RSPB Loch Lomond Nature Reserve , Gartocharn | |
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RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond Website | |
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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
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