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Welcome

As Britain's largest dune loch, Strathbeg is a vital wintering and staging post for up to a fifth of the world's pink-footed geese. It's also home to a wide variety of wetland wildlife, such as breeding terns and gulls, migrating waders and wintering wildfowl.

tower pool photo

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Loch of Strathbeg Visitor Centre Visitor centre viewing platform

There is level access from the car park to:

Visitor centre
The hide entrance has level access.

Visual

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

General

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

Getting here

For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.
RSPB Scotland Loch of Strathbeg, Starnafin,
Crimond
Fraserburgh
AB43 8QN

Travel by public transport

You can get to RSPB Scotland Loch of Strathbeg by bus.
The nearest bus stop is in Crimond village. The bus stop is 1 miles / 1.6 km from RSPB Scotland Loch of Strathbeg.

The nearest bus stop is in Crimond village, approx. 1 mile from the visitor centre. In the village, walk towards the church. Beside the church is a small road with a brown nature reserve sign. Out of the village, there is no pavement on the road and the access track to the reserve is uneven gravel.

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.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The path is sloped.
The route is 1900mm wide, or more.
carpark photo VC door photo

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
The path is 1900mm wide, or more.
The path is sloped.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.
The door is 985mm wide.
The main door is side hung and manual.

There is a mud mat outside the door.

The main door is side hung and manual with a lever handle.

Visitor centre & toilet door

Getting around inside

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Public toilet

Loch of Strathbeg Visitor Centre

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1200mm wide, or more.
The toilet door is 800mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 980mm at the side of the toilet. The toilet seat is 475mm high. The toilets have handrails.

From the outside toilet entrance to the public toilet there is level access.

The toilet door is 800m wide. Side hung with a folding mechanism.

accessible toilet

Visitor centre viewing platform

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

There is a short flight of stairs with a handrail on both sides to access the viewing platform.

There is a chairlift on the flight of stairs with a wheelchair available at top.

There is some seating available either chairs or stools.

The windows have low access points and can open, but this would be difficult from a seated position.

platform stairs & chairlift

Getting around outside

Wildlife Garden & Woodland Area

The trail is 200metres long. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats. There are bird hides along the trail.

Wildlife garden & woodland paths are 1m wide with compacted gravel surface.

Gates are side opening with a mixture of latches and hooks.

Gates open one way.

Gates are 1m wide.

Willow hide is on the woodland walk next to the car park and 150m from the visitor centre. It has one step at the entrance and lift-up viewing slots. There is no seating in this hide but there are a range of viewing slots at different heights. Door opens inwards with a latch and the entrance is 850mm wide.

Designated Walking Trail

Summer path to Loch hides

The trail is 1200metres long. There are 2 standard field gates and a kissing gate on the path route. The trail is sloped. There are bird hides along the trail.

Bay hide 240m away from car park via rough grass path. Hide has two steps. The door opens inwards with a knob handle, door opening width of 900mm. Windows open inwards and upwards, secured with a latch.

Fen hide 450m away from car park via a mixture of rough grass and hardcore path. Long section of boardwalk. Hide has 4 steep steps. The door opens inwards with a latch handle, opening width is 800mm and the hide windows slide downwards - sash window type.

Designated Walking Trail

Loch hides car park

The trail is sloped. There are bird hides along the trail.

All year vehicular access via a 10 minute drive from the visitor centre.

No pedestrian or cycle access over the MOD land.

1 standard field gate and height barrier in use (approx. 7ft). 

Bay hide 240m away from car park via rough grass path. Hide has two steps. The door opens inwards with a knob handle, door opening width of 900mm. Windows open inwards and upwards, secured with a latch.

Fen hide 450m away from car park via a mixture of rough grass and hardcore path. Field gate or stile to negociate. Long section of boardwalk. Hide has 4 steep steps. The door opens inwards with a latch handle, opening width is 800mm and the hide windows slide downwards - sash window type.

Bay Hide entrance Fen Hide entrance

Designated Walking Trail

Wetland Hides

The trail is 1100metres long. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats. There are bird hides along the trail.

Path out is a mixture of unconsolidated hardcore and rough grass, 3 benches on route.

Tower Pool Hide 850m away from visitor centre. Access via a permanent ramp. The door opens inwards with a knob handle, opening width of the door is 900mm. The hide windows open inwards and upwards and secured with latches.

Dunbar Hide 1100m away from visitor centre, 250m away from Tower Pool Hide. Path a mixture of unconsolidated hardcore and boardwalk. Steep areas of path and steep ramp to hide entrance. The door opens outwards, opening width of the door is ?? The hide windows open inwards and upwards and secured with latches.

Tower Pool Hide entrance

Willow hide

The door is 850.00mm wide.
The hide entrance has 1 step. There is no lift and no ramp.

Bay Hide

The hide entrance has 3 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

Tower Pool Hide

At the hide entrance, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The door is 900.00mm wide.
There are low windows in the hide, so wheelchair users can see outside.

Fen Hide

The hide entrance has 4 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

Dunbar Hide

At the hide entrance, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

Picnic Area

Visitor centre

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

Picnic tables are positioned on grass areas near the visitor centre

Customer care support

Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.