Wildlife Tour of West Scotland

[jezlee]

Hello all! Sometime in the next month myself and my good lady will be driving up to the West Coast of Scotland, ultimately ending on the Isle of Mull, where I hope to see both Sea and Golden Eagles.

I shall be taking a leisurely drive up the M6 from my home in Wolverhampton, and I want to drop in on the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss on the way there or on the way back .... other than that, I have no other plans at the moment. Does anybody know of any other good reserves or wildlife parks etc in the general area of my trek?

Many thanks in anticipation ....

[eeyore]

squirells at NT formby

Martin mere WWT

Rockcliffe Marsh , Wreay wood + Drumburgh Moss (all in cumbria near M6)

Caelavrock WWT nr Dumfries - Also nearby caerlavrock castle and sweetheart abbey if you are intereted in heritage stuff

Knockshinnoch Lagoons Wildlife Reserve in east ayrshire

Falls of Clyde - east lanarkshire

Ballachuan Hazel Wood - near oban

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by eeyore

squirells at NT formby

Martin mere WWT

Rockcliffe Marsh , Wreay wood + Drumburgh Moss (all in cumbria near M6)

Caelavrock WWT nr Dumfries - Also nearby caerlavrock castle and sweetheart abbey if you are intereted in heritage stuff

Knockshinnoch Lagoons Wildlife Reserve in east ayrshire

Falls of Clyde - east lanarkshire

Ballachuan Hazel Wood - near oban

Thanks, Eeyore, that certainly gives me some food for thought!

It's a shame about the Springwatch Sea Eagles though - I just heard they have lost both of their chicks in what appears to be a tragic accident ....

[Ann2]

I found that Loch Na Keal on Mull was good for Otters and also Salen. I personally, found that Skye offered better sightings of sea eagles.

Ann

[almostnormal]

there's also the Ken-Dee marshes, Mersehead, mull of galloway (bit off the track, but amazing to see) and thw wood of cree reserves (all RSPB). most of them are easy peasy to get to because they're all on or just of the A75. all of them sit in the dumfries and galloway area (which you'll probably pass through)

The RSPB: Reserves

the above link goes to the page for those reserves, follow the how to get there directions and it'll be a doddle!

theres also forsinard flows and loch garten - bit out of the way but easy to get to if you come back down the east coast of scotland instead of the west.

have fun in scotland though!

sarah

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by Ann2

I found that Loch Na Keal on Mull was good for Otters and also Salen. I personally, found that Skye offered better sightings of sea eagles.

Ann

Oh, yes - Otters! I'd forgotten about them - I hope to god I actually see some this time! Thanks for the reminder, Ann ....

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by almostnormal

there's also the Ken-Dee marshes, Mersehead, mull of galloway (bit off the track, but amazing to see) and thw wood of cree reserves (all RSPB). most of them are easy peasy to get to because they're all on or just of the A75. all of them sit in the dumfries and galloway area (which you'll probably pass through)

The RSPB: Reserves

the above link goes to the page for those reserves, follow the how to get there directions and it'll be a doddle!

theres also forsinard flows and loch garten - bit out of the way but easy to get to if you come back down the east coast of scotland instead of the west.

have fun in scotland though!

sarah

Thanks for the heads-up on the RSPB reserves in Dumfies & Galloway, Sarah .... I just hope I get time to see everything I want to see!