Knowetop Loch Reserve in Scotland, Scottish Nature Reserves

Knowetop Loch Reserve

The Knowetop Loch Reserve can be found just four miles from Corsock, Dumfries and Galloway. Knowetop has two small lochs on its 23 hectares of land, which are locally known as Lowes Lochs, which means "bright and shiny lochs". The two lochs are not far from each other and are separated by a piece of woodland made up of birch trees. Herons and goosanders are popular by the lochs not only because of the fish but also because of the reed swamp, willow scrub and bog that surrounds the water's edge.

If you enjoy walking then try the many paths and trails that take you all around the reserve on many different routes. You will see quite a few different habitats along the way including woodlands, grassy heath, fen, wet peat moss, willow scrub, bog and reedbed all with their own unique features. Its advised that you keep to the paths as there are many bog mosses that can be up to four meters deep. In summer the dry moorland is changed into a yellow sea of pretty whin flowers. Other colorful plants that you might see will be the whorled caraway, cranberry and globeflower, all of which add to the scenery.

Everyone who visits the Knowetop reserve knows it for its wide array of birds and flower species, so remember to bring your binoculars and cameras to catch these beautiful images. It would also be recommended that you visit between May and September for the plants and birds, but if it's the wildfowl that you are looking for then you will want to visit between October and March. Some of the bird species you might see along the way will be the whitethroat, tawny and barn owl, reed bunting and the willow and sedge warbler.

Something you might also want to look out for while you walk in the reserve is to look out for the wet bog or peat moss areas for the intermediate bladderwort. Its name is enough to cause you to look further into what type of plant this might be. The bladderwart is a carnivorous plant, which floats making no contact with the ground. While it moves around in the water it traps any small water insects in its small underwater bladders that are found on the stem.

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