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Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve

Loch Fleet was once a wide-open bay but onshore currents gradually dragged shingle across the loch entrance, and reduced the mouth to a narrow channel through which tidal currents race in and out twice every 24 hours. Each rising tide sucks in thousands of tiny sea creatures, food for small plants and animals. As the tide goes out, the mudflats are exposed, providing rich pickings for other wildlife.

Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve covers over 1000 hectares of estuary and coast. It is owned by Sutherland Estates and managed under a long-term agreement with Scottish Natural Heritage, in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Wildlife highlights: Common seals, roe deer, otters and shore crabs. Oystercatchers, merganser, shelduck, wigeon, eider and red-breasted can all be found. Ospreys started nesting in 2010.

Bar-tailed godwits, dunlin and other waders migrate to spend the winter at Loch Fleet. Icelandic greylag and pink-footed geese also migrate south, swelling the ranks of native greylags that overwinter here.

Summer brings common, arctic and little terns up from Africa to their coastal nest sites.

Location: Loch Fleet is south of Golspie on the A9 and can be accessed from several points. To the north, follow the golf course road to Littleferry from Golpsie. To the south, follow the coastal minor road on the southern side of the basin. This leads to a public car park overlooking Loch Fleet.

These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.