Dunnet Head

We're working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Many have now re-opened in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although some facilities are not yet available. Some reserves remain closed for now. See our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

Address: RSPB Dunnet Head, Dunnet Head Lighthouse, Brough, Thurso KW14 8XS

Grid ref: ND201766

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

This rugged peninsula in Caithness, located on the north coast of Scotland, has the honour of being the most northerly point of mainland Britain. It's a wild and untamed landscape, with stunning sea cliffs and coastal grasslands which are home to puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes.

Plan your visit

Covid-19 update: The car park and trails are open at this reserve.

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

Car park
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Thurso is the nearest station. Follow the A836 west to Dunnet, where you turn left on to the B855 for Brough. After two miles you'll reach Dunnet Head.

By bus

Dunnet Corner, on Rapsons route 80.

By road

From the A836, take the B855 north to Brough for two miles (3 km) until you reach Dunnet Head.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

11 degrees, Light rain

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 4.8Mb

Dunnet Head map and trail guide

Contact Dunnet Head

RSPB Dunnet Head, Dunnet Head Lighthouse, Brough, Thurso KW14 8XS
nsro@rspb.org.uk
01463 715000

What will you see?

Our star species

Fulmar

Watch for their trademark stiff-winged flight around the cliffs.

Guillemot

Although ungainly on land, guillemots become agile and manoeuvrable underwater.

Kittiwake

Visit Dunnet Head in spring and early summer and your ears will be filled with their unmistakable calls.

Puffin

Enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer from the viewing points on the cliffs.

Razorbill

Razorbills spend most of their lives at sea in the Atlantic, only coming to land to breed between March and July.

Dunnet Head is a great place to see puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes. Other species may be seen at sea such as gannets and herring gulls. Be prepared to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a busy seabird colony! Early in the season, watch the birds constructing their precarious nests and performing courtship rituals.

Summer sees the seabird chicks growing up. Their parents will be frantically fishing and bringing food to their offspring, but the cliffs become quieter as the youngsters learn to fly and eventually make their way out to sea. Great and Arctic skuas are often present harrying the other seabird species for food.

On a clear day, there are wonderful views over Caithness and Sutherland and across the sea to Orkney. You might see twite as they gather on the overhead wires.

About Dunnet Head

Habitat

The most northerly point in mainland Britain, Dunnet Head has stunning sea cliffs and coastal grassland. These are home to puffins, razorbills, guillemots and fulmars. Above the cliffs are some very diverse coastal heathland and grassland habitats with special plants such as spring squill, thrift and roseroot.

Conservation

The most northerly point in mainland Britain, Dunnet Head has stunning sea cliffs and coastal grassland. These are home to puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, shags and cormorants. We are undertaking annual seabird monitoring work as part of national surveys to contribute to our knowledge of how seabirds are doing. Above the cliffs are some very diverse coastal heathland and grassland habitats with special plants such as spring squill, thrift and roseroot.

Site information

This nature reserve is important for wildlife. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

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Dunnet Head