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The geese and red squirrels at RSPB Loch Leven
Perth

RSPB Loch Leven – Geese, Swans and Red Squirrels

A few hours.

The route

Loch Leven spreads out beside Kinross, and in autumn and winter it fills with pink-footed geese and whooper swans.

The RSPB's reserve on the south shore has a visitor centre and café looking out over the water, level trails to the hides, and red squirrels in the woods.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    Murrayshall17 miles awayMurrayshallA place to stayWest End Muse17 miles awayWest End MuseSleeps 4Old Town Chambers17 miles awayOld Town ChambersA place to stayMoment George IV Bridge17 miles awayMoment George IV BridgeSleeps 2

The day

Loch Leven

A morning on the south shore of Loch Leven, with swans out on the water, a gentle walk to the hides and red squirrels in the trees. Then lunch in the café, with the whole loch in front of you.

About three hoursAbout 1.5 miles on foot

  1. RSPB Loch Leven

    RSPB Loch Leven

    The RSPB's reserve is on the south shore of the loch at Vane Farm, on the B9097 east of Kinross, with its visitor centre, shop and café looking straight out over the water. Entry is free. The car park is £4 a day at the time of writing, free to RSPB members and Blue Badge holders, and it's open at all hours, like the toilets and the hides. The RSPB posts the visitor centre's and the café's hours only a week ahead, on its Loch Leven opening-times page, so check it before going. In autumn and winter the loch holds great flocks of pink-footed geese, and whooper swans arrive in October and stay until March or April. The geese are most on the move early and late in the day, flying between the loch and the fields. The level Wetland Trail leads to three hides. The Carden Flood, the water in front of the Carden Hide, has been drained for work on the wetland and is due to be filled again in autumn 2027, so the view from that hide is of the works until then. Red squirrels live in the woods and visit a feeder the RSPB has made for them, and the gentle Leafy Loop wanders through the trees. Both trails suit wheelchairs and pushchairs. Lunch is in the café, up a ramp, with the loch in front of you. Dogs are welcome in the visitor centre and café and, under close control, on the trails, but only assistance dogs may go into the Waterston and Carden hides.

If it rains

The visitor centre, the café and the hides are under a roof, so a wet morning still works; the trails between them are in the open.

Where to stay

Photographs by Jan Spelier and Christopher Lindridge via Google