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Mercat Cross

BirdsWildlifeHeritage

Dogs welcome

Getting here

56.06377, -3.77012

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦101+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Curlew and Carrion Crow
✦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

🐦101+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Curlew and Carrion Crow
✦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

5 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Curlew, Carrion Crow, Greenshank +98 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Curlew, Carrion Crow, Greenshank +98 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Hairy Shieldbug, Common Darter · last seen 2023; Insects — Hairy Shieldbug, Common Darter · last seen 2023

Free

Seasonal nature

Good match

Plants — Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum, Meadow Vetchling, Snowberry · last seen 2024; Plants — Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum, Meadow Vetchling, Snowberry · last seen 2024

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Fife Coastal PathWalking route190 km

Named routeRef FCPLength 190 kmPoint-to-pointNational walking route

🚴

Cycling

52 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

NCN National Route 76Cycling route

Named routeRef 76Point-to-pointNational Cycle Network

Helix Around Town TrailCycling route

Named routeRef HArTTLocal cycle route

NCN National Route 764Cycling route

Named routeRef 764National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route57 m

Named routeRef 76Length 57 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

N/ACycling route286 m

Named routeLength 286 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route1.1 km

Named routeRef 76Length 1.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

9,437 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

9,437 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds101 species

winterautumn

2025

Curlew · Greenshank · Little Egret · Carrion Crow · Robin +96

CurlewNumenius arquata
GreenshankTringa nebularia
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
RobinErithacus rubecula
BlackbirdTurdus merula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
RedshankTringa totanus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Herring GullLarus argentatus
WigeonMareca penelope
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
MagpiePica pica
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
RookCorvus frugilegus
TealAnas crecca
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
JackdawColoeus monedula
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Common GullLarus canus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
DunlinCalidris alpina
DunnockPrunella modularis
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
BuzzardButeo buteo
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Coal TitPeriparus ater
TwiteLinaria flavirostris
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Rock DoveColumba livia
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great TitParus major
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
SiskinSpinus spinus
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
NuthatchSitta europaea
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2024
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
SnipeGallinago gallinago2024
RavenCorvus corax2024
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
GoosanderMergus merganser
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
GreenfinchChloris chloris
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2024
SwiftApus apus2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
CootFulica atra
ShovelerSpatula clypeata
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
KnotCalidris canutus
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus2024
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2024
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis2024
GadwallMareca strepera2024
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
MerlinFalco columbarius2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2023
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2023
Common TernSterna hirundo2023

🦌

Mammals5 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2025

Grey Squirrel · Grey Seal · Brown Hare · Roe Deer · Harbour Seal

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Grey SealHalichoerus grypus
Brown HareLepus europaeus2024
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2024
Harbour SealPhoca vitulina2024

🐝

Insects2 species

autumn

2023

Hairy Shieldbug · Common Darter

Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum

🌿

Plants88 species

autumn

2024

Meadow Vetchling · Scentless Mayweed · Long-stalked Orache · Spear-leaved Orache · Yarrow +83

Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum2023
Long-stalked OracheAtriplex longipes2023
Spear-leaved OracheAtriplex prostrata2023
YarrowAchillea millefolium2023
Kattegat OracheAtriplex longipes x prostrata = A. x gustafssoniana2023
NipplewortLapsana communis2023
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2023
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2023
Common ScurvygrassCochlearia officinalis2023
Common SorrelRumex acetosa2023
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria2023
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2023
Red FescueFestuca rubra2023
SilverweedPotentilla anserina2023
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria2023
False Fox-sedgeCarex otrubae2023
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2023
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua2023
White Dead-nettleLamium album2023
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2023
Sun SpurgeEuphorbia helioscopia2023
Wild-oatAvena fatua2023
CleaversGalium aparine2023
Common CouchElymus repens2023
White CloverTrifolium repens2023
Sea AsterTripolium pannonicum2023
Saltmarsh RushJuncus gerardii2023
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2023
GroundselSenecio vulgaris2023
DaisyBellis perennis2023
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea2023
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2023
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum2023
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2023
Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis2023
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima2023
BeechFagus sylvatica2023
Sea ArrowgrassTriglochin maritima2023
Musk-mallowMalva moschata2023
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2023
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2023
Amphibious BistortPersicaria amphibia2023
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens2023
Common VetchVicia sativa2023
Common ReedPhragmites australis2023
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes2023
Celery-leaved ButtercupRanunculus sceleratus2023
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2023
Sea-MilkwortLysimachia maritima2023
Dog-roseRosa canina2023
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa2023
Greater PlantainPlantago major2023
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2023
ThriftArmeria maritima2023
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata2023
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2023
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2023
Crested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatus2023
GorseUlex europaeus2023
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2023
Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum2023
MugwortArtemisia vulgaris2023
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2023
Common Saltmarsh-grassPuccinellia maritima2023
Perennial Sow-thistleSonchus arvensis2023
ElderSambucus nigra2023
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2023
Common BentAgrostis capillaris2023
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera2023
Common ChickweedStellaria media2023
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus2023
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2023
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2023
Greater Sea-spurreySpergularia media2023
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra2023
DandelionTaraxacum2023
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2023
American WillowherbEpilobium ciliatum2023
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2023
Atriplex glabriuscula x prostrataAtriplex glabriuscula x prostrata2023
Common NettleUrtica dioica2023
AshFraxinus excelsior2023
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea2023
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense2023
Scented MayweedMatricaria chamomilla2023
HawthornCrataegus monogyna2023
Tufted VetchVicia cracca2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

