Near Dunkeld, Perthshire
Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve
Mixed-habitat reserve
Place photograph
7.3
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Paid
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.3A 130-hectare Perthshire reserve where spring and summer bring ospreys back to a nest about 150 metres from the hides. Telescopes, binoculars and live video help visitors watch wildlife without access to the loch itself.
The draw here is unusually close wildlife watching rather than a waterside circuit: hides, telescopes and a nest-viewing opportunity make the reserve rewarding for patient observers. Visit in spring or summer for returning ospreys, or in autumn and winter for visiting wildfowl.
Peaceful · Wildlife-rich · Family-friendly
Find your way
Open mapNear Dunkeld, Perthshire
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The experience
Allow around 1–2 hours for the visitor centre, hides and wildlife viewing. Use the telescopes and binoculars to scan the loch and watch for woodland birds and red squirrels from the viewing windows. This is a reserve for observing water, not accessing it: the Scottish Wildlife Trust says there is no access to the loch and no circular path around it.
Things to do
Watch for returning ospreys
Use the hides and their telescopes or binoculars to observe the osprey nest, described by the reserve as about 150 metres from the hides. Ospreys return during spring and summer.
Allow time to watch quietly; exact duration not specified.
Look for red squirrels and woodland birds
Watch from the large viewing window for red squirrels and great-spotted woodpeckers, alongside other garden birds.
Scan for autumn and winter wildfowl
Look for Canada and greylag geese, wigeon, tufted ducks, goldeneye, mallards and grey herons reported at the reserve in autumn and winter.
Explore the interactive displays
Use the visitor-centre displays to learn about the reserve and its wildlife.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · 1–2 hours
Quick Escape: the hides and viewing windows
- 01
Check the reserve’s current visitor information before travelling; tickets are available at the door.
- 02
Spend time in the hides with the available telescopes and binoculars, scanning for ospreys in season.
- 03
Use the large viewing window to look for red squirrels and woodland birds.
- 04
Explore the interactive displays if the visitor centre is open.
Half day · Half day
Make a half day of it: wildlife watching through the seasons
- 01
Plan around the reserve’s seasonal wildlife: April–August for ospreys, or autumn and winter for geese and ducks.
- 02
Allow time to alternate between the hides, viewing windows and interactive displays rather than rushing between them.
- 03
Take a break for hot drinks or snacks at the visitor centre, if available on the day.
- 04
Do not plan a lochside circuit or water activity: the reserve says there is no circular path around the loch and no access to the water.
Hidden details
The osprey nest is close to the hides — The Scottish Wildlife Trust places the osprey nest about 150 metres from the hides, a useful detail when planning a patient watch in the return season.
When to go
April · May · June · July · August · September · No specific time of day is supported by the supplied sources; check current reserve information.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust identifies April–August for ospreys and April–September for beavers. Red squirrels, wildfowl, garden birds and deer are reported year-round; autumn and winter bring additional geese and ducks.
No specific weather guidance is provided in the supplied sources. Check conditions and current reserve updates before travelling.
What to look for
Scan the osprey nest from the hides during the April–August season. Check the live video, then look for red squirrels and great-spotted woodpeckers at the large viewing window. In autumn and winter, look for geese and ducks on the reserve.
Best time to go
April–August for ospreys; April–September for beavers. Red squirrels, wildfowl, garden birds and deer are reported year-round.
April–August for returning ospreys. The reserve also highlights April–September for beavers; wildlife watching is possible year-round.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Families · Young children · Wildlife lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
A Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve with woodland, freshwater loch, visitor centre and hides. Tickets are available at the door. The reserve says there is no circular path around the loch and no access to the water; check current visitor-centre and car-park information before travelling.
Check before visiting
Parking
A car park is mentioned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, but availability and current arrangements are not specified; check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
Hot drinks and snacks are available at the visitor centre, according to the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Dogs
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The reserve directs visitors to its Euan’s Guide page for full accessibility information. Check that information before visiting.
Check before visiting
Cost
Paid
Water
Loch
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
