Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve covers 98 hectares near Dunkeld. From early April to late August, the star attraction is a pair of breeding ospreys, which nest just 150 metres from our observation hide.
Address: Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld PH8 0HH
Why visit?
Highlights include:
- Getting closer to the ospreys with binoculars, telescopes and live video footage
- Spotting red squirrels, woodpeckers and other woodland birds from viewing windows
- Interactive displays help bring the story of Loch of the Lowes to life
- Education activities and school visits
- Regular family events throughout the year
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Gift shop stocking a range of wildlife-themed gifts, souvenirs and birdcare products
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Hot and cold drinks and light refreshments available
Best time to visit?
- Apr – Aug for ospreys
- Apr – Sept for beavers
- All year round for red squirrels
- All year round for wildfowl
- All year round for bird feeders & deer
Visit for:
- birdwatching
- woodlands
- wildflowers
- scenery
- mammals
Other information
The Fungarth path leads from the historic town of Dunkeld to Loch of Lowes.
Events
Find out what events are taking place at Loch of the Lowes in the coming months by clicking the button below.
So what was so significant about 1969? Loch of the Lowes ©SWT The Scottish Wildlife Trust finalised the deal to buy the Loch of the Lowes nature reserve, to conserve a rare freshwater plant named Slender Naiad. Coincidentally a few months later a pair of ospreys turned up at the reserve and the rest as they say is history! As we prepare for the reserves 50th anniversary celebrations we are delving into our archives…
We are only 5 days into November and yet we have already had temperatures ranging from -3C to +12C with the appropriately stunning autumn views to go with them! I make no apology for finding autumn the best season of the year. Nose tinglingly cold with blue skies and ice sparkling on frozen grasses one day, mild and misty or pouring with rain and blowing a hoolie the next! That’s November in Scotland: everyday is a surprise! As I write,…
Unfortunately, it’s coming to the end of my time as a Seasonal Visitor Centre Assistant at Loch of the Lowes. Since April, I have had a wonderful time working with the team and I am sure to miss it for a very long time (possibly forever?). I moved up to Scotland from the West Midlands, following graduating with a degree in Zoology last year. I studied approximately 600 miles from here, near Falmouth in Cornwall at the University of Exeter,…
It’s deer month at Loch of the Lowes, and whilst some people are deer ID savvy, we get many visitors who struggle to tell the difference between the different species, so we’re here to help! While there are 6 species of deer resident to the UK, only 4 inhabit Scotland; namely the red, roe, fallow and sika deer. Red and roe deer are the only species that are actually native to the UK, with fallows having been introduced in the…
Today (23rd September) marks the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and we can certainly feel a nip to the air at Loch of the Lowes. Autumn at Lowes Euan Dickson Last week’s storm brought us two unusual visitors – guillemots! They must have been blown off course and were spotted on Lowes on Friday. They seem to have left us already, unless they are hiding out of sight and as we are a long way…
Hello, My name is Euan and I started working as a Visitor Centre Assistant at Loch of the Lowes in August. I’m working here on a one year placement via Community Job Scotland. I wanted to work at Loch of the Lowes because of my love of local wildlife, coming from Birnam myself. My favourite animal at Loch of the Lowes would have to be the mandarin duck due to is vibrant colours and regal presence. However, the first time…
The Brilliant Bats talk and walk on Sunday 2nd kick-started our bat month at Loch of the Lowes. On our walk and from the hide we managed to see and hear 3 species of bat: soprano pipistrelle, common pipistrelle and Daubenton’s. While there are 17 species of bat known to be breeding in the UK, only 9 species have been seen in Scotland. Although some species are less common than others, the 9 species that can be found in Scotland…
As our osprey family wing their way south we’re also coming to the end of our season of People’s Postcode Lottery Beaver Watches here at Loch of the Lowes. These events have proven to be one of our most popular summer activities at the reserve and as an Assistant Ranger I’ve been lucky enough to host several of them this year. Many visitors are surprised when we mention our beaver family and are even more surprised to know they’ve been…