720-2007-15-16_Dunnet Head lft v2.indd 1 v2.indd lft Head 720-2007-15-16_Dunnet 10/05/2016 18:43 10/05/2016

Firth. in SC037654. 720-2007-15-16 SC037654. Scotland in

The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales 207076, Wales & England in charity registered a is RSPB The

seabird city. seabird dolphins. Pentland Pentland

(both rspb-images.com) (both

a breeding breeding a whales and and whales across the the across Front cover by David Tipling, gannet by Malcom Hunt Hunt Malcom by gannet Tipling, David by cover Front

See and hear hear and See Watch for for Watch See for miles miles for See

on the grasslands above the cliffs. the above grasslands the on

5 Find small birds such as twite feeding in fl ocks ocks fl in feeding twite as such birds small Find

long-tailed ducks visiting Bay. Dunnet visiting ducks long-tailed

adventure

4 In winter, look for common scoters and scoters common for look winter, In

Come for a clifftop clifftop a for Come

Helping to give nature a home a nature give to Helping

viewpoint – they can be amazing! be can they – viewpoint

3 Watch a winter sunset from the hill top top hill the from sunset winter a Watch

into the sea for food. for sea the into

2 In autumn, spot passing gannets, plunge-diving plunge-diving gannets, passing spot autumn, In

1 Marvel at the views across to . to across views the at Marvel

the landscape. the

Enjoy the peaceful beauty of of beauty peaceful the Enjoy

rspb.org.uk/dunnethead

Autumn/winter E-mail: [email protected] E-mail:

Tel: 01463 715000 01463 Tel:

Inverness IV2 3BW IV2 Inverness

Etive House, Beechwood Park, Park, Beechwood House, Etive

skuas, soaring above the cliffs. the above soaring skuas,

RSPB North Scotland Region Scotland North RSPB

5 Watch for hunting peregrines, ravens and great great and ravens peregrines, hunting for Watch

Scotland regional offi ce: ce: offi regional Scotland

For more information, contact us at our North North our at us contact information, more For

You might see a dolphin, whale or seal. or whale dolphin, a see might You

RSPB Dunnet RSPB

4 nature reserve nature Look down from the viewpoint above the cliffs. cliffs. the above viewpoint the from down Look

Head welcome. very are home a nature give to work

coastal grasslands. coastal

Entry is free, but donations towards the RSPB’s vital vital RSPB’s the towards donations but free, is Entry

3 Hear skylarks singing their hearts out over the the over out hearts their singing skylarks Hear

Admission charges Admission wonderful wildlife here. wildlife wonderful

Dunnet Dunnet 2 Join an RSPB guided tour to learn more about the the about more learn to tour guided RSPB an Join The reserve is open at all times. No toilets or café. or toilets No times. all at open is reserve The

Opening times Opening

and April. Watch the cliffs bustle with activity. with bustle cliffs the Watch April. and

1 Puffi ns and other seabirds return between March March between return seabirds other and ns Puffi

nearest bus stop is at Dunnet Corner. Dunnet at is stop bus nearest

The nearest railway station is at . The The Thurso. at is station railway nearest The train: By

time for you to explore. to you for time

on the B855. Grid reference ND202766. ND202766. reference Grid B855. the on

A busy time for nature and a great great a and nature for time busy A Follow the A836 to Dunnet and turn left to Brough Brough to left turn and Dunnet to A836 the Follow

You can reach Dunnet Head from Thurso. Thurso. from Head Dunnet reach can You car: By

Spring/summer

Nearest town: Thurso town: Nearest

How to get here get to How do to things Top Jack Perks (rspb-images.com) Take part with us Every time I visit I am Guided walks stunned by the amazing Discover more about Dunnet Head’s wildlife on a guided walk (these take place throughout the views to Orkney. seabird breeding season). Seeing hundreds of seabirds at the same For dates, prices and full details of our events, visit time isn’t bad either! rspb.org.uk/dunnethead Welcome Dave, The mighty cliffs of Dunnet Head are the northernmost point of mainland Britain. Experience the summertime spectacle and drama of one of In this area… Scotland’s greatest seabird cities. Other local attractions:

