🌲 A nature reserve that is ancient, wild, & immeasurably special 🦅
Protecting and restoring habitats, saving species and helping end the nature and climate emergency in the Cairngorms National Park. The toilets are open during Nature Centre opening times. The Loch Garten Nature Centre sits in the heart of Abernethy's Caledonian pine forest, offering great wildlife viewing opportunities including ospreys (if they're nesting), crested tits, woodpeckers, voles, crossbills, siskins and red squirrels. Staff are on hand to give illustrated talks about the forest and ospreys, and to help you make the most of your visit. The centre has new interpretation and there are activities for families on the walk up to the centre from the car park. You can also enjoy a coffee and snack here, while you sit outside and watch the birds and squirrels at the feeders. The centre is open seven days a week, from April 1 until the end of October. The last entry is at 4.30pm. **Please note, card payments only for entrance charges and refreshments.**
When the centre is closed, the woodland trails are always open. See notice boards in the car parks for details. The Loch Garten, Loch Mallachie and Garten Wood car parks are open all year round, as is the rest of the reserve and woodland trials. You are likely to see crested tits, red squirrels, great spotted woodpeckers and of course, the faithful coal tits. If you are here to feed the birds, please do not scatter seed or leave piles of it on the tables or wedged in trees etc - it encourages rats which scare off the small birds and squirrels, not to mention bring a health hazard with them, and we then have to control them. ACCESS INFORMATION
*No fires or BBQs are allowed on any part of Abernethy reserve under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
*Dogs on leads in forest and on the mountaintops during ground-nesting birds season (April 1 - August 31) and under close control at all other times.
*Campervans - we are concerned about the number of campervans using the reserve and their impacts on wildlife, on the local community and on other users - please observe signage. RSPB Abernethy is a National Nature Reserve, not a campsite - please do not share or promote the location on social media.
*Drones are not permitted on the reserve without landowner consent.
*Paddle-boarders and kayakers - we are concerned about the impacts of these activities on the wildlife of Loch Garten. Please observe signage.
