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  • Loch of Spiggie

Loch of Spiggie

Following the latest mainland lockdown and island restrictions many of our facilities are currently closed. We ask that all visitors follow the latest Scottish Government restrictions on travel and group sizes and advice on physical distancing and hygiene. See below for reserve details and our dedicated Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below). Thank you for your continued support and patience in these challenging times. Stay safe everyone.
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Address
RSPB Loch of Spiggie - 2.5 miles (4km) north of Sumburgh Airport. Turn off the B9122 near Scousburgh.
Grid ref
HU374165
See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

The Lochs of Spiggie and Brow are located west of Boddam and are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Area (SPA) for wildlife conservation. In autumn and winter the lochs attract large numbers of whooper swans, teal and wigeon,while in spring and summer arctic terns, great skuas, tufted ducks and mallards can be seen on the loch, and a variety of waders can be found on the marshes.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

Accessibility

How to get here

By bus

From Lerwick, take the bus to Sumburgh Aiport. To reach the loch, alight at Robin's Brae and walk westwards for 2.5 miles (4 km).

By road

If you are visiting are visiting by car, turn off the B9122 near Scousburgh about 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Sumburgh Airport.

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.

Other ways to get there

By boat: Shetland can be reached by ferry from Aberdeen or Thurso, via Orkney, to Lerwick. Contact Northlink Ferries on 0845 6000 449.
By plane: Flights from Orkney, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh or Glasgow operated by Loganair and Flybe.

Get directions from Google Maps
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Contact Loch of Spiggie

  • RSPB Loch of Spiggie - 2.5 miles (4km) north of Sumburgh Airport. Turn off the B9122 near Scousburgh.
  • shetland@rspb.org.uk
  • 01950 460800

What will you see?

Our star species

    Standing Lapwing illustration

    Lapwing

    In spring, lapwings can be seen tumbling through the air around Loch of Spiggie.

    Male Tufted Duck

    Tufted duck

    Tufted ducks can be seen on Loch of Spiggie throughout the year.

    Redshank, summer plumage

    Redshank

    Redshanks breed on the damp grassland here.

    Snipe illustration

    Snipe

    These cryptically-coloured waders can be seen here throughout the year.

    Whooper swan

    Whooper swan

    Loch of Spiggie is one of Shetland's most important lochs for whooper swans, which are present from October to April.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

On spring evenings, long-tailed ducks can be seen displaying in their breeding plumage. Hear skylarks displaying.

See a variety of nesting waders including oystercatchers, lapwing, curlew, snipe and redshanks. Tufted ducks and mallards also breed on the loch. Arctic terns, kittiwakes and great skuas often use the loch for bathing.

Loch of Spiggie becomes one of Shetland's most important lochs for wildfowl, especially whooper swans which are returning from their breeding grounds.

The wildfowl are still present in large numbers, especially whooper swans and winter ducks.

About Loch of Spiggie

Habitat

This shallow loch was formed when a sea voe was cut off by the formation of a sand bar. It now attracts a large number of swans, ducks and geese. The two small adjacent marshes and wider farmland provide breeding areas for waders such as lapwing, curlew, snipe, oystercatcher and redshanks in spring and summer.

Conservation

The Loch of Spiggie was once a voe, or sea inlet, until it was cut off from the sea when sand dunes formed. Now, the lochs of Spiggie and Brow are two of the largest, naturally nutrient-rich lochs in Shetland. As well as supporting a wealth of wildlife including whooper swans, this botanically-rich area is home to three nationally-scarce plants including slender-leaved pond weed.

RSPB Scotland manages the reserve to protect these special features and to provide homes for important numbers of breeding waders.

Site information

In recognition of their national and international importance for nature, the lochs of Spiggie and Brow and the adjacent marshes form a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area.

The Loch of Spiggie reserve has no viewpoints or parking facilities on site.

Latest blog posts

  • Mousa and Storm Petrols in tonight's The One Show.

    Just to mention that a film about RSPB reserve Mousa and Storm Petrols and an evening visit at dusk featured towards the end of the The One Show on BBC 1 at 7.00pm this evening. For anyone that missed that programme, it will of course be available on...

    Posted 26/06/2015 by THOMO
  • Where are the two Sumburgh Head webcams

    Whats happened to the 2 Sumburgh Head webcams this year as they have both been unavailable to watch since the start of the 2014 breeding season. I like having a varied amountof webcams to choose from and i would like to know what has happened to them...

    Posted 05/05/2014 by THOMO
  • Where is the puffling?

    Can see two adults in the burrow, but no sign of the peerie een!!

    Posted 19/07/2012 by Lunklet
  • What's your favourite seabird in Shetland?

    I can't choose, but it has to be between storm petrels, Arctic skuas, puffins, razorbills, shags and Arctic terns.  Red-throated divers too.

    Posted 20/06/2011 by helen moncrieff
Latest blog posts

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