Accessibility Guide for RSPB Scotland Loch Garten Nature Centre

Travel by public transport

You can get to RSPB Scotland Loch Garten Nature Centre by bus and train.

The nearest bus stop is located at the Raebreck junction, on the B970 just south of Nethy Bridge. The number 34 bus runs regularly between Aviemore and Grantown-on-Spey, with stops at Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge, and will stop on request at Raebreck. A 2.4 km / 1.5 mile hard=packed / forest floor footpath leads directly from the bus stop to the Nature Centre. A timetable for the No.34D bus can be found here: https://www.tis-kml-stagecoach.s3.amazonaws.com/PdfTimetables/XIAO034D.pdf The bus stop is 1.5 miles / 2.4 km from RSPB Scotland Loch Garten Nature Centre.

The nearest train station is Boat of Garten. The train station is 4 miles / 6.4 km from RSPB Scotland Loch Garten Nature Centre.

The nearest mainline railway station is Aviemore however, the Strathspey steam train runs between Aviemore and Broomhill stations regularly during the summer, stopping at Boat of Garten on the way. From Boat of Garten the reserve can be reached on foot, by bike or by bus. A timetable for the steam train can be found here: https://www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk/timetable.

The footpath from the bus stop to the Nature Centre runs adjacent to the road and passes a boardwalk for dragonfly spotting, access to the Speyside Way and the start of our "Two Lochs" trail, via the Loch Mallachie car park. The path is hard-packed, gently undulating and is rocky and uneven in places. There may be ocassional muddy patches in wet weather spells.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Aviemore Taxis by calling 01479810111. You can get a taxi with Gerry's Taxis by calling 01479812000.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.

Visitors who cannot manage the 250 metre walk up to the Nature Centre can drive their vehicle up the track. There is room for one vehicle at the Nature Centre. Please speak to a member of the team at the Entrance Kiosk and they will give instructions. 

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The three disabled parking bays are approximately 20m from the Welcome Kiosk, where visitors are welcomed and entrance charges are taken. Visitors do not enter the Welcome Kiosk. The Nature Centre itself is a 250m walk up a gently-sloping but fairly smooth path. Visitors who are unable to walk that distance are welcome to drive their own car from the car park to the Nature Centre. On arrival, visitors who would like to do this should speak to a member of staff at the Welcome Kiosk, who will provide further instructions and unlock the gate at the vehicle access entrance.

Visual Impairment - General Information

We have contrast markings on all glass doors and contrast markings on all full-height windows.

Ticket/ information desk

The Welcome Kiosk

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1800mm wide, or more.

The Welcome Kiosk is located next to the car park and is where visitors are welcomed and entrance fees taken. The main Nature Centre is a further 250 metres up the track. The kiosk always has a staff member present who will be happy to give further information or answer any questions. 

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

Interpretation and visitor experience area in the Nature Centre

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

The Nature Centre is a large, open-plan room with an interpretation / visitor experience area and shop area. It has interpretive panels giving information about Abernethy reserve and Loch Garten. There are also panels aimed at children. There is a large map of the nature reserve on the floor. There are natural artefacts, such as animal skulls and feathers for visitors to handle and a digital microscope enabling large magnification to be viewed on a screen.

There are full-height windows giving views out on to the forest. There are also glazed viewing slots at different heights giving views out onto the osprey nest and forest. There are telescopes and binoculars available to use at the viewing slots. 

There are large TV screens showing live or recorded footage of ospreys and other wildlife on the reserve. Team members are always present to chat and provide talks.

 

Public toilet

The Toilets at the Welcome Kiosk

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.

There is 1400mm in front of the toilet. The toilets have handrails.

The toilet for use by visitors with disabilities is located at the Welcome Kiosk, along a section of smooth boardwalk. There is plenty of space for a wheelchair and a carer and there are handrails provided for assistance with transfer to and from the toilet. 

Shop

The retail area in the Nature Centre

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

The retail area is part of the main open-plan room at the Nature Centre and once visitors are inside the centre, everything is on one level with no ramps or steps, so access to this area is straightforward once inside the centre. The retail units are placed to allow access by wheelchairs and shelves are placed at different levels for ease of access to the stock. Staff are always on hand to assist visitors and provide further information.

Designated Walking Trail

Two Lochs Trail

The trail is 2700metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

The Two Lochs trail is a circular trail through the forest, with two viewpoints at Loch Garten and Loch Mallachie. There are benches at the viewpoints. The surface is hard-packed forest floor with some sections of hard packed hard-core with a top dressing. It can get muddy in sections during periods of wet weather. There are some small tree roots across the path which can get slippy in wet weather. Strong wheelchair users have navigated the whole of the trail in all-terrain wheelchairs.    

Picnic Area

Picnic Benches

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

The picnic benches are located directly outside the Nature Centre, with great views of our bird feeders. There is a designated space for a wheelchair at the round table. Whilst the rectangular bench does not have a designated space, a wheelchair user could sit at the end of this table. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics, however, snacks and drinks are available from the shop inside the centre and this is accessible via a ramp through the main entrance.

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

One transit wheelchair can be borrowed from the Welcome Kiosk on request.

For a list of more items, please go to https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/loch-garten/accessib....

Assistance dogs on leads are permitted to use the area around the car park as a toilet area, provided they are fully cleaned up after. A bin is provided at the Welcome Kiosk for used bags.

We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.

Power sockets are available in the Nature Centre and may be used on request. Any member of the team will be happy to help.

You can hire mobility equipment from Where 2 Today by calling 01479 810004.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

There are three emergency exits suitable for wheelchair users in the Nature Centre. 

Customer care support

All staff have disability awareness training.

Staff have received Visit Scotland disability awareness training and in-house safeguarding course. Some staff have First Aid training.

We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

Any visitor with accessibility requirements may drive their own vehicle from the car park to the Nature Centre, thereby negating a walk of approximately 250m. This requires driving through a gate, which staff at the Welcome Kiosk will open for you. There is room for one car to park directly outside the visitor centre and more details can be provided by staff on arrival.