The reserve is made up of three parts, encompassing Morton Lochs, Tentsmuir Point and Tayport Heath, and is managed by NatureScot.

Much of the sandbank and mud-flat system, known as the Abertay Sands, which extends eastwards into the North Sea, was formed only in the past 100 years through processes of erosion and deposition.

The site supports an extensive and relatively undisturbed area of intertidal sand, mudflats and rapidly accreting lime-poor dunes.

At Morton Lochs, water plantain, yellow flag iris, broad-leaved pondweed and greater pond sedge are just some of the plants that thrive in the mosaic of habitats in this area.

[9] Land to the north and east of Morton Lochs displays some of the natural vegetation characteristic of open heath, despite being planted with forest in 1954.

[1] In addition to its NNR status, the reserve forms part of a range of national and international protected areas along the coastline of the Firth of Tay and the Eden Estuary.