What to see and where in Grampian

Uplands and Moors

Key gateways to the Cairngorms National Park lie at Tomintoul and Dinnet.  This eastern side includes several of the highest mountains in Scotland and a great place to see some of Scotland's most enigmatic wildlife - golden eagle, peregrine falcon, red deer and many others.

Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve    has a dramatic landscape forged during the last Ice Age and is rich in species like goldeneye and dragonflies; fungi and rare heaths.  With its extensive path network, much of the reserve is open to all abilities.

Morrone Birkwood, on the doorstep of Braemar, is a bit more challenging but the rough path to the summit of Morrone Hill offers splendid views.  With red deer, ptarmigan and a host of unusual plants usually on display, it offers a grand day out.

Woodland

Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve    situated on Royal Deeside, has one of the largest and finest remnants of Scotland's native pinewoods. The glen supports typical pinewood plants and animals.  Look out for Scottish crossbill, red squirrel and the increasingly rare capercaillie - but please keep your dog under close control as human disturbance has played a part in its decline.

Coasts

The Waters of Philorth Local Nature Reserve is a small scale estuarine environment which includes a small area of salt marsh and a sand spit. The dunes at Philorth are the youngest of the Fraserburgh system developing on the site in the 1930s and continuing to develop eastwards

At St Cyrus National Nature Reserve    the cliffs and dunes support a distinctive range of plants, including many southern species. The reserve is also noted for its rich variety of insects, particularly butterflies and over 200 kinds of moth. Breeding birds include stonechats and skylarks, and your likely to see fulmars nesting on the cliffs.

Forvie National Nature Reserve  This huge area of sand dunes and coastal heath lies next to the Ythan Estuary, just north of the small village of Newburgh. The estuary, riverside and seacliffs combine to make this a particularly rich area for a variety of plants and wildlife. In particular, it supports the largest colony of breeding eider ducks in Britain and attracts large numbers of geese and waders in winter.