Burrow-nesting puffi ns share the cliffs with RSPB reserves on Orkney thousands of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and Tel: 01856 850176 fulmars, all raising their young on precarious ledges. rspb.org.uk/orkney Great skuas, ravens and great black-backed gulls Orkney has 13 RSPB nature reserves to enjoy, glide by, looking for an unguarded egg or chick to including the famous Old Man of rock stack. steal. A pair of peregrines regularly feed nearby, and you may spot these fast hunters patrolling the cliffs. RSPB Forsinard Flows, Forsinard, Sutherland As you take in fabulous views across the Pentland (41 miles) Tel: 01641 571225 to Orkney and Cape Wrath, you might, if you’re rspb.org.uk/forsinard lucky, see whales, dolphins or seals in the sea below. Join a guided bog walk in the and see the fascinating wildlife up close. Dunnet Head has a fascinating World War II history to explore, and is the site of Robert Stevenson’s RSPB Broubster Leans, historic 19th century lighthouse. near Thurso, Caithness (23 miles) Tel: 01463 715000 Whether you come for a bracing winter walk or to rspb.org.uk/broubsterleans see the seabirds, Dunnet Head is always a thrill. A mosaic of pools and wet meadows. See breeding wading birds, and geese in winter. Guy Rogers (rspb-images.com) Dunnet Head Finding your way around

From the excitement of a seabird city to bracing winter walks, Dunnet Head trail there’s lots to enjoy at mainland This walk takes you to exhilarating views at the clifftop viewpoint, and to the Britain’s northernmost point. hilltop panorama. See if you can During the breeding season, the cliffs Just below the car park, look for puffi ns in summer. Over 200 nest underground, spot a rock dove. are home to thousands of seabirds. sometimes taking over rabbit burrows although they can dig their own. When Guillemots are the most common. the chicks leave the nest they go to sea, only returning to breed at four or fi ve Almost 5,000 huddle on cliff ledges years old. Guillemots raise their single around the tip of Dunnet Head. Each chick on very narrow cliff pair guards a single egg, often on You may see soaring kittiwakes and fulmars. Kittiwakes are named for their ledges. unbelievably narrow ledges. The ringing “kitti-way-ake” calls. Fulmars are closely related to albatrosses. They chicks jump into the sea when eject a foul-smelling liquid at intruders approaching their nests! Over 1,200 pairs barely half-grown, each accompanied of kittiwakes and 1,000 pairs of fulmars nest here. by a parent! The male will stay with the youngster and care for it, but Keep a look out! You may also see great skuas, ravens and great black-backed the female may return to the cliff gulls hunting, and, if you’re really lucky, a peregrine falcon patrolling the cliffs. soon after. Take a second look at the pigeons. Dunnet Head is one of the few places in the British Isles where you can see rock doves, the wild ancestors of domestic Similar, but with a deeper bill, are pigeons. They nest in caves around Dunnet Head. razorbills, one of the world’s deepest- diving birds. They are less numerous This nature reserve is an important place for wildlife. RSPB Scotland welcomes here – look for them in more responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. We hope sheltered spots. you enjoy your visit. Guy Rogers (rspb-images.com)

N

W E

Watch the seabirds Lighthouse and S in summer from keeper’s cottage this viewpoint, fl ying to and from (private) their cliff nests.

Coastguard cottages (private) PRIVATE

During the spring and summer colourful After breeding fl ocks plants of the coast like of twite gather on spring squill, thrift the telegraph wires and Scot’s lovage can by the car park be seen

B855 In summer, see and hear skylarks performing their song fl ights.

You can still see the redundant radar installations Don’t miss the from World War II incredible 360 degree panorama at this viewpoint! Key Water

Grassland and heathland

Rock

Parking

Viewpoint

To Thurso For more information about the accessibility of RSPB Dunnet Head please visit rspb.org.uk/dunnethead Map © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. licence 100021787. RSPB copyright. Map © Crown

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