Bird PlacesRSPB reserve · Bridgend, Argyll
Loch Gruinart birdwatching guide
Loch Gruinart on Islay is where a large share of the world's Greenland barnacle geese spend the winter, feeding across saltmarsh and reseeded fields in flocks tens of thousands strong. The hide and visitor centre put you level with the roost, and the same reserve holds breeding waders in spring alongside the choughs and hen harriers that make Islay a year-round destination.
Key facts
- Habitat
- coastal
- Size
- Not recorded
- Entry fee (adult)
- Free
- Entry fee (child)
- Free
- Membership required
- No
- Hides
- Not published
- Wheelchair access
- Limited / none
- Car park
- Yes
- Car park to hides
- 100m of level track to the main hide
- Toilets
- Yes
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Status
- open
- Best seasons
- autumn, winter
Species by season
| Season | Species | Likelihood | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| spring | Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) | common | — |
| summer | Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) | frequent | — |
| winter | Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) | common | Greenland population; peak counts from October to April |
| winter | Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) | frequent | — |
Hides at Loch Gruinart
Getting there
Bridgend, Argyll
View on OpenStreetMap · Official website
Facilities & opening
Reserve open at all times; visitor centre 10am–5pm
Frequently asked questions
How many geese winter at Loch Gruinart?
Islay as a whole holds tens of thousands of Greenland barnacle geese from October to April, with Loch Gruinart one of the main roosts and feeding areas.
How do I get to Islay?
By ferry from Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula, or by flight from Glasgow; the reserve is a short drive from either arrival point.
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Information last updated 25 July 2026.