Farm cabins in Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve

Some of the prettiest woodland in Scotland’s northeast lies in the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. Within the Cairngorms National Park, the reserve is a beautiful blend of wetlands, heath, moors and woods. It’s also a great place for wildlife spotting—more than 140 bird species have been seen here and otters are also a fairly common sight. A stroll through the landscape brings you to Loch Kinord, where you may see breeding and wintering birds, and to the remarkable Burn O’Vat, a granite cauldron-shaped pothole—standing inside and listening to the water echo is an out-of-the-ordinary experience. While there is no campsite in the nature reserve, caravan sites can be found just 10 minutes away.

Spring and winter are the best times to visit for birdwatching. In spring, summer visitors, such as swallows and willow warblers, return from their winter homes while in winter you may see flocks of finches, tufted ducks, greylag geese, goldeneyes and the occasional otter. However, the reserve is a year-round attraction. Ospreys are sometimes spotted in summer and, in autumn, the landscape blazes with rich colors. Note that the visitor center is usually closed for a few weeks over Christmas and New Year.

• This nature reserve is important for wildlife so visitors should visit responsibly, following the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Be especially careful around breeding birds on the lochs from April through July
• You’ll find panels in the Visitor Centre that provide details about how the different elements of the reserve evolved, from the glaciers that carved the landscape to the formation of lochs and bogs. 
• The closest bus stop is in Dinnit, four miles (6.5 kilometres) away.
• Trails are clearly marked and depart from the car park