Howmuir

Explorer Tom Murton Nature Reserve near Forfar has lochs, wetland paths and bird hides where I can practise the difficult art of sitting still while something feathered ignores me. The place was built for discovery at walking speed, with water and flowers around each bend. The Murton Trust maintains a network of paths around the lochs and wetlands. Three hides let visitors watch resident and visiting birds; the Trust mentions little ringed plovers among the protected species using the reserve. Summer brings wildflowers, bees and butterflies, while winter offers a different cast on the water. Those are seasonal possibilities, not a performance schedule. Bring binoculars if you have them and give the birds space; a hide works better when its occupants stop treating every wingbeat like a royal arrival. Part of Murton's work is education, so children and adults can meet these habitats close up without needing a grand expedition. The operator says it upgraded a substantial length of path for wheelchair access and provides benches along the way. The nearby farm and tearoom are separate parts of the wider Murton site, with their own entry and opening arrangements. I could spend ages debating whether a goat or a grebe has the more comic face, but that is best settled after the wetland walk. The nature reserve itself is free and open year-round, according to the Trust, with no ticket needed; check its latest gate and parking times before setting out. The paths begin from the Murton site off Arbroath Road, and the hides reward unhurried visits. Start with the water, then let the smallest movement in the reeds choose where you look next.