Loch Gelly (1 Viewer)

I've been meaning to visit Loch Gelly for a while, but have not really worked out how to access the best areas. I've stopped once or twice at the NE end for a quick scan, but am unsure how to get around to the west end. The loch looks to be largely surrounded by farm fields, and I don't want to be parking in the wrong place, wandering across the wrong areas and annoying the local farmer.

Any advice gratefully received.

I decided to give the loch a go this morning. Parking up at the North end, I crossed a field and reached the shoreline, but could not find a way along the shoreline in either direction. Returning to the car, I tried the east end of the loch. Parking at the entrance to a farm, I managed to scan the water across a horse field. I was tempted to cross the field to see if I could work my way around the south end, but there was a very large horse in the field, and I wasn't sure how he would take my presence.

I moved further up the road, but after the farm entrance it took me further and further away from the loch. I turned and headed back towards the little roundabout at the north end. Just before the roundabout, I noticed a gateway, so pulled into it. From here I found a flight go concrete stairs that led down to the water, and here I found a rough track that led west along the north shore. The track continued around the north west corner to a stubble field beyond extensive reed beds at this west side, but I only made it half way down the west side before being blocked off by more reeds.

I keep hearing that the south west corner is the best place to be, but I'm struggling to find a way in there. Also, judging by the view from the north shore, the south west corner looks pretty blocked in by reeds and scrub, with no obvious viewing points onto the water.

I don't think I would make this place a regular site, mainly due to the traffic noise from the A92, but I've not given up on getting into that SW corner.

Have a look at the OS map :-

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/56.11575,-3.28801,16/pin

Zoom in. North and East has paths, but South and West, the paths are a bit away from the loch. There are farm roads at the South of the loch.
The best way to see how to get there is to go onto Google Earth,
https://www.google.co.uk/earth/download/gep/agree.html
and get an overhead view. There are 2 photographs of G.E. taken from the South West corner.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/50034482?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google.com

Regards

Malky

Only access is along N shore. It is (or used to be) possible to park carefully near an obvious gateway just after you come off the A92. Go through the gate and you can get down to the loch shore. You can go W from there.
It is not an easy site to work but can be good for waders in autumn when the water levels are suitable. It attracts a large moulting flock of aythyas in late summer which sometimes includes rarer species - has had lesser scaup, ferruginous and ring-necked ducks. One of Fife's better sites for smew.

Hope this helps

Rob

alcedo.atthis said:

Have a look at the OS map :-

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/56.11575,-3.28801,16/pin

Zoom in. North and East has paths, but South and West, the paths are a bit away from the loch. There are farm roads at the South of the loch.
The best way to see how to get there is to go onto Google Earth,
https://www.google.co.uk/earth/download/gep/agree.html
and get an overhead view. There are 2 photographs of G.E. taken from the South West corner.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/50034482?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google.com

Regards

Malky

Click to expand...

Thanks Malky.

edenwatcher said:

Hope this helps

Rob

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. :t: