Audio tourMontrose Basin, Shelduck and Wigeon Hides

Montrose Basin covers some 750 hectares – it is the large enclosed estuary of the South Esk river. This Local Nature Reserve offers the perfect opportunity to see a variety of resident and migratory birds  – including pink-footed geese, common terns, teal and sedge warblers. The Scottish Wildlife Trust's four-star Visitor Centre overlooks the southeast corner of the Basin. Here the exhibition, viewing gallery and shop offers a great base for all the family to view and explore the Basin.

There are a variety of different habitats within the Reserve. These include extensive mudflats, salt-marshes and reed-beds. The depth and salinity of the water changes with the tides. Around the Basin are also unimproved grassland, patches of woodland and arable land. The Reserve is particularly noted for the birds that breed, feed and roost here, including eider ducks, mute swans, redshank, lapwing, pintail and wigeon. Being a Local Nature Reserve, the Basin is also important for the leisure activities it supports – bird watching, sailing, fishing and wildfowling – all co-existing with the wildlife.

Your walk to the Shelduck and Wigeon Hides takes in a variety of different and interesting habitats. You can, if you prefer a shorter walk, visit just one of the hides.

This tour has been produced with the support of GOSTEP (Eurostars project E!10028), Scottish Wildlife Trust and CMC Associates.