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United Kingdom

Scotland

Fife

Tayport Ferryport-On-Craig

Morton Lochs Bird Hide – Tentsmuir Nature Reserve loop from Morton Lochs

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

Scotland

Fife

Tayport Ferryport-On-Craig

Morton Lochs Bird Hide – Tentsmuir Nature Reserve loop from Morton Lochs

Moderate

4.5

(6)

hikers

Morton Lochs Bird Hide – Tentsmuir Nature Reserve loop from Morton Lochs

03:01

11.9km

30m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

181 m

Morton Lochs Bird Hide

Highlight • Structure

Morton Lochs is part of Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve (NNR) located near Tayport, in the north east of Fife, Scotland. It consists of three small lochs important for a variety of waterfowl species. Access to the nature reserve can be gained from the public footpath through Scotscraig golf course in Tayport, from the many footpaths in Tentsmuir Forest, or by road by turning off towards Morton on the B945 between Tayport and Leuchars. There is a small car park beside the reserve which is close to the two main footpaths. Surrounding the lochs are three bird hides that are accessible for public use, and another hide that requires a key available from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Three of the hides sit on the largest of the three lochs with the other being on the South Loch

Morton Lochs is not a naturally occurring wetland system; it was made by local land owners, the Christie family, in 1906. They initially flooded this area of dune heath for fishing, but it quickly became an important centre for wintering wildfowl. Perhaps the most notable visitor is the teal, which comes in its hundreds at times according to entries made in the record book in the hide. The teal is also the emblem for the NNR, and appears on signs at the entrance to the reserve. Morton Lochs was defined as an NNR in 1952, at the time being the second NNR in the UK.

Tip by

2.65 km

Tayport Heath Gravel Path

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

Really nice gravelly segment away from the roads with some benches/rest spots

Tip by

3.38 km

Tayport Heath, Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve

Highlight • Viewpoint

If you go down to the woods today. ... Take a chainsaw.

Tip by

6.00 km

View of the River Tay Estuary in Tentsmuir Nature Reserve

Highlight • Beach

View of the estuary of the River Tye in Tentsmuir Nature Reserve

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6.18 km

Salmon Fishing March Stone and World War II Tank Traps

Highlight (Segment) • Structure

The Salmon Fishing March Stone, dating back to late 18th century, was one of many to mark boundaries between fisheries.

On this stretch, you will also find, near the beach, a number of tank traps and pillboxes, part of enemy defences from World War 2.

Tip by

7.24 km

The March Stone

Highlight • Monument

7.31 km

Tentsmuir Nature Reserve

Highlight • Viewpoint

Tentsmuir is a very special place. Within a relatively small area, there is a beautiful golden beach with clean sea, a majestic forest with lots of trails to explore, and a nature reserve that is home to lots of wildlife including seals and many species of birds, as well as spectacular wildflower displays during spring and summer.

Tip by

11.9 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.96 km

3.23 km

685 m

Surfaces

5.32 km

2.74 km

1.43 km

1.25 km

1.01 km

126 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Sunday 12 July

17°C

11°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

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Comments

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Morton Lochs Bird Hide – Tentsmuir Nature Reserve loop from Morton Lochs

Morton Lochs Bird Hide

Tayport Heath Gravel Path

Tayport Heath, Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve

View of the River Tay Estuary in Tentsmuir Nature Reserve

Salmon Fishing March Stone and World War II Tank Traps

The March Stone

Tentsmuir Nature Reserve

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