Loch Ardinning Reserve (for further information click this link)

Situated on the east side of the A81 approximately 2.5 miles north of Milngavie and 1 mile south of Strathblane, Loch Ardinning Wildlife Reserve is an attractive, visitor-friendly haven for wildlife, with 142 hectares of varied upland habitat.

The loch is of natural origin, occupying a natural glacially-excavated hollow but was enlarged by a dam built across its north-western outflow in 1796.

There is also a smaller lochan, grassland, moorland and woodland.  This diverse habitat in turn supports a great variety of wildlife. 

There are a number of scenic walks for a range of abilities, offering splendid views down the Blane Valley to Dumgoyne, Ben Lomond and the hills beyond Loch Lomond.

Animals play an important part in managing habitat in the reserve to conserve and enhance the wildlife. A small meadow by the main road is grazed by a small number of sheep over the winter after part of its margins have been mowed and the cuttings removed. This is improving the colourful show of wild flowers in the summer. 

A limited number of sheep and, whenever possible, a small flock of cattle are grazed on the muir with the aim of enhancing the mix and quality of heather, blaeberry and grass and encouraging some re-generation of native trees (all designed to foster the small Black Grouse population). Excessive bracken is a problem in some parts of the reserve and different means of controlling it are being explored. 

In and around the Nature Trail there are no domestic animals but bracken clearance is regularly carried out by manual labour, other localised grazing and browsing being undertaken by the wild Rabbits and Roe Deer! 

What Can You Do There?

Walks:

Nature Trail: Starts at the dam, nearly 1 mile long forming a loop north of the loch, with numbered brown and white way-markers. Suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Gives views over the loch, a small area of heather moorland and a viewpoint over the Blane Valley. 

Path to Cairn-Muirhouse Muir: Starts at the kissing gate near Nature Trail post no. 13 and heads uphill over the muir to the cairn, which at 173 metres above sea level, is the highest point on the reserve and offers fine all-round views.  Approximately  1 mile from the dam to the cairn, i.e. total approximately 2 miles there-and-back.  Well-marked path but not suitable for disabled.

Muirhouse Muir Circuit, via Black Linn: From the cairn it is possible to continue southwards along this path, following brown and red way-markers. It is a very attractive route, passing a small waterfall at Black Linn and a small lochan, criss-crossing the Craigmaddie Burn via  foot-bridges. and returning to the east side of the loch, joining the Nature Trail at the pine trees near post no. 12.   Warning : This path gets quite marshy in places. The total distance starting from and returning to the dam is approximately 2.5 miles.

Other Paths:  It is also possible to gain access to the south side of the loch via a stile by the east side of the A81 just north of a sign to Mugdock Country Park. 

Note: There is no path forming a complete circular route round the loch since the carr woodland on the west side of the loch is very wet.

Loch Ardinning Nature Trail Leaflet May - July (PDF)

Loch Ardinning Nature Trail Leaflet August - September (PDF)

Loch Ardinning Nature Trail Leaflet October - April (PDF)

What Might You See There? 

Animals	Birds
Weasel Roe Deer  Rabbit Brown Hare Fox Stoat Otter (occasional visitor - rarely seen)	Mute Swan Heron Little Grebe Grey-lag Goose Tufted Duck Goldeneye (winter) Goosander (winter)  Kestrel Buzzard Black Grouse Red Grouse Coot Moorhen Curlew  Cuckoo Great Spotted & Green Woodpeckers Skylark Meadow & Tree Pipits  Stonechat Whinchat Willow Warbler  Raven (usually flying over) Reed Bunting
Plants	Insects
Bog Myrtle Water Lobelia Bogbean Water Plantain Marsh Cinquefoil Cranberry Crowberry Cowberry Bog Asphodel Common & Heath Spotted Orchids Northern Marsh Orchid  (beware hybrids!) Greater Butterfly Orchid	Green Hairstreak Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Copper Orange-tip butterfly 5 species of dragonfly 5 species of damselfly

 What You Should Know About the Reserve

• Open 24 hours all the year round
• The Reserve offers Disabled Access to the Nature Trail north of the loch, accessed from the A81 lay-by and over the dam
• Dog owners:  Dogs are welcome but please note that sheep and/or cattle may be grazing on much of the reserve.  Keep dogs under close control.  It is especially important to keep dogs on leads on the muir during the breeding bird season (April to August) to avoid unnecessary disturbance to wildlife.   
• As always, dog owners must clean up after their dogs., especially around the nature trail and main paths.  Please Note:  Many children use the paths on the reserve. Please keep the paths and edges clean, at least for their sake. 
• Parking:  Possible on both sides of the A81 but please use the lay-bys on the east side where possible.  Beware fast-moving traffic if crossing the road
• Download the Loch Ardinning Map

How to Get There

 By car along the A81 northwards from Milngavie or southwards from Strathblane.

There are pedestrian access points from the A81 at the southern end, from the main lay-by and over the dam 

First bus service no. 10, Glasgow to Balfron,  runs along the A81 past the reserve and can drop off/pick up at the dam.. It runs roughly hourly on Mondays to Saturdays and roughly 2-hourly on Sundays – check with First for timetable.