Visitors will be amazed at the lack of traffic on our roads, and by the accessibility of our countryside. All of Perthshire, north Deeside, the mountains and coast of Angus, and much of Fife can be reached in less than 1hour’s drive from the Blairgowrie area and the area is a maze of paths and tracks giving access to the mountains, forests, rivers, lochs and coast.
The area encompasses high mountains with red deer, ptarmigan, and rare alpine flora (e.g. Ben Lawers). Red deer can often be seen on the side of the A93 between Glenshee and Braemar. Hen harriers nest on the local moors, while the wooded straths and glens are home to capercaillie, pied flycatchers, red squirrels, and roe deer. In the Dunkeld area, fallow deer are very common and easily seen. The area abounds in lochs and several pairs of osprey nest in the area. At the Loch of Lowes, by Dunkeld, the visitors’ observation room has a feeder that attracts red squirrels and woodpeckers, and the ospreys can be seen close at hand through the CCTV system focused on the nest. In the autumn and winter, the area is home to many thousands of geese and the autumn colours are a major attraction. The rivers teem with salmon, especially in the summer and autumn, and these can sometimes be seen ascending the weir and Cargill’s leap in Blairgowrie, in the salmon pass in the dam at Pitlochry and, in the autumn, jumping the waterfall at the Hermitage, off the A9 by Dunkeld.
Peregrine falcons nest at several sites with cliffs, including the coast at St Cyrus. Seals abound on the coast and can often be seen hauled up on sand banks at low tide in the Tay estuary at Dundee, and the Tentsmuir point Nature reserve by Tayport. A little bit further into Fife, boats leave Anstruther to visit the Isle of May to see the many thousands of nesting puffins, razor bills, guillimots and eider ducks. May and June are the best months, so don’t leave it too late. Dolphins are frequently seen, but to have the best chance go to Chanory Point, by Fortrose on the Moray Firth (by Inverness).
Local wildlife walks include the Den of Alyth, the river Tay and the Hermitage at Dunkeld, and the area around Mill Dam and Loch Ordie. Craighall Gorge, on the A93 just north of Blairgowrie, is worth exploring as it has the second highest inland cliffs in the UK, but access is very difficult. Further afield, the Birks of Aberfeldie are worth a visit, especially for the autumn colours. The cliff walks north of Arbroath give access to spectacular scenery, many seabirds including passing gannets, and coastal flora including orchids in early July. Butterflies congregate on the cliffs in the autumn. The area, particularly around Dunkeld, is noted for its big trees, including the Birnam oak and sycamore, and the Douglas firs at the Hermitage (www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk). For children, the Highland Wildlife Park, off the A9 at Kingussie by Aviemore, is worth a visit (www.highlandwildlifepark.org). There are five National Nature reserves in the area, 11 run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (www.swt.org.uk) and the RSPB has a reserve at Loch of Kinnordy (by Kirriemuir). Information on these can be accessed by web sites including that of ‘The Fat Birder’.
Peregrine falcons nest at several sites with cliffs, including the coast at St Cyrus. Seals abound on the coast and can often be seen hauled up on sand banks at low tide in the Tay estuary at Dundee, and the Tentsmuir point Nature reserve by Tayport. A little bit further into Fife, boats leave Anstruther to visit the Isle of May to see the many thousands of nesting puffins, razor bills, guillimots and eider ducks. May and June are the best months, so don’t leave it too late. Dolphins are frequently seen, but to have the best chance go to Chanory Point, by Fortrose on the Moray Firth (by Inverness).
Local wildlife walks include the Den of Alyth, the river Tay and the Hermitage at Dunkeld, and the area around Mill Dam and Loch Ordie. Craighall Gorge, on the A93 just north of Blairgowrie, is worth exploring as it has the second highest inland cliffs in the UK, but access is very difficult. Further afield, the Birks of Aberfeldie are worth a visit, especially for the autumn colours. The cliff walks north of Arbroath give access to spectacular scenery, many seabirds including passing gannets, and coastal flora including orchids in early July. Butterflies congregate on the cliffs in the autumn. The area, particularly around Dunkeld, is noted for its big trees, including the Birnam oak and sycamore, and the Douglas firs at the Hermitage (www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk). For children, the Highland Wildlife Park, off the A9 at Kingussie by Aviemore, is worth a visit (www.highlandwildlifepark.org). There are five National Nature reserves in the area, 11 run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (www.swt.org.uk) and the RSPB has a reserve at Loch of Kinnordy (by Kirriemuir). Information on these can be accessed by web sites including that of ‘The Fat Birder’.
