Please help Handa Island by making a donation Join us today! today. Text “HANDA5” to 70085 to donate £5. Sutherland’s Texts are charged at your standard network rate. You can help support our vital work managing Handa Island. spectacular • Free entry to all our visitor centres and reserves Health & safety • Subscription to our Scottish Wildlife magazine Please read the following information seabirds! • Free copy of our Exploring Reserves guide carefully before setting out. • Invitation to exclusive talks and events In an emergency, please call the emergency Visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk services on 112. for more information or call 0131 312 7765 In the event of any problems, please phone the ranger on 07920 468 572. You might also like to visit … Please keep to the footpath for your safety and Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre for the benefit of the nesting birds. Each spring, ospreys arrive here from west Africa. The observation hide offers stunning views of the The boardwalk and grass path can become ospreys rearing their chicks. Interactive displays in slippery when wet. Take care! the centre tell the story of Lowes and its wildlife – otters, red squirrels and much more. A Dunkeld PH8 0HH T 01350 727 337 Stay away from the edge due to crumbling cliffs, E [email protected] slippery grass and high winds. Ben Mor Coigach Wildlife Reserve Ben Mor Coigach dominates the landscape north of Ferry runs Apr to Aug, 9.30am-4.45pm. Ullapool. Our largest reserve covers 6,000 hectares Last ferry to Handa 2pm. No service on Sundays. and is managed as a crofted estate. Coigach is a wild place; from its summit, spectacular views of the Wilfully or recklessly disturbing wildlife is a criminal north west coast are laid out before you. A Highlands IV26 2YJ T 0131 312 7765 offence and we will report all incidents to the police. E [email protected]
Rahoy Hills Wildlife Reserve The Rahoy Hills encompass a diverse range of habitats from windswept grasslands, mires and Wildlife sightings heaths to cliffs, lochans and oak woodlands. The cliffs support tall-herb and arctic-alpine plants. If you are Please report all wildlife sightings on your return lucky, you will be able to see golden and sea eagles. A Highlands PA34 5XE T 0131 312 7765 to the visitor shelter. You can also send pictures E [email protected] and sightings to the ranger by emailing [email protected]
For information on places to see near scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Harbourside House 110 Commercial Street Edinburgh EH6 6NF you, visit our website: T 0131 312 7765 E [email protected] Handa Island
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (no. SC040247). It is also a Scottish registered charity (no SC005792). Cover image of Wildlife Reserve scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/visit puffin © Steve Gardner. Osprey © Steve Gardner. Ben Mor Coigach © Mark Hamblin- 2020VISION. Rahoy © Scottish Wildlife Trust. Leaflet is printed on FSC accredited stock. (Jan 2020) Handa Island Welcome to Handa Island Wildlife Reserve Please stay on the path or Great Stack ! boardwalk at all times and do not approach any of the lochs. This is Visitor information You are now in the historic village, last Puffin 1 inhabited in 1847. Following the potato 4 Bay for your own safety and to avoid Swaabie disturbing breeding birds and other PUFFINS are best seen famine all of the remaining 64 residents were 3 Loch around the Great Stack moved across the Atlantic to Nova Scotia. wildlife. As you approach the from May to July. northern cliffs take great care. Geodh na See overleaf for more detailed Goibhre GUILLEMOTS, FULMARS, Keep an eye out for health and safety information. RAZORBILLS AND 2 the inquisitive red Poll Ghlup KITTIWAKES reside here grouse, bullying bonxies 5 in their thousands, (great skuas) and thieving 2 making the cliffs of Arctic skuas that nest here. Handa one of the most Please keep to the path Dropping down to important colonies in the and, if the skuas swoop Remains 1 of Village 6 Boulder Bay, you UK and Europe. towards you, hold up your hand and move on quickly can often see eider ducks and oystercatchers. Seals DOLPHINS, WHALES to keep disturbance to a Meall a’Bhodha regularly “bottle” here, AND BASKING SHARKS minimum. Look out for Visitor sticking their noses out of the are often seen off flowers such as heath- shelter water while they rest. This is the coast. spotted orchids and lousewort in the heath. 6 Traigh Shourie the best place on the island An Toll Port to see an otter, so sit quietly TORRIDONIAN an Eilein Map derived from OS data: for a while and look carefully. SANDSTONE Boulder Bay © Crown copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence No: 100028223 is the bedrock of the At Puffin Bay, see the fulmars island. Over 1,000 3 enjoying the wind and seals Poll Ghlup is the name of this spectacular million years old, it swimming in the water. Looking to the 5 collapsed sea cave. Please stay away from provides good ledges east, there are lots of great skuas that The Great Stack is a huge tower of Torridonian the edge as there is an overhang all the way for nesting birds. For gather to bathe and drink on Swaabie 4 sandstone set apart from the main island. It holds around. Moving on, keep an eye out to sea, where more information, search Loch. Please do not approach the loch. an incredible density of seabirds. The Stack is nearly whales, dolphins and porpoises are often seen. online for North West impossible to climb from the bottom. More people have Please allow at least 90 minutes of quick walking Highlands Geopark. stood on the moon than have reached the top of it! to return to the landing beach from this point.
HANDA is owned by the Scourie Estate and managed in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust.