With wildfire risk currently extremely high, we urge visitors to take extra care by avoiding any activity that could start a fire and immediately reporting any signs of smoke or fire to 999 to help protect people and wildlife. Please note, some of our nature reserves are closed due to wildfires, please check before you travel.
Advice on wildfire preventionThu 30 July 2026 12:00Hop on the small ferry and set sail for the remote and wild island of Mousa. This is an island uninhabited by humans, but alive with seabirds and marine life.
Mousa is a small, wild island in Shetland, uninhabited since the nineteenth century. Discover one of the UK's largest Storm Petrel breeding colonies, and the Broch of Mousa, a 2000-year-old Iron Age drystone tower.
Through spring and summer, Mousa hums with breeding populations, such as Black Guillemots and Arctic Terns, Harbour Seals, Great Skuas, Snipe, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Dunlin.
We've been studying and monitoring Storm Petrels, Arctic Terns and Arctic and Great Skuas here since the early 1980s. Today, we also monitor Red-throated Divers, waders, Shags and Harbour and Grey Seals.
The Mousa Ferry operates between April to September, every day except Saturdays. A visit to this wild island is unforgettable. Do remember though, there are no facilities on the island.
Mousa is reached by boat via The Mousa Boat who run trips every day of the week except Saturdays, from early April until early September. Parking for the boat is at Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick. 20 spaces. Tarmac surface. Firm, flat, bare ground and paving to interpretive centre.
There are no accessible toilets on the island or near to the parking. The nearest accessible toilets are in Lerwick round 14 miles away.
There are no baby changing facilities on the island or near to the parking. The nearest baby change is in Lerwick round 14 miles away.
The trail is uneven, steep, narrow, stony and boggy in places, and therefore not suitable for those visitors requiring extra mobility assistance or are not sure-footed.
The trail is uneven, steep, narrow, stony and boggy in places, and therefore not suitable for those visitors requiring extra mobility assistance or are not sure-footed.
There are no toilets on the island. Nearest toilets can be found at the car park by Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick. Step and narrow door to ladies. Wide cubicle in gents' but shallow step and no grab rails.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the reserve at any time.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve. Please check with ferry providers whether dogs are permitted to travel on the ferry.
Please check with ferry providers whether dogs are permitted to travel on the ferry. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. During the ground-nesting bird breeding season (1 April to 15 August) and in areas with livestock, we would ask that you keep your dog on a short lead and clean up after them.
The night time price is £30 for adults and £10 Children. The daytime sailings are £18 for adults and £8 for Children. The RSPB receive no income from the boat fare, so please do consider using our donation cairn to donate to our work here