One of Scotland’s most celebrated wildlife watching sites is ready to welcome even more visitors after a major refurbishment.
Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve, near Dunkeld, is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and is home to beavers, red squirrels and numerous woodland and aquatic birds. The Trust also runs a visitor centre on site, complete with a viewing area, gift shop and refreshments.
Now with the upgrades to the Crannog hide, named for its resemblance to the historical dwellings, visitors can enjoy the wildlife in more comfort than ever before. The hide is fully heated and insulated, with tinted windows that provide clear views of the loch and surrounding woods, without causing any disturbance to the reserve’s wildlife.
Scopes allow visitors to see the reserve’s wildlife up close © Scottish Wildlife Trust
Complementing the Crannog is an upgraded boardwalk which is fully accessible for wheelchair users and prams, a new photography platform by the reserve’s feeding station and a second hide that provides an alternative view of the picturesque loch.
Chris McCullough, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Visitor Centre Site Manager at Loch of the Lowes, said: “Loch of the Lowes is such a special place, not just for its incredible wildlife, but also for its ability to connect people with nature. There aren’t many places in Scotland where you can park your car and immediately immerse yourself in a world of ospreys, woodpeckers, pine martens and more.
“Whether you’ve never been here before or you’re a regular visitor, we can’t wait to show you the new facilities. We’re also keen to hear from any community groups who might want to hire the Crannog hide – not many meeting rooms can match us when it comes to the view!”
Loch of the Lowes is perhaps best known as a popular breeding site for ospreys. Once driven to extinction in the UK, these birds of prey naturally recolonised Scotland in the 1950s. There have been ospreys present at Loch of the Lowes every year since 1969, with 89 chicks successfully fledging in this time.
Chris added: “There is so much fantastic wildlife on the reserve and the ospreys are a huge favourite with visitors. We’re thrilled that the upgraded facilities are ready just in time for the breeding season, so more people than ever before can experience everything we have to offer at Loch of the Lowes.”
The upgraded Crannog hide © Chris McCullough
Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve is open daily from March – October. For more information, visit the reserve page on our website.
The refurbishment has been funded through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.
Header image © Sara Rasmussen