Nature Reserves, Museums and Tourist Attractions on Orkney and Shetland

Fetlar (RSPB Reserve)

.The main habitat at Fetlar is upland serpentine mire, which provides a nesting site for a nationally important population of breeding red-necked phalaropes. The hides on the reserve overlook this area. As well as breeding snipe, curlews, redshanks, lapwings and teals there are also good displays of flowering wetland plants.

More information about Fetlar Reserve on the RSPB website.

Hermaness (National Nature Reserve)

The rough moorland studded with flowering plants, mosses and grasses gives way to the cliffs around the headland. These reach up to 170 metres high and are home to an incredible range of breeding seabirds including puffins, gannets, guillemots, shags, fulmars and gulls.

SNH leaflet for Hermaness Reserve is available online.

Island of Noss (National Nature Reserve)

The perfect place to view a seabird spectacular of breeding gannets, guillemots, skuas, puffins and fulmars. Accessible by inflatable boat from the neighbouring Isle of Bressay during the summer months. Ring the Noss Line on 0800 1077818 to check access before setting out.

SNH leaflet for Noss Reserve is available online.

Keen of Hamar (National Nature Reserve)

This rocky landscape is home to a community of special plants including northern rock cress, hoary whitlow grass, Norwegian sandwort and Edmondston's chickweed. The underlying Serpentine rock weathers into angular fragments, making this site one of the largest expanses of serpentine debris in Europe. Best to visit in May,June and July.

SNH leaflet for Keen of Hamar NNR available online.

Loch of Spiggie (RSPB Reserve)

Sumburgh, Mainland Shetland.

This shallow loch is home to long-tailed ducks, whooper swans, snipe and lapwings. Best viewed from the road, and access to the loch side is not permitted to avoid disturbing this sensitive area.

More information about Loch of Spiggie Reserve is available on the RSPB website.

Mousa (RSPB Reserve)

Sandwick, Mainland Shetland.

This 410 hectare island is home during the summer months to breeding Arctic terns, arctic skuas, great skuas, eider ducks, black guillemots, oystercatchers, ringed plovers, snipe and redshanks. The highlight of the site is the Iron Age broch which provides a nesting site for some of the 6,000 storm petrels that nest on the reserve. Access is by boat from Leebotten, Sandwick.

More information about Mousa Reserve is available on the RSPB website.

Sumburgh Head (RSPB Reserve)

The headland at the southern most tip of Shetland combines cliffs that host a breeding colony of more than 10,000 seabirds, including gannets, kittiwakes, puffins and shags, with sea-cliff grassland with breeding birds such as wheatear and oystercatcher. Also a good site for viewing cetaceans. Nature trails and interpretative panels available, and disabled parking available at the lighthouse to enable easier viewing of the cliffs.

More information about Sumburgh Head Reserve is available on the RSPB website.