Invergowrie Path Network
Paths in Invergowrie
• The Inner Tay Estuary Local Nature Reserve
• Kingoodie Quarry
• Invergowrie Path Network
The Inner Tay Estuary Local Nature Reserve
An area of mudflats and shore line adjacent to Invergowrie, make up the Inner Tay Estuary Local Nature Reserve. Local Nature Reserves are designated by Local Authorities in association with Scottish Natural Heritage and reflect the special wildlife of an area as well as the need for management and encouraging people to visit an LNR.
The Inner Tay Estuary LNR is a smaller part of a much bigger area of the River Tay designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). There are several SAC's in Scotland designated for the valuable species that live of use them. The River Tay is particularly important for a wide range of species an example of which is the Pink Footed Goose. These arrive in the UK each autumn and gather in large numbers in places like the Tay Estuary before moving south to areas such as the Wash in England for the Winter.
Access is limited to the LNR as most of it is beneath high tide! However, you can access the shore over the railway bridge at Invergowrie and follow the shore along to rejoin the road at the road bridge over the railway. There are no formal paths, and the shoreline is slippery and uneven and can be covered with water at high tides. An alternative route follows the access road to the houses, offering an opportunity to explore some of the history of the area by visiting the stone harbour, built to take stone from Kingoodie Quarry down the Tay.
Parking is limited to parking on the street in Invergowrie.
A leaflet (PDF, 1.3MB) is available on the Local Nature Reserve, or information is available from Perth and Kinross Council.
Kingoodie Quarry
Kingoodie Quarry is an old quarry site, now being reclaimed by nature. A short circular path explores the Quarry, running near to ponds home to a range of wildlife and through a mix of established and new woodland. Paths and informal, and those exiting the back of the quarry are steep.
As well as offering glimpses of the industrial heritage of the area through exposed sandstone rock faces and ruined quarry buildings, Kingoodie is home to a range of wild birds as well as bats at night. Stone taken from the Quarry was taken by boat to build many building, most famously, Linlithgow Palace.
Paths lead from Kingoodie Quarry onto the Scottish Crop Research Institute Farm and the Invergowrie Path Network. Parking is limited to on street parking. Access to the Quarry is from Falkland Place, Kingoodie.
Kingoodie Quarry and The Inner Tay Estuary Local Nature Reserve are managed by Perth and Kinross Council.
Invergowrie Path Network
The Invergowrie Path Network follows paths and tracks that cross land owned and managed by the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) and link on to Invergowrie, Kingoodie Quarry and toward Dundee. Paths follow well surfaced farm tracks and established Rights of Way and are mainly level, although can be muddy in some places in wet weather. Paths are well signed and easy to follow.
Many of the paths go around the buildings of the SCRI and the greenhouses. The SCRI is a research farm where work is undertaken to improve environmental and sustainable practices on farms as well as improving crop management. Whilst visiting the paths, it is well worth visiting the 'Living Field' community garden which is well signed from the paths. This garden was established to demonstrate some of the diversity that exists within Scottish field systems, and how some of that diversity of life can be looked after.
