Overview

Beautiful nature reserve overlooking Loch Leven with a level access visitor centre, accessible cafe, excellent toilets and picturesque walkways.

Transport & Parking

There were plenty of disabled parking spaces available in the visitors centre car park, I think there were about 6 spaces available that were disabled parking spaces. If you are a blue badge holder you get free parking. I am not from this area so I cannot comment on the public transport but the nature reserve is off a country road so I don't imagine public buses come as far.

Access

There are double doors to enter the visitors centre from the car park and a push pad button to open the doors. Inside the visitors it is all level access and spacious, although I didn't shop in the visitors centre so I can't comment on the counter height. You can exit to the nature trails through another set of double doors that are also operated by a push pad. When the visitors centre closes at 5pm gates are open beside it to allow 24 hour access to the nature trails. Dotted around outside the visitors centre at either side there are picnic benches that have a space for a wheelchair user to sit into the picnic table. There is a cafe above the visitors centre that you can access by going up 2 ramps, they are big ramps and look steep but they are manageable to get up. You can see the ramps in an image down below. To enter the cafe you can open the door with another push pad button which is at a good height as I was able to push it with my wheelchair controller. When we visited the cafe it was only our group inside as well as staff so there were lots of room to get around. There was a window open and low enough to see the beautiful scenery overlooking Loch Leven. The counter in the cafe was at a good height and you were able to see what cakes were available. We took the Loch Leven Heritage Trail during our visit and it started off smooth but was quite bumpy due to being gravelled pathways. It was smooth at parts and bumpy at others. Sometimes the pathways were narrow but I managed along them with my dog walking beside my wheelchair. We went to a viewing platform to look over Loch Leven and it was very spacious with nothing obstructing the views.

Toilets

The Loch Leven nature reserve had a refurbishment in 2021 which included a refurbishment on their toilets and the installation of a new Changing Places toilet which is open 24 hours!!! I would definitely say the Changing Places toilet is very spacious and clean. The toilet has space at either side for someone to transfer from their wheelchair and of course a tracking hoist for those who need the use of that. You can see a picture of the Changing Places toilet below but it also has a privacy screen, adult changing bed and I think it looked like a height adjustable sink. To enter the Changing Places toilet you press a button to open the door and the same button to get out of the Changing Places toilet to exit and exit. These buttons can be seen in an image below. I didn't look at any of the other toilets but other people in our group said they were nice and clean.

Staff

All staff that we met during our visit were very welcoming, friendly and welcoming. They were also very helpful in providing information on the visitors centre, wildlife and the history of the area.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I felt safe when visiting as we were mainly outside and when we were in the cafe it was only our group that was there, the windows were open and there were hand sanitising stations available.

Photos

Venue Manager responded to this review

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a comprehensive review for our reserve. It was lovely to meet you during your visit, and we are so glad that you enjoyed it. Hope to see you back again!