9,437 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds101 species

winterautumn

2025

Curlew · Greenshank · Little Egret · Carrion Crow · Robin +96

CurlewNumenius arquata
GreenshankTringa nebularia
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
RobinErithacus rubecula
BlackbirdTurdus merula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
RedshankTringa totanus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Herring GullLarus argentatus
WigeonMareca penelope
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
MagpiePica pica
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
RookCorvus frugilegus
TealAnas crecca
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
JackdawColoeus monedula
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Common GullLarus canus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
DunlinCalidris alpina
DunnockPrunella modularis
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
BuzzardButeo buteo
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Coal TitPeriparus ater
TwiteLinaria flavirostris
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Rock DoveColumba livia
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great TitParus major
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
SiskinSpinus spinus
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
NuthatchSitta europaea
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2024
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
SnipeGallinago gallinago2024
RavenCorvus corax2024
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
GoosanderMergus merganser
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
GreenfinchChloris chloris
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2024
SwiftApus apus2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
CootFulica atra
ShovelerSpatula clypeata
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
KnotCalidris canutus
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus2024
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2024
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis2024
GadwallMareca strepera2024
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
MerlinFalco columbarius2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2023
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2023
Common TernSterna hirundo2023

🦌

Mammals5 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2025

Grey Squirrel · Grey Seal · Brown Hare · Roe Deer · Harbour Seal

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Grey SealHalichoerus grypus
Brown HareLepus europaeus2024
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2024
Harbour SealPhoca vitulina2024

🐝

Insects2 species

autumn

2023

Hairy Shieldbug · Common Darter

Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum

🌿

Plants88 species

autumn

2024

Meadow Vetchling · Scentless Mayweed · Long-stalked Orache · Spear-leaved Orache · Yarrow +83

Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum2023
Long-stalked OracheAtriplex longipes2023
Spear-leaved OracheAtriplex prostrata2023
YarrowAchillea millefolium2023
Kattegat OracheAtriplex longipes x prostrata = A. x gustafssoniana2023
NipplewortLapsana communis2023
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2023
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2023
Common ScurvygrassCochlearia officinalis2023
Common SorrelRumex acetosa2023
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria2023
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2023
Red FescueFestuca rubra2023
SilverweedPotentilla anserina2023
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria2023
False Fox-sedgeCarex otrubae2023
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2023
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua2023
White Dead-nettleLamium album2023
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2023
Sun SpurgeEuphorbia helioscopia2023
Wild-oatAvena fatua2023
CleaversGalium aparine2023
Common CouchElymus repens2023
White CloverTrifolium repens2023
Sea AsterTripolium pannonicum2023
Saltmarsh RushJuncus gerardii2023
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2023
GroundselSenecio vulgaris2023
DaisyBellis perennis2023
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea2023
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2023
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum2023
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2023
Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis2023
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima2023
BeechFagus sylvatica2023
Sea ArrowgrassTriglochin maritima2023
Musk-mallowMalva moschata2023
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2023
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris2023
Amphibious BistortPersicaria amphibia2023
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens2023
Common VetchVicia sativa2023
Common ReedPhragmites australis2023
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes2023
Celery-leaved ButtercupRanunculus sceleratus2023
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2023
Sea-MilkwortLysimachia maritima2023
Dog-roseRosa canina2023
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa2023
Greater PlantainPlantago major2023
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2023
ThriftArmeria maritima2023
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata2023
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2023
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2023
Crested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatus2023
GorseUlex europaeus2023
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2023
Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum2023
MugwortArtemisia vulgaris2023
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2023
Common Saltmarsh-grassPuccinellia maritima2023
Perennial Sow-thistleSonchus arvensis2023
ElderSambucus nigra2023
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2023
Common BentAgrostis capillaris2023
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera2023
Common ChickweedStellaria media2023
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus2023
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2023
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius2023
Greater Sea-spurreySpergularia media2023
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra2023
DandelionTaraxacum2023
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2023
American WillowherbEpilobium ciliatum2023
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2023
Atriplex glabriuscula x prostrataAtriplex glabriuscula x prostrata2023
Common NettleUrtica dioica2023
AshFraxinus excelsior2023
PineappleweedMatricaria discoidea2023
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense2023
Scented MayweedMatricaria chamomilla2023
HawthornCrataegus monogyna2023
Tufted VetchVicia cracca2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Kevin Rae · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

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🌱Gairdoch ParkUrban park3.8 km→🌱Carron Gymnastics CentreUrban park4.5 km→🌱Coo ParkUrban park4.8 km→🌱Doctor's ParkUrban park3.5 km→🌱Gairdoch ParkUrban park3.8 km→🌱Stenhouse ParkUrban park4.7 km→

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