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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As well as breeding snipe, curlews, redshanks, lapwings and teals there are also good displays of flowering wetland plants.
Reknowned as much for its location and history as for its stunning wildlife, St Kilda is a “must visit” destination for anyone interested in Scotlands wildlife. The archipelago supports Europe’s most important seabird colony, including the world’s biggest gannet colony and Britain’s largest fulmar colony.
The five low-lying islands that make up the island group are renowned for their machair, breeding grey seals and sea birds, including one of the largest single black guillemot colonies in the UK. Although difficult to access, they are well worth the journey.
These isolated islands provide a breeding site for the rare Leach’s and storm petrels as well as fulmars, gannets, razorbills, guillemots and puffins.
A reserve of great contrasts between the sandy beaches and machair of the western edge of the reserve, and the heather moorland and rough grassland of the eastern stretches. Breeding birds include corncrakes, dunlin, redshank, lapwing, ringed plover and greylag geese.
The reserve provides a cross section of sandy beaches, sand dunes, machir and moorland. The rocky foreshore and shallow lochs add to the wide variety of habitats.
Located at the south-eastern tip of the Isle of Seil, close to Oban, the hazel woods are renowned for their lichens. Also of interest are the colonies of Marsh Fritillary butterflies, resident otters and breeding woodland birds. Best to visit during the spring and summer.
This is the largest of the SWT reserves, and is a wild place with spectacular views of the coastline and surrounding landscape. The landscape is typical of the area and is still under croft use. Located north of Ullapool, access is from the road to Achiltibuie. Facilites: Habitats: upland, peatland, coast Species: juniper, salmon, red…
Reached by passenger ferry from Tarbert, north of Scourie. The island is spectacular with cliffs, sandy beaches and exposed grassland. It is best to come during May, June or July to see the breeding seabirds. It is possible to volunteer here on a short or longer term basis. Facilities: Ranger, information point, Habitats: cliffs Species:…
Located on the small island of South Walls, accessible by ferry to the Isle of Hoy and then causeway. Facilities: car park, waymarked paths Habitats: cliffs, caves Species: nesting sea-birds, eider duck, scottish primrose OS Grid Reference: ND313885 Latitude: 58.77898627 Longitude: -3.18832428
Cliffs and grassland, with breeding seabirds and wild flowers to see.
Raised bog with boardwalk for access to view birds, butterflies, lichens, mosses, insects and amphibians.
Marsh and shallow loch, good for viewing breeding gulls and overwintering wildfowl.
The basin is an extensive enclosed estuary of the South Esk river, providing tidal mudflats much favoured by overwintering wildfowl and waders, including approximately 40,000 pink-footed geese and 1,000 greylags. The visitor centre is well worth a visit, expecially for families. It offers uninterupted views across the basin and a selection of high powered telescopes…
Loch Leven is Scotlands largest lowland freshwater loch and during the summer holds largest concentration of breeding freshwater duck in Britain. Winter time sees the arrival of overwintering geese and wildfowl, including up to 20,000 pink-footed geese. See also the information on Vane Farm RSPB Reserve and Visitor Centre. The SNH website gives further information…