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Caerlaverock

Caerlaverock Wetland Centre is a spectacular 1,400 acre wild reserve situated on the north Solway coast. Its wintering birds include tens of thousands of Svalbard barnacle geese. Summer offers the opportunity to explore rolling wildflower meadows, watch ospreys hunting over the Solway and even spot barn owls and badgers if staying overnight in our self catering farmhouse.

Barnacle Geese feeding at Caerlaverock Wetland Centre.

From dawn to dusk, from January to December, in fair weather and in foul, its open, coastal landscape and wide skies are full of the sights and sounds of nature – and very little else.

Most famous of all Caerlaverock’s wild visitors are the vast flocks of Barnacle Geese that return each October from the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to stay until April on the Solway’s saltflats and merses. Since the 1940’s, this population has recovered from fewer than 500 birds to more than 25,000.

Ten things you must see and do:

  • Barnacle Geese wildlife spectactular (October to April)
  • See Ospreys and CCTV pictures from their nest ( April to August)
  • Watch Barn Owls in and around their nest via CCTV (March to August)
  • Try to spot the rarest amphibian in Britain (May to September)
  • Saltcot Merse Observatory
  • Use the largest binoculars in Scotland!
  • Wild Whooper Swan spectactular ( October to April)
  • Join a warden for a guided walk
  • Visit intimate hides installed by Sir Peter Scott
  • See the rare Tadpole Shrimp in the aquarium in the visitor centre.

Click on the images below for more details

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The whole Svalbard breeding population of Barnacle Geese winter only on the Solway Firth and the best views of this great wildlife spectacle can be seen from the 4 towers, 4 Observatories and 20 small hides looking out onto the 607 hectare reserve.
The whole Svalbard breeding population of Barnacle Geese winter only on the Solway Firth and the best views of this great wildlife spectacle can be seen from the 4 towers, 4 Observatories and 20 small hides looking out onto the 607 hectare reserve.
The whole Svalbard breeding population of Barnacle Geese winter only on the Solway Firth and the best views of this great wildlife spectacle can be seen from the 4 towers, 4 observatories and 20 small hides looking out onto the 607 hectares of reserve.
The whole Svalbard breeding population of Barnacle Geese winter only on the Solway Firth and the best views of this great wildlife spectacle can be seen from the 4 towers, 4 observatories and 20 small hides looking out onto the 607 hectares of reserve.
The rarest amphibian in Britain, the Natterjack Toad comes out of subterranean hibernation in April to spawn in May. Ask a warden if he can show you any of these nocturnal creatures as they rest up for the day under debris washed up by the tide.
The rarest amphibian in Britain, the Natterjack Toad comes out of subterranean hibernation in April to spawn in May. Ask a warden if he can show you any of these nocturnal creatures as they rest up for the day under debris washed up by the tide.
Saltcot Merse Observatory provides excellent views back over the reserve and south over the vast salt marshes to the Solway and the Lake District fells beyond. This is an ideal spot to watch the thousands of waders pushed in with the tide as well as Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl hunting over the merse.
Saltcot Merse Observatory provides excellent views back over the reserve and south over the vast salt marshes to the Solway and the Lake District fells beyond. This is an ideal spot to watch the thousands of waders pushed in with the tide as well as Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl hunting over the merse.
From October to April you can get closer to hundreds of Icelandic Whooper Swans with our Wild Swan feeds everyday at 11am and 2pm at the Peter Scott Observatory.
From October to April you can get closer to hundreds of Icelandic Whooper Swans with our Wild Swan feeds everyday at 11am and 2pm at the Peter Scott Observatory.
For some of the most unforgettable views of wildfowl, Caerlaverock still has the small, intimate one or two person hides installed by Sir Peter Scott over 35 years ago.
For some of the most unforgettable views of wildfowl, Caerlaverock still has the small, intimate one or two person hides installed by Sir Peter Scott over 35 years ago.
A single pond on the reserve is the only site in Scotland where Tadpole Shrimps are found.
A single pond on the reserve is the only site in Scotland where Tadpole Shrimps are found.
Join our Guided walks with a warden after the 2pm swan feed (staffing levels permitting) to see the best wildlife on the reserve.
Join our Guided walks with a warden after the 2pm swan feed (staffing levels permitting) to see the best wildlife on the reserve.
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