RSPB
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RSPB Loch Lomond – Projects
Our new trails mean it's now much easier for people to explore this wonderful place.
Our first residential volunteers arrived in April 2016. The farmhouse is the perfect base for this and these volunteers will play a vital part in the work we undertake in the years to come.
We are continuing to run events and working with local schools and youth groups to bring more people closer to nature.
We’re all ears!
We would love to hear from you, so please get in touch to let us know what you think of our plans and what you would like to see happening here.
Our vision for RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond is that it will be a flagship site for both nature conservation and nature tourism in the National Park, and that it will form a core part of the local community. We’d love for you to be involved with this, be it through volunteering, visiting or simply supporting our work.
As well as being a wonderful place for wildlife, the site is also important in local history. So if a relation of yours used to work on the farm, if you used to walk along the Shore Wood path as a child, or if you know of anything else that’s relevant to the history of the site, please do get in touch.
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RSPB Loch Lomond – Wildlife Conservation
RSPB Scotland is managing the site to make it an even better home for nature. There is a long history of land management here, much of which helped to form the unique habitats found today. Over time, we want to recreate some of those conditions and use historical practices to make this place the best it can be for wildlife and people.
One example of our work is the restoration of the grassland and meadow as low-intensity grazing pasture. This will provide ideal conditions for plants, insects, breeding birds and wintering wildfowl, such as geese. Much of the site has been under-grazed in the recent past, and associated habitats had fallen into poor condition. Work by the team on site and our local farmers has already had a huge positive impact and this program of work will continue in the coming years.
In the spring and summer, the cows of local farmers graze the grasslands. This helps to keep vegetation under control, improving the conditions for ground-nesting birds, such as redshanks, snipe and lapwings, as well as maintaining the diversity of plant and insect species.
This grassland management has been improving the feeding and roosting grounds for the internationally important population of Greenland white-fronted geese who spend the winter in this area. These geese join up with larger flocks of pink-footed geese and greylag geese and dawn and dusk are the best times to experience the spectacle of them leaving or arriving at their roosting sites. Why not join us on one of our goose watches or guided walks this year?
Another example of our conservation efforts is our work on invasive non-native species. Our partners, SNH, have been controlling invasive non-native plant species, such as Himalayan balsam, for many years across the NNR and we continue to work with them.
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About RSPB Loch Lomond
The reserve is set in a stunning mix of woodlands and wetlands on the south-east shore of Loch Lomond. Breath-taking 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 months.
It is an ideal place to escape for people of all ages. There are events and activities all year round suitable for everyone. For more information on these please visit Loch Lomond (rspb.org.uk)
The Nature Hub and trails are open seven days a week (please note that car park opening times may vary during the winter months).
Opening times:
Car park is open 9.00am – 5.00pm
(Car park closed Christmas day and Boxing day)
Prices:
Entry to the Nature Hub and trails are free. There are charges for events, guided walks and equipment hire.
To help us continue our vital work here at Loch Lomond, we will be introducing car parking charges in 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
Accessibility Guide:
For more information on accessibility at this site please visit: https://www.accessibilityguides.org/content/rspb-scotland-loch-lomond
Nature Trails:
All trails are suitable for pushchairs, but the gradient varies due to the natural landscape.
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 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 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. 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*
Toilets with accessible access and baby changing facilities are available at the Nature Hub.
SEASONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Spring – The woods are full of bluebells, and summer migrants start to return, filling the air with song. Listen out for wood warblers and redstarts.
Summer – Ospreys search for salmon and other fish in the Endrick Mouth. Wildflowers are in bloom. Butterflies including small pearl-bordered fritillary are often seen.
Autumn – Migrating birds, such as ducks, thrushes and waders, stop over to feed on the reserve.
Winter – Greenland white-fronted, greylag and pink-footed geese gather in large numbers to take advantage of the sheltered roosting and feeding sites.
FAMILIES: YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE! RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond is the ideal place for families to go on an adventure...
Fun, self-guided activities like den building & birdwatching are available at any time, or you can hire one of our bug hunting kits (available in spring and summer).
The trails are suitable for pushchairs.
RSPB Scotland has been managing the site in partnership with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and Scottish Natural Heritage since 2012, to make it an even better home for nature.
This nature reserve is important for wildlife. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. To protect the wildlife here and for the comfort of other visitors we request that you keep your dog close to you, preferably on a short lead, clean up after your dog and that you keep to the paths.
To find out more about visiting, volunteering or about any of our work contact us:
RSPB Loch Lomond, High Wards Farm, Gartocharn, Alexandria, G83 8SB
Site Manager: Paula Baker (paula.baker@rspb.org.uk)
Community Engagement Officers: Amy Telford (amy.telford@rspb.org.uk) & Emma Martinelli (emma.martinelli@rspb.org.uk)
Website: rspb.org.uk/lochlomond
Telephone: 01389 830670
Email: Loch.Lomond@rspb.org.uk
The photographs on the RSPB pages are courtesy of RSPB.
RSPB Scotland is part of the RSPB, the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside will teem with life once again. We also play a leading role in a worldwide partnership of nature conservation organisations.
The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International, a partnership of conservation organisations working to give nature a home around the world.
© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654
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RSPB Loch Lomond – Visiting
Nature hub opening times: Open 10.00am – 4.00pm
Toilet with accessible access and baby change is available at the Nature Hub.
The reserve is set in a stunning mix of woodlands and wetlands on the banks of Loch Lomond. 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 months.
In spring stroll through sweet smelling bluebell filled woodlands while listening out for tree pipits and wood warblers calling. In summer look for ospreys soaring high above, while wandering through wildflower meadows.
Airey Woodland Trail (950m loop) • Viewpoint Path (200m) • Lomond Trail (1.3km) • Shorewood path (1.5km)
Airey Woodland Trail winds down into the woodland and onto a meadow named Orchid Field due to the abundance of orchids there in summer, while Viewpoint Trail is fully accessible and leads out to stunning views of Ben Lomond and Conic Hill. Lomond Trail takes you through rich woodlands and wetlands before reaching the loch.
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 close to you, preferably on a short lead, clean up after your dog and that you keep to the paths.
We’d also like to request that you please take your litter home.
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RSPB Loch Lomond – Events
RSPB Loch Lomond run a year round event program with specialist guided walks (eg. Wild Food Foraging and Winter Sunrise Goose Walks), family fun days and nature explorer trails.
Please follow this link to see details of current events.