Prison Island, Crannog
0 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Dogs welcome0 ha
Getting here
57.08329, -2.91974
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦84+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Chaffinch and Robin
- ✦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
- 🐦84+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Chaffinch and Robin
- ✦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
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Tit +81 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Tit +81 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly +46 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Green Shield-moss, Capillary Thread-moss, Big Shaggy-moss +36 more · last seen 2026
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Moderate match
Historic site
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km18 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
The Vat TrailWalking route▾
Knockie ViewpointWalking route▾
Named routeRef ViewpointLocal walking route
Chapel TrailWalking route▾
Named routeRef CrossLocal walking route
Old PinesWalking route▾
Named routeRef Pine ConeLocal walking route
Ballater/Cambus o'May loopWalking route▾
Named routeRef YellowLocal walking route
9 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Tarland WayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Deeside WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 195National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route168 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 168 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route5.4 km▾
Named routeRef 195Length 5.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route154 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 154 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface grass
Main RouteCycling route3.4 km▾
Named routeRef 195Length 3.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
5 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Ballater & Burn o'Vat CircularMountain bike route▾
Named routeRef 2
The Red SquirrelMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
The Slinky FoxMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
The Spikey HedgehogMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Scotland TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
11,183 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
11,183 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds46 species
summerautumnwinter
2025▾
Mute Swan · Chaffinch · Wren · Mallard · Blue Tit +41
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WigeonMareca penelope
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Great TitParus major
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- SwiftApus apus
- CootFulica atra
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- TwiteLinaria flavirostris
- LinnetLinaria cannabina
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
🦌Mammals1 species
summerautumn
2026▾
Red Squirrel
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
🦎Reptiles1 species
springsummer
2026▾
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians2 species
springsummerautumn
2026▾
Common Frog · Common Toad
- Common FrogRana temporaria
- Common ToadBufo bufo2025
Emerald Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Four-spotted Chaser · Common Hawker +13
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata
- Common HawkerAeshna juncea
- Black DarterSympetrum danae
- Glischrochilus quadripunctatus
Capillary Thread-moss · Bruch's Pincushion · Bifid Crestwort · White Earwort · Elegant Bristle-moss +28
- Capillary Thread-mossBryum capillare
- Bruch's PincushionUlota bruchii
- Bifid CrestwortLophocolea bidentata
- White EarwortDiplophyllum albicans
- Elegant Bristle-mossOrthotrichum pulchellum
- Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum
- Heath Plait-moss
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
11,183 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds46 species
summerautumnwinter
2025▾
Mute Swan · Chaffinch · Wren · Mallard · Blue Tit +41
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WigeonMareca penelope
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Great TitParus major
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- SwiftApus apus
- CootFulica atra
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- TwiteLinaria flavirostris
- LinnetLinaria cannabina
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
🦌Mammals1 species
summerautumn
2026▾
Red Squirrel
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
🦎Reptiles1 species
springsummer
2026▾
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians2 species
springsummerautumn
2026▾
Common Frog · Common Toad
- Common FrogRana temporaria
- Common ToadBufo bufo2025
Emerald Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Four-spotted Chaser · Common Hawker +13
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata
- Common HawkerAeshna juncea
- Black DarterSympetrum danae
- Glischrochilus quadripunctatus
Capillary Thread-moss · Bruch's Pincushion · Bifid Crestwort · White Earwort · Elegant Bristle-moss +28
- Capillary Thread-mossBryum capillare
- Bruch's PincushionUlota bruchii
- Bifid CrestwortLophocolea bidentata
- White EarwortDiplophyllum albicans
- Elegant Bristle-mossOrthotrichum pulchellum
- Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum
- Heath Plait-moss
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Glischrochilus quadripunctatus
Glischrochilus quadripunctatus
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelusMeadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelusSouthern HawkerAeshna cyaneaSouthern HawkerAeshna cyaneaSericomyia silentisSericomyia silentisSericomyia silentisSericomyia silentisBibio pomonaeBibio pomonaeBibio pomonaeBibio pomonaeSyrphusSyrphusSyrphusSyrphusBee BeetleTrichius fasciatusBee BeetleTrichius fasciatusNorthern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatumNorthern DamselflyCoenagrion hastulatumOrchid BeetleDascillus cervinusOrchid BeetleDascillus cervinusTree BumblebeeBombus hypnorumTree BumblebeeBombus hypnorumBroken-belted BumblebeeBombus soroeensisBroken-belted BumblebeeBombus soroeensis7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctataHypnum jutlandicum
Hypnum jutlandicum
FissidensFissidensFissidensFissidensNeat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purumNeat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purumFallacious Beard-mossDidymodon fallaxFallacious Beard-mossDidymodon fallaxSilky Forklet-mossDicranella heteromallaSilky Forklet-mossDicranella heteromallaBig Shaggy-mossHylocomiadelphus triquetrusBig Shaggy-mossHylocomiadelphus triquetrusMamillate Plait-mossHypnum andoiMamillate Plait-mossHypnum andoiRusty Swan-neck MossCampylopus flexuosusRusty Swan-neck MossCampylopus flexuosusBud-headed Groove-mossAulacomnium androgynumBud-headed Groove-mossAulacomnium androgynumWall Screw-mossTortula muralisWall Screw-mossTortula muralisHair-pointed GrimmiaGrimmia trichophyllaHair-pointed GrimmiaGrimmia trichophyllaGreat Hairy Screw-mossSyntrichia ruralisGreat Hairy Screw-mossSyntrichia ruralisTrunk PawwortOrthocaulis attenuatusTrunk PawwortOrthocaulis attenuatusRough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulumRough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulumThickpoint GrimmiaSchistidium crassipilumThickpoint GrimmiaSchistidium crassipilumWood Bristle-mossLewinskya affinisWood Bristle-mossLewinskya affinisGlittering Wood-mossHylocomium splendensGlittering Wood-mossHylocomium splendensHeath Star MossCampylopus introflexusHeath Star MossCampylopus introflexusBroom Fork-mossDicranum scopariumBroom Fork-mossDicranum scopariumDusky Fork-mossDicranum fuscescensDusky Fork-mossDicranum fuscescensLittle Shaggy-mossRhytidiadelphus loreusLittle Shaggy-mossRhytidiadelphus loreusAspen Bristle-mossNyholmiella gymnostomaAspen Bristle-mossNyholmiella gymnostomaGrey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinataGrey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinataBristly HaircapPolytrichum piliferumBristly HaircapPolytrichum piliferumTumid NotchwortLophozia ventricosaTumid NotchwortLophozia ventricosaHypnum cupressiformeHypnum cupressiformeHypnum cupressiformeHypnum cupressiformeRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichum