montrose basin wildlife centre

Sadly when we arrived at the wildlife centre it was closed, I had not picked up the winter opening times when I checked on the internet. A pity because the information board outside said that one of the best times to visit was October to February. So always check before you set off!!! Montrose museum - excellent and great welcoming staff.

The Montrose Basin Visitor Centre is certainly the best of its kind in the area, in my opinion; with very knowledgeable and friendly staff and volunteers on hand to assist you with the use of their binoculars and spotting scopes, answer your questions or help you identify the large variety of birds you'll be seeing out on the reserve from its long panoramic window which looks out on to the estuary.The Centre also boasts some great interpretation to tell you about all aspects of the ecology and history of the Montrose Basin.There's a great wee children's corner for the young uns and a small shop with a variety of optical equipment, toys and souvenirs, along with coffee and cake.It has toilets and disabled access too.

A very well placed center with lots of interest,with great view and facilities ,shop and cafeteria,there is good car parking and just a short drive from the center of Montrose

Great centre with lots of information on all the bird species and latest sightings. Plenty of viewing equipment for all who come along with knowledgeable staff on hand for any queries you may have or you may just enjoy walks around the basin in your own time.

Excellent centre with knowledgeable and friendly staffGuided walks for youngsters with rangers along the mud flats

Took my younger neices to visit during a recent camping trip to Montrose.We werent planning to stop in past, but we were in the right mood for a visit having just came back from the St Cyrus nature reserve.We werent disapointed. Saw quite a variety of birds, especially some really noisy tern-type birds and the noise they made was the same as the ones that were waking us up at 4am at the camp site.it was a really pleasant visit and its good to get grounded and just take time to look at the nature, birds and animals around us. We tent to not notice these things when we go about our daily working lives.Good to take your own binoculars if you have them

Staff are very helpful and it was relaxing and interesting. It was child friendly and plenty to do. Varied and something for everybody.

Fascinating experience getting up close through binoculars with a great variety of birds and seals in the basin. Super for kids too.

Yes the Wildlife Centre is well worth a visit.There is lots of Birds to watch and enjoy,from small to larger Wild Birdsall different in colours and style,also lots of insects,Butterflies ,Bees,and many more.There are Binoculars,Telescopes to watch all wildlife at the centre and they are excellentequipment for this job,and they are included in the price.Brilliant place to spend some time just looking out at all the wildlife,also insidethere is lots of information on all wildlife at centre and all history.You can sit and enjoy a nice cup of tea or juice while watching the wildlife.

We actually just went to have a quick mosey and ended up staying for over 2hrs! Loved watching the seals, geese and plethora of wildlife carrying on with their day to day chores. Loved the highpowered binoculars for the up close views! Looking forward to a visit again.

Montrose Basin Visitor Centre, is run by a charitable trust (Scottish Wildilfe Trust). Binoculars, telescopes etc are available for use at the centre and that is included in the admission price.Strangely; the centre closes four days each week in winter and considering this is the peak time for wildfowl, it is a constant source of wonder, that management has made the decision to have it closed for more than 50% of the time, in winter!The centre is only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during winter months.It is well worth checking tide times on the SWT Montrose Basin website, as full tide is the time when the least wildfowl are seen, simply because that is the time the birds go to roost (rest), whilst awaiting the tide dropping and food becoming avaliable again. If the roosts are viewed (from the Rossie area behind Bridgend Garage and off the Ferryden roundabout etc), the amounts of birds can be massive.Excellent leaflets, showing the location of bird viewing hides around the Basin, are available free at the vistor centre and the staff are more than willing to offer assistance and advice.

The centre at the basin is well worth a visit as the information and help from the staff and volunteers is first class. Furthermore, there is access to binoculars and web cams which are so useful. I addition there are hides as well as good walks in the area. The numbers of pink footed geese at times of the year are amazing and a fantastic experience.

we made a quick stop to make sure we had the best spots for some wildlife watching at the Basin. The staff was really helpful and friendly and the displays, while aimed at children, has some great windows to look out on.

The visitor centre is well equipped with binoculars and scopes and there are very informative volunteers around to help with bird identification and general info. It is a lovely setting with so much wildlife to be seen.

This Visitor Centre is just minutes outside the town of Montrose and on the edge of the tidal basin. The views from the windows with or without the centres binoculars and scopes is wonderful. They have created a wall for the sand martins to nest in and this is just below the window, you can also see out over the basin - just wonderful. There is a shop and a drinks machine if you didn't bring a flask or picnic with you. On site there is many educational area's as the centre is heavily used by schools from near and far. The children can do pond dipping and also investigate the areas wildlife, with help from the wardens who will give both them and you advice if requested. We stopped and had a drink whilst looking out the windows and then after a toilet visit, we travelled around the basin to another area where the Tayock Hide is based - this was a little difficult to find - our best directions would be (if your travelling from the Visitor Centre, go back on the main road, go left on the next roundabout, and then at the third roundabout after that, go left again. Just after you have crossed the railway track you will see a bus stop on your right, turn left opposite that. Go down the lane, the lane will split - go to the right, under the barrier and you will find the car park for the Tayock Hide walk - its a little bumpy in places but the scenery is worth it.