissus
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
SnowdropGalanthus nivalis
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
Smooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillaris
Downy BirchBetula pubescens
Common SallowSalix cinerea
Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare
Red CloverTrifolium pratense
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Goat WillowSalix caprea
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
DaisyBellis perennis
Northern DockRumex longifolius
Japanese RoseRosa rugosa
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus
Polygonum avicularePolygonum aviculare
Festuca rubraFestuca rubra
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Hedge BindweedCalystegia sepium
Curled DockRumex crispus
Dotted LoosestrifeLysimachia punctata
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus
Tufted VetchVicia cracca
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Musk-mallowMalva moschata
Chenopodium albumChenopodium album
YarrowAchillea millefolium
Early Hair-grassAira praecox
Common VetchVicia sativa
GooseberryRibes uva-crispa
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Silver BirchBetula pendula
Marsh CudweedGnaphalium uliginosum
Bulbous RushJuncus bulbosus
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus
Upright Hedge-parsleyTorilis japonica
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima
American WillowherbEpilobium ciliatum
HeatherCalluna vulgaris
Common SedgeCarex nigra
Heath RushJuncus squarrosus
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula
Thale CressArabidopsis thaliana
Garden Lady's-mantleAlchemilla mollis
Mossy StonecropCrassula tillaea
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
Great Wood-rushLuzula sylvatica
RaspberryRubus idaeus
Erophila vernaErophila verna
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
Parsley PiertAphanes arvensis
European LarchLarix decidua
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
RhododendronRhododendron ponticum
PignutConopodium majus
YewTaxus baccata
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
MoschatelAdoxa moschatellina
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

18,023 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds95 species

springautumn

2026

Red Kite · Capercaillie · Great Tit · Robin · Chaffinch +90

Red KiteMilvus milvus2025
CapercaillieTetrao urogallus2024
Great TitParus major2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
PintailAnas acuta2025
WigeonMareca penelope2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
RedshankTringa totanus2025
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
TealAnas crecca2025
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2025
KnotCalidris canutus2025
DunlinCalidris alpina2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
Mute SwanCygnus olor
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2025
OspreyPandion haliaetus2024
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025
Light-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla hrota2025
Brent GooseBranta bernicla2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2024
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2025
ShovelerSpatula clypeata2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
GannetMorus bassanus2025
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
EiderSomateria mollissima2025
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Crested TitLophophanes cristatus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2024
Rock DoveColumba livia2024
GadwallMareca strepera2024
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2024
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2024
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2024
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2024
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2024
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024

🦌

Mammals2 species

autumn

2025

Red Squirrel · Red Deer

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Red DeerCervus elaphus2024

🐝

Insects20 species

springsummer

2026

Small Blue · Dingy Skipper · Buff-tailed Bumblebee · Black Darter · Early Bumblebee +15

Small BlueCupido minimus2024
Dingy SkipperErynnis tages2024
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2024
Black DarterSympetrum danae2025
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum
11-spot LadybirdCoccinella undecimpunctata2025
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2025
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2025
Cantharis pellucidaCantharis pellucida2025
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2024
CommaPolygonia c-album2024
Hydroptila forcipataHydroptila forcipata2024
Eyed LadybirdAnatis ocellata2024
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2024
Volucella pellucensVolucella pellucens2024
Grypocoris (Lophyromiris) stysiGrypocoris (Lophyromiris) stysi2024
Carabus problematicusCarabus problematicus2024
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2024
Bombus lucorumBombus lucorum2024
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2024

🌿

Plants108 species

springsummerautumn

2024

Broom · Dandelion · Cock's-foot · Pedunculate Oak · Hedera helix +103

BroomCytisus scoparius
DandelionTaraxacum
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Hedera helixHedera helix
BrambleRubus fruticosus
NipplewortLapsana communis
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Scots PinePinus sylvestris
BrackenPteridium aquilinum
GorseUlex europaeus
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Dryopteris filix-masDryopteris filix-mas
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
HollyIlex aquifolium
BeechFagus sylvatica
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis
daffodilsNarcissus
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
SnowdropGalanthus nivalis
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
Smooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillaris
Downy BirchBetula pubescens
Common SallowSalix cinerea
Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare
Red CloverTrifolium pratense
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Goat WillowSalix caprea
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
DaisyBellis perennis
Northern DockRumex longifolius
Japanese RoseRosa rugosa
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus
Polygonum avicularePolygonum aviculare
Festuca rubraFestuca rubra
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Hedge BindweedCalystegia sepium
Curled DockRumex crispus
Dotted LoosestrifeLysimachia punctata
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus
Tufted VetchVicia cracca
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Musk-mallowMalva moschata
Chenopodium albumChenopodium album
YarrowAchillea millefolium
Early Hair-grassAira praecox
Common VetchVicia sativa
GooseberryRibes uva-crispa
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Silver BirchBetula pendula
Marsh CudweedGnaphalium uliginosum
Bulbous RushJuncus bulbosus
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus
Upright Hedge-parsleyTorilis japonica
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima
American WillowherbEpilobium ciliatum
HeatherCalluna vulgaris
Common SedgeCarex nigra
Heath RushJuncus squarrosus
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula
Thale CressArabidopsis thaliana
Garden Lady's-mantleAlchemilla mollis
Mossy StonecropCrassula tillaea
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
Great Wood-rushLuzula sylvatica
RaspberryRubus idaeus
Erophila vernaErophila verna
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
Parsley PiertAphanes arvensis
European LarchLarix decidua
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
RhododendronRhododendron ponticum
PignutConopodium majus
YewTaxus baccata
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
MoschatelAdoxa moschatellina
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Wikipedia · Mercat cross · CC BY-SA 3.0

Mercat cross

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⛪Logie Easter Church of ScotlandReligious grounds1.9 km→🪦Logie Easter Burial GroundCemetery2.2 km→⛪Kilmuir-Easter ChurchReligious grounds1.3 km→🌱Lamington ParkUrban park4.5 km→⛪Nigg Old Parish ChurchReligious grounds4.5 km→✦Wester Lamington Long CairnHistoric site4.3 km→

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