Overview
Caerlaverock Wetland Centre is a 607 hectares (almost 1,500-acres) nature reserve with hides (blinds) and observation towers, located on the north shore of the Solway Firth, south of Dumfries in Scotland.
Birds
Notable Species
The Svalbard Barnacle Goose, Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Icelandic Whooper Swan, Osprey, Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Oystercatcher.
Rarities
Garganey, Pied Avocet, Pectoral Sandpiper, Common Crane, Citrine Wagtail, Temminck's Stint
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Tundra Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Osprey, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, European Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing, Red Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Mew Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Pigeon, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Short-eared Owl, Common Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear , Eurasian Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Eurasian Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper, Common Raven, Eurasian Jay, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Twite, Lesser Redpoll, Common Bullfinch, Barn Owl, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting
Other Wildlife
Hare, Stoat, Otter, Badger, Roe Deer Red Fox Azure Damselflies, Common Damselflies, Northern Marsh Orchid
Site Information
History and Use
Caerlaverock Wetland Centre is one of nine reserves in the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) organisation, which was founded in 1946 by Sir Peter Scott at Slimbridge, near Gloucester. Caerlaverock is located in south west Scotland, 9 miles south east of Dumfries and covers a 607 hectare site at Eastpark Farm. A new education centre was opened by King Harald V of Norway in January 2002.
This reserve is renowned for the great wildlife spectacle of wintering Barnacle Geese. The whole breeding population from Svalbard winters solely on the Solway Firth, so great views of them can be seen from the 4 observatories, 4 towers and 20 small hides throughout the reserve.
Areas of Interest
- Habitats: saltmarsh, mudflats
- Peter Scott Observatory - between October and April, get close up views of hundreds of Icelandic Whooper Swans during the Wild Swan feeds, at 11am and 2pm everyday.
- Saltcot Merse Observatory - overlooking the vast salt marshes, towards the Solway and the Lake District fells in Cumbria across the Solway. There are also excellent views back over the reserve. This is the best place to watch thousands of waders pushed in with the tide and birds of prey, such as Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl hunting over the merse.
- First successful Osprey nest - check for news here
- Summer and River Walkway - This part of the reserve opens in mid may so enable the public to visit areas which hold good numbers of wildflowers. Along the river walk you can also be lucky to see Otters playing on the banks.
- Peter Scott Walkway - This is a new addition to the reserve, opening up an area of completely different habitat. The walk leads you over the pond where good numbers of Dragonflies, Butterflies and Damselfly can be seen. The path also leads you round a small reed bed where reed bunting and sedge warbler can be seen. A new hide has also be built which over looks fields where thousands are Barncale Geese can be seen in the winter. A feeding station is also been created along the walkway. A new hide will also be under construction looking out along the back of the Whooper Pond at a newly developed Kingfisher bank. The hide will be specially designed for bats to be able to roost in the roof.
- Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve - located nearby, it covers part of the Solway Firth between the River Nith and Lochar Water and is 55.00 km² in size.
Access and Facilities
- Open 7 days a week, except 25 December, 10am to 5.00pm
- There are occasional early and late opening for special wild events (please check for details with centre).
- 4 Observatories
- 4 Towers
- 20 small hides (blinds)
- Wild Swan feeds, at 11am and 2pm daily, Oct-April - Peter Scott Observatory
- Visitor Centre with cafe and shop
- Educational activities
- There is farmhouse accomodation on site
- How to get there
Entrance fees:
- Free to WWT members
Normal admission price:
- Adult: £7.45
- Concession: £5.73 (over 65 years, full-time students, unemployed)
- Child: £3.64 (4-16 years)
- Family: £20.09 (2 adults & 2 children, 4-16 years)
- Children (under 4 years): Free
- Essential helpers assisting disabled visitors: Free
- Fees are higher if you want to contribute to the Gift Aid scheme
Farmhouse accommodation on site
The Caerlaverock Wetland Centre is set amidst a wealth of beautiful scenery, dominated by the 2,000-foot granite mass of Criffel to the west, with the mountains of the English Lake District across the Solway Firth to the south and, to the north, the rolling Moffat and Lowther Hills.
Caerlaverock Castle is just three miles away and, beyond that, the Solway coast stretches west to the rugged Mull of Galloway.
The warm and comfortable farmhouse at Eastpark is situated at the very heart of this famous reserve and commands superb views from its own observation tower across this and the adjacent National Nature Reserve.
Wild Whooper Swans roost just below the bedroom windows in the winter and a mile of screened approaches link the house to hides, observatories and towers from which the Solway's 30,000 Barnacle Geese and a wide variety of other wildlife can be secretly observed.
The nearest village, Glencaple, is five miles from the centre and has both a shop and a hotel. The historic regional capital of Dumfries, nine miles away, has a wide range of shops, restaurants and pubs.
Facilities 2 twin bedrooms with en suite bathrooms (rooms 2 & 3) Family room with en-suite bathroom (double, single and 2 bunk beds, room 5) Double bedroom with wash basin and shared bathoom.(room 1) Family room with washbasin and shared bathroom (double and single beds, room 4) Private observatory with Badger feeding station Lounge with colour TV and video Kitchen with cooker, microwave, fridge and freezer Laundry with washing machine and tumble dryer Sheltered garden
Prices
Rooms with washbasin only, per person per night - £25
Rooms with en-suite bathrooms, per person per night - £30
Whole house for exclusive use, per night £200
Children under 4 years old - free (cot available)
Children aged 4-16 years - half price
Schools & colleges - half price
All proceeds support WWT's conservation work at Caerlaverock.
Notes
Rooms are available from 4pm and should be vacated by midday on the day of departure. Bed linen and towels are provided. Smoking is not allowed in the farmhouse and pets are not permitted in the house or on the reserve. Transport from the railway station or the bus stand in Dumfries, via a supermarket if required, is available at a cost of £10 each way.
To make a booking
The Farmhouse is let on a room basis for the winter months from 1st September to 30th April and reverts to whole house lets only for the summer months.
For availability and further information please contact Pam Mundy our office manager on 01387 770200 or email: [email protected]
Bookings should be confirmed with a non-returnable 25% deposit (payable to "WWT Caerlaverock").
Contact Details
WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre
Eastpark Farm, Caerlaverock
Dumfriesshire, Scotland DG1 4RS
Tel: 01387 770200
Fax: 01387 770539
Email: [email protected]
External Links
Content and images originally posted by HelenB