RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond

RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond is set in a stunning mix of woodlands and wetlands on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

About RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond

	RSPB Loch Lomond Nature Reserve , Gartocharn
	01389830670
	RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond Website
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	Facebook information can be found here

Listed Under Attractions - Days Out / Attractions - Nature Reserves / Attractions - Visitor Centres

Breathtaking views and a diverse mix of habitats provide an excellent opportunity to view a variety of wildlife including ospreys in the summer and skeins of geese in the winter.

Opening Times
The car park and trails are open at all times with activities for families available 10am – 4pm on weekends and school holidays.

Entrance Charge
To help us continue our vital work here at Loch Lomond, we will be introducing car parking charges from September 2023.
Non-members: Up to 1 hour - £2, each additional hour - £1
Members: free
Blue badge holders: free
This charge will include use of all visitor facilities including the car park, toilets, trails and picnic areas

Nature Trails
Airey Woodland Trail (950m loop) - A woodland trail winding through coppiced alder woodland, leading into a wildflower meadow and past a small pond. The woodland is a great place to look for tree pipits (summer), bullfinches, treecreepers and goldcrests. The meadow in summer is buzzing with bees, butterflies and watch out for frogs by the pond too! In autumn and winter look out for red squirrels and flocks of thrushes.

Viewpoint Trail (200m) - An accessible trail leading out to stunning views of Ben Lomond and Conic Hill, overlooking the woodlands and fen of RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond. In summer watch for soaring ospreys and listen to the birdsong from the woodlands close by. In winter watch skeins of geese making their way from their overnight roost to their daytime feeding grounds.

Lomond Trail (1.3km) - A wander along the Lomond Trail begins close to the pond on Airey Woodland Trail and leads you to the shores of Loch Lomond. Experience the special habitats and unique wildlife along the way and marvel at the stunning views as you reach the loch. The first section sweeps through wildflower meadows and then towards a boardwalk over the fen. In summer the swaying grasses, fragrant meadowsweet and unusual songs of grasshopper warblers and sedge warblers fill the air. In winter, whooper swans, ducks and geese can be heard from the wetlands as the water levels rise and fall with the changing river flows. The trail then leads you through the beech and oak rich Ring Wood, past dragonfly pools and ancient oak trees until the loch comes into view. From here the Lomond Trail meets the Shore Wood Path. Lomond Trail has a hardcore surface with sections of boardwalk in some places.

Shore Wood Path - (accessed by Lomond Trail or via the Aber right of way): Shore Wood Path takes you along the south-eastern shores of Loch Lomond, through ancient oak woodland. In the woodland look out for long-tailed tits, great spotted woodpeckers and if you’re lucky, redstarts in the summer. Out on the water watch out for great crested grebes and ospreys fishing and in the winter this is the favourite roosting place for 1000s of geese including pink-footed and Greenland white-fronted. Shore Wood Path is accessed via the Lomond Trail with parking at the Nature Hub or by walking along the Aber Right of Way with parking at the Millennium Hall in Gartocharn (the right of way includes walking through fields that can be very muddy at times). *Please note the right of way has a walking diversion in place due to a damaged bridge*

Events
For more information about events and to book, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/lochlomond

Facilities
Accessible toilet
Baby changing
Car park
Pushchair friendly trails
Picnic areas
Viewpoints
Nature Trails
Self-guided activities for families like bug hunting and den building (summer).

Information For Dog Owners
This nature reserve is important for wildlife. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. During the ground-nesting bird breeding season (1 April to 15 August) we request that you keep your dog on a short lead, clean up after your dog and that you keep to the paths.

Image Credit: Helen Pugh

We take every opportunity to ensure the details for RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond are accurate, if any of the above information is incorrect we would appreciate if you could take a minute to suggest an edit.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

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Upcoming Events at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond

Nature

Wildlife Wanders at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond

Selected dates between 26th April 2024 - 6th July 2024

RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond, Gartocharn

The mix of habitats found at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond are what make it such an amazing place for wildlife, Join the team for a series of wildlife walks.

Nature

Dawn Chorus at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond

11th May 2024

RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond, Gartocharn

Catch one of nature's most beautiful experiences, the dawn chorus, at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond on Saturday 11th May!

Nature

Sensory Bluebell Walk

11th May 2024

RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond, Gartocharn

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of RSPB Loch Lomond and captivate your senses as you head out on a guided bluebell walk through this picturesque reserve!

Nature

Wild Food Foraging

16th June 2024

RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond, Gartocharn

Join the team at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond in Gartocharn and go in search of some natural foodie delights!

Nature

Wildflower Wander

28th July 2024

RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond, Gartocharn

Join the team at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond for a guided walk which will show you how to identify some of the wildflowers on the reserve and hear about their historical uses!

Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre

Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch G83 8QL

Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre is located within the boundaries of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the first National Park in Scotland.

Loch Lomond Sea Life Centre

Ben Lomond Way Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch G83 8QL

SEA LIFE Loch Lomond Aquarium is just 20 minutes from Glasgow, situated on the stunning Loch Lomond Shores, offering great fun for all the family, whatever the weather!

Loch Lomond Shores

Loch Lomond Shores Ben Lomond Way, Balloch G83 8QL

Loch Lomond Shores is a great day out offering designer shopping, an aquarium, restaurants and cafes and outdoor activities - all with fantastic views across Loch Loch Lomond!

RSPB Barons Haugh Nature Reserve

RSPB Barons Haugh Nature Reserve Manse Road, Motherwell ML1 2PZ

RSPB Baron's Haugh is an important community nature reserve in Motherwell and is a real gem for wildlife and for visitors too.

RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve

RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve Largs Road, Lochwinnoch PA12 4JF

RSPB Lochwinnoch is the best place in the west of Scotland for family fun, wild days out and discovering nature with an excellent RSPB shop, visitor centre and visitor trails.

TreeZone Loch Lomond

TreeZone Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch G83 8QL

TreeZone Loch Lomond is based at Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch, with a view to rival anywhere, looking up the awesome Loch Lomond towards the iconic Ben Lomond on its Eastern shore.

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Paddle Steamer Waverley Excursions

36 Lancefield Quay, Glasgow City Centre G3 8HA

Step Aboard Waverley the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world for a day, afternoon or evening cruise from a port near you!

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Inveraray Jail

Inveraray Jail Church Square, Inveraray PA32 8TX

Step back almost two centuries and discover the stories of the real people - men, women and children who were tried and served their sentences at Inveraray Jail!

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Riverside Museum

100 Pointhouse Place, Glasgow West End G3 8RS

Visit the Riverside Museum for FREE and experience the wonder of Glasgow's industrial heritage in this striking building designed by internationally renowned architect Zaha Hadid.

Days Out

Balloch Castle Country Park

Balloch Country Park Drymen Road, Balloch G83 8LX

Balloch Castle Country Park is one of the finest public spaces in the West of Scotland with fantastic views over Loch Lomond and plenty of things to see and do!

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Ashton Lane

Ashton Lane, Glasgow West End

Ashton Lane is a cobbled backstreet in the West End of Glasgow and is noted for its bars, restaurants and licensed cinema!

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Bellahouston Park

16 Dumbreck Road, Glasgow South Side G41 5BW

Bellahouston Park has many features and facilities to tempt visitors and local residents to its grounds. It boasts formal gardens and open parkland in...

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Loch Lomond Shores

Loch Lomond Shores Ben Lomond Way, Balloch G83 8QL

Loch Lomond Shores is a great day out offering designer shopping, an aquarium, restaurants and cafes and outdoor activities - all with fantastic views across Loch Loch Lomond!

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The Burrell Collection

2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow South Side G43 1AT

Housed in its purpose-built home surrounded by beautiful parkland, The Burrell Collections is ranked amongst the most significant civic museum collections in the UK!

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Geilston Garden

Geilston Garden Main Road Cardross, Dumbarton G82 5HD

Geilston Garden is a magical 200-year-old walled garden by the River Clyde with adventure playground and floral mini-maze!

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Scottish Football Museum

Scottish Football Museum & Hampden Stadium Tour Hampden Park, Glasgow South Side G42 9BA

See more than 2500 exhibits in 14 galleries, walk amongst Scotland's footballing legends in the Hall Of Fame and take the Stadium tour at the Scottish Football Museum!

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Inveraray Castle

Inveraray Castle , Inveraray PA32 8XE

Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell and an iconic, must-see visitor attraction on the West Coast of Scotland.

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