Dunnet Head Map and Trail Guide
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breeding wading birds, and geese in winter. in geese and birds, wading breeding A mosaic of pools and wet meadows. See See meadows. wet and pools of mosaic A see the seabirds, Dunnet Head is always a thrill. a always is Head Dunnet seabirds, the see rspb.org.uk/broubsterleans Whether you come for a bracing winter walk or to to or walk winter bracing a for come you Whether (23 miles) Tel: 01463 715000 01463 Tel: miles) (23 near Thurso, Caithness Thurso, near historic 19th century lighthouse. lighthouse. century 19th historic RSPB Broubster Leans, Leans, Broubster RSPB to explore, and is the site of Robert Stevenson’s Stevenson’s Robert of site the is and explore, to Dunnet Head has a fascinating World War II history history II War World fascinating a has Head Dunnet see the fascinating wildlife up close. up wildlife fascinating the see Join a guided bog walk in the Flow Country and and Country Flow the in walk bog guided a Join lucky, see whales, dolphins or seals in the sea below. sea the in seals or dolphins whales, see lucky, rspb.org.uk/forsinard Firth to Orkney and Cape Wrath, you might, if you’re you’re if might, you Wrath, Cape and Orkney to Firth (41 miles) Tel: 01641 571225 01641 Tel: miles) (41 As you take in fabulous views across the Pentland Pentland the across views fabulous in take you As Forsinard, Sutherland Sutherland Forsinard, RSPB Forsinard Flows, Flows, Forsinard RSPB you may spot these fast hunters patrolling the cliffs. the patrolling hunters fast these spot may you steal. A pair of peregrines regularly feed nearby, and and nearby, feed regularly peregrines of pair A steal. including the famous Old Man of Hoy rock stack. stack. rock Hoy of Man Old famous the including glide by, looking for an unguarded egg or chick to to chick or egg unguarded an for looking by, glide Orkney has 13 RSPB nature reserves to enjoy, enjoy, to reserves nature RSPB 13 has Orkney Great skuas, ravens and great black-backed gulls gulls black-backed great and ravens skuas, Great rspb.org.uk/orkney fulmars, all raising their young on precarious ledges. ledges. precarious on young their raising all fulmars, Tel: 01856 850176 01856 Tel: thousands of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and and kittiwakes razorbills, guillemots, of thousands Orkney on reserves RSPB Burrow-nesting puffi ns share the cliffs with with cliffs the share ns puffi Burrow-nesting Other local attractions: local Other Scotland’s greatest seabird cities. seabird greatest Scotland’s In this area… this In spectacle and drama of one of of one of drama and spectacle Britain. Experience the summertime summertime the Experience Britain. the northernmost point of mainland mainland of point northernmost the The mighty cliffs of Dunnet Head are are Head Dunnet of cliffs mighty The Welcome Dave, Caithness Dave, rspb.org.uk/dunnethead time isn’t bad either! either! bad isn’t time of our events, visit events, our of seabirds at the same same the at seabirds For dates, prices and full details details full and prices dates, For Seeing hundreds of of hundreds Seeing seabird breeding season). breeding seabird views to Orkney. Orkney. to views a guided walk (these take place throughout the the throughout place take (these walk guided a stunned by the amazing amazing the by stunned Discover more about Dunnet Head’s wildlife on on wildlife Head’s Dunnet about more Discover Guided walks walks Guided Every time I visit I am am I visit I time Every Take part with us with part Take Jack Perks (rspb-images.com) Perks Jack Top things to do How to get here Spring/summer Nearest town: Thurso By car: You can reach Dunnet Head from Thurso. A busy time for nature and a great Follow the A836 to Dunnet and turn left to Brough time for you to explore. on the B855. Grid reference ND202766. By train: The nearest railway station is at Thurso. The 1 Puffi ns and other seabirds return between March nearest bus stop is at Dunnet Corner. and April. Watch the cliffs bustle with activity. Opening times 2 Join an RSPB guided tour to learn more about the The reserve is open at all times. No toilets or café. Dunnet wonderful wildlife here. Admission charges 3 Hear skylarks singing their hearts out over the Entry is free, but donations towards the RSPB’s vital coastal grasslands. work to give nature a home are very welcome. Head 4 Look down from the viewpoint above the cliffs. RSPB Dunnet Head nature reserve You might see a dolphin, whale or seal. For more information, contact us at our North 5 Watch for hunting peregrines, ravens and great Scotland regional offi ce: skuas, soaring above the cliffs. RSPB North Scotland Region Etive House, Beechwood Park, Inverness IV2 3BW Tel: 01463 715000 Autumn/winter E-mail: [email protected] Enjoy the peaceful beauty of rspb.org.uk/dunnethead the landscape. 1 Marvel at the views across to Orkney. 2 In autumn, spot passing gannets, plunge-diving into the sea for food. 3 Watch a winter sunset from the hill top viewpoint – they can be amazing! Helping to give nature a home Come for a clifftop 4 In winter, look for common scoters and long-tailed ducks visiting Dunnet Bay. adventure 5 Find small birds such as twite feeding in fl ocks on the grasslands above the cliffs. See and hear Watch for See for miles Front cover by David Tipling, gannet by Malcom Hunt a breeding whales and across the (both rspb-images.com) seabird city. dolphins. Pentland The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. 720-2007-15-16 Firth. 720-2007-15-16_Dunnet Head lft v2.indd 1 10/05/2016 18:43 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 720-2007-15-16_Dunnet Head lft v2.indd 2 10/05/2016 18:43.