Royal Burgh of Lochmaben Local Nature Reserve, Lochmaben

Public Toilets

Hospital Caravan Disabled To Dumfries A709 Site Toilets

Motte Kirk Loch Church Sailing Golf Course Club A709

Golf Course B7020

n Halleaths P Caravan Site Countryside Rangers and

field Bur Water Bailiffs operate Cemetery Inner around the Loch. Castle Hill Castle Loch Ve A709 You can help by: n dace Burn • Keeping to existing footpaths To Sanctuary Lock • Picking up litter Zone erbie P • Disposing of unwanted fi shing tackle safely • Observing the local byelaws Lochmaben P Bird Hide N Castle ruins Please send wildlife records to the Countryside

Ranger Service at Planning and Environment,

Va Rae Street, Dumfries. DG1 1LW. Tel. 01387 260184. lison Burn lison Walks Castle Mains Cottages P Parking Produced on behalf of the Castle and Hightae Lochs Local Nature Reserve Advisory To Birdwatching Anna Management Committee. Castle Mains Disabled Access Text by the Dumfries and Galloway Council n Fishing Ranger Service. Designed by the Council Graphics Team. Marlake Marlake Picnic Area Artwork by John Threlfall. Cottages Bridge Sailing Photos by Ranger Service, Bobby Smith and Edmund Fellowes Hightae Mill Loch Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland www.lochmaben.org.uk What to Look for in Summer What to Look for in Winter User Guide

The most noticeable birds on the loch in June, July Castle Loch is internationally important for the Fishing. Permits are available at Lochmaben from and August are Mute Swans. There can be up to 150 high numbers of Pink-footed Geese that roost on the Post Offi ce and Halleaths Caravan Site. Coarse birds most of which have come here to moult their the loch at night, and nationally important for the fi sh that occur include Pike, Perch, Chub, Roach, feathers. Only a few of the swans will be resident numbers of Greylag Geese that utilise the loch. Bream and a Roach-Bream hybrid. All fi sh caught breeding birds because there are only about six pairs must be returned to the loch. Castle Loch Local Nature that remain throughout the year and breed in the The best time to see the Swans and ducks are killed or injured every year by reeds around the edge of the loch. geese is at dusk when they discarded fi shing lines – please dispose of unwanted Reserve and Site of Special fl y in from the surrounding tackle safely. Scientific Interest Look out for swans with rings on their legs. If you fi elds where they have manage to read the numbers and letters please been feeding, or at fi rst Boating. The Annandale Sailing Club meets report to the Ranger Service or WWT Caerlaverock. light in the morning when The loch and its margin provide a home throughout the summer on Tuesday and Thursday the birds leave the loch. evenings and at weekends from March to for a rich assortment of birds, fi sh, insects Several pairs of Great These times of day are also November. and plants. Crested Grebes breed good for watching the here. Watch out large numbers of Rooks, No powered craft of any kind are allowed on the for their dramatic Jackdaws, Starlings and water except for the Water Bailiff and rescue boats. Nationally and internationally important breeding displays various species of gulls that All boaters must wear life jackets. numbers of geese and ducks are a in spring and early roost here too – at night, Greylag All boats should keep away from the margins of summer. the total numbers of birds on spectacular sight in winter, and many the loch. Even brief disturbance of nesting birds Great Crested Grebe the reserve can exceed 18,000. birds breed around the edges in summer. increases the chances of nest predation by crows s der The Willow Tit has declined in many parts of Britain an and gulls and, in prolonged, cases will cause birds to Whenever you os o Look out for the beautiful but here there are still several pairs breeding in the G abandon their nests. come there is Goosander, a fi sh-eating woodland fringes. They always something duck that occurs here make their nests in Wildfowling. Permits are restricted to residents of in nationally important interesting to see. rotten trees stumps the Burgh of Lochmaben. Shooting takes place from numbers. They can be and feed on insects boats, and may occur on any day from 1 September on the loch at any time on and within the to 31 January, except Sundays. The use of lead shot of day but mornings and trees. Take care not to is prohibited by Scottish law. evenings are best. damage any trees. Windsurfi ng and Swimming. These activities In the middle of the day the loch looks much are not advisable because of the shallowness of Willow Tit quieter but there are nearly always Tufted Duck, the water and deep black mud on the bottom. In Mallard, Wigeon, the summer there is danger from toxic blue-green Lochmaben Castle Goldeneye, Coot algae. and Moorhen For over 300 years Lochmaben Castle held a key present. Pochard, defensive position, controlling access northwards Caravans and Camping. Local byelaws prohibit Ruddy Duck, through upper Annandale and westwards to camping on the nature reserve. There are caravan Gadwall and Galloway. It changed hands many times - both and camp sites at the Kirk Loch and Halleaths. Scottish and English forces contributing to its Smew all occur less massive structure. The remains are now in the care frequently. of Historic Scotland. Wigeon