Must-visit nature reserves in Scotland

This often-windy nature reserve is a great place to blow away the cobwebs. The sand dunes offer some relief and protect the grasslands, which means in summer there is a lovely burst of colour with wild flowers. The vast beach makes you feel small and is a great place for birdwatching. The view from the cliff tops near the village end aren’t bad either. Visitor centre with toilets is available.

Once you’ve explored the granite cauldron of ‘the vat’ the Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve has great walks and a mixture of lochs and wetlands and woodland. From the famous Scots pine, the superstitious rowan and willow trees, there has also been over 140 different types of bird species recorded here, not to mention the other various flora and fauna. There have been several archaeological finds here too, with a 9th-century pictish stone, a logboat and an Iron Age crannog (free-standing wooden structures). All of this combined makes it a great place to go for an exploration.