Loch of the Lowes – Red Squirrels and Lunch by the Tay
A few hours.
The route
Loch of the Lowes is a wildlife reserve just outside Dunkeld, and its visitor centre is made for small children.
Red squirrels and woodpeckers come to the feeders right outside a big window, there are telescopes and a children's hide, and ospreys nest across the water in spring and summer. Lunch is in Dunkeld at the Taybank by the river, which has dishes for children too.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The day
Loch of the Lowes
A morning of noses pressed to the glass, watching squirrels and birds a few feet away, then a warm lunch by the Tay in Dunkeld, a few minutes down the road.
About three hours
Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve
An attraction
The reserve is on the A923 Blairgowrie road, just outside Dunkeld. Satnavs given the centre's postcode, PH8 0HH, go to the far end of the loch, so use PH8 0ES. The free car park is at the roadside, and a wheelchair-friendly path leads 120 metres to the visitor centre. Inside, a big viewing window looks onto feeders where red squirrels, woodpeckers and garden birds come and go all year, and the children's hide has activities to do. There are telescopes and binoculars to borrow in the hides, and hot drinks and snacks. Ospreys nest just 150 metres from the hides from spring until late summer; in autumn and winter there are geese and ducks on the loch. Tickets are bought at the door, £6.50 for adults at the time of writing, and children go free. It opens every day from March to October, 10.30am to 5pm, and only Friday to Sunday from November to February, 10.30am to 4pm. Dogs aren't allowed in the centre or the hides.
6 min by car
The Taybank
Lunch
Drive 6 minutes on into Dunkeld to the Taybank, on Tay Terrace beside the bridge. Park in the public pay car park next to it, which is free on Sundays. Lunch is served from noon until 2.45pm, and all day until 7pm on Sundays. Children have dishes of their own, and well-behaved dogs are welcome in the bar and restaurant. You can book a table or just walk in. In the warmer months the garden kitchen by the river opens from noon.
If it rains
The viewing window, the hides and the children's hide are all under a roof, and the squirrels still come to the feeders in the rain: only the 120 metres from the car is out in it.
The Taybank, riverside pub, live music.
ARAN Bakery, artisan bakery and lunches.