WWT Caerlaverock
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's reserve on the Solway near Dumfries, where thousands of barnacle geese spend the winter and natterjack toads call in summer.
On the flat, open shore of the Solway south of Dumfries, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's Caerlaverock reserve is one of the great places in Britain to watch birds, with hides looking out over pools, marsh and saltmarsh.
Its most famous visitors arrive in autumn: barnacle geese from Svalbard, in their thousands, flighting in to roost at sunset. Whooper swans spend the winter here too, and hen harriers hunt low over the marsh. In summer ospreys fish across the reserve, and the UK's most northerly natterjack toads fill the warm evenings with their loud calls. Even rarer are the tadpole shrimps, found in only three places in the country.
The reserve opens from Tuesday to Saturday from the end of September. Check WWT's website before you travel.
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Tuesday to Saturday from 29 September 2026 (Thursday to Saturday before then); check WWT's site before you go.
- Where
- Eastpark Farm, near Dumfries, DG1 4RS.
- Winter
- Barnacle geese from Svalbard.
- Summer
- Ospreys and natterjack toads.
Opening hours
Their website- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- 10am–5pm
- Friday
- 10am–5pm
- Saturday
- 10am–5pm
- Sunday
- Closed
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Add your reviewAt Eastpark Farm on the Solway coast south of Dumfries, DG1 4RS.
Caerlaverock CastleA triangular castle inside its own moat, on the Solway south of Dumfries.3 miles 5 min by road
St Michael's Church, DumfriesThe old parish kirk of Dumfries, with a history of over 1,000 years, where Robert Burns lies buried in the churchyard.8 miles 14 min by road
Robert Burns HouseThe simple sandstone house in Dumfries where Robert Burns spent his last years and died in 1796, now a free museum.8 miles 14 min by road
Dumfries Museum and Camera ObscuraA windmill tower with the oldest working camera obscura in the world on top.9 miles 16 min by road
Sweetheart AbbeyA red sandstone abbey at New Abbey.15 miles 26 min by road
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What we have written about it and more in Dumfries and Galloway.
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