Catriona Reid explores the rich history of Muir of Dinnet NNR, describing the varied mix of wetland, woodland and heath that makes this reserve so special and an important home for many scarce species.
It is hard to pick just a single highlight from Muir of Dinnet NNR. Is it the lochs, carpeted white with water lilies in July? The golden leaves of the birches in autumn? The many-coloured blankets of Sphagnum mosses on the bog? Or the echoing, cave-like Vat, with its waterfall? This is a large site covering 1,157ha of mid-Deeside, some 45km west of Aberdeen and just within the eastern boundary of the Cairngorms National Park.