Noup Cliffs

All of Scotland’s wild places and green spaces are vital for the survival of its unique, amazing wildlife. If you plan to head out to these areas please respect and protect Scotland’s great outdoors. As guidelines change we are working hard to re-open our facilities. 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.

Address: RSPB Noup Cliffs, Orkney KW17 2DW, UK

Grid ref: HY392499

What3Words: battle.palettes.escape

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

Discover a seabird city on a spectacular walk along the top of Noup Cliffs, 76 metres above the churning ocean. Marvel at the sights and sounds of thousands of seabirds and don't miss the delicate wildflowers which grow along this wildest of wild coastal paths.

Plan your visit

COVID-19 update: access to the island relies on local travel providers. Please check before you travel.

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
Educational facilities

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

There is no public transport to the reserve.

By bus

There is no public transport to the reserve.

By road

From Pierowall village, towards the north end of the island, turn west at the school, following the signs to Noup Cliffs. Turn left at the junction past Noltland Castle, following the road up the hill, eventually passing through Noup Farm. Follow the gravel road to the Noup Lighthouse where there is a car park at the reserve entrance. The gravel road to the reserve entrance should only be attempted in a 4x4 vehicle.

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

Westray is reached by a roll on-roll off ferry from Kirkwall, which can take passengers and vehicles - visit Orkney Ferries for more information. It can also be reached by plane from Tingwall Airport - visit the Loganair site for details.

For flights and ferry information to Orkney, contact VisitOrkney at West Castle Street, Kirkwall, KW15 1GU. Website: visitorkney.com Tel: 01856 872856.

Get directions from Google Maps

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group visits are welcome, however the road past Noup Farm is a rough track and care should be taken by all vehicles. For more information, please contact the Orkney office on 01856 850176.

School visits are available on our Orkney reserves on a variety of topics. Please contact the Orkney Office on 01856 850176 for further details.

Contact Noup Cliffs

RSPB Noup Cliffs, Orkney KW17 2DW, UK
orkney@rspb.org.uk
01856 850176

What will you see?

Our star species

Arctic tern

Arctic terns nest at Noup Cliffs, but be careful not to stray too close to their nests, as they will attack!

Gannet

Look for stunning gannets cruising around at the base of the cliffs and fishing out to sea.

Guillemot

Although ungainly above water, underwater they are agile and manoeuvrable.

Kittiwake

Visit Noup Cliffs in spring and early summer and your ears will be filled with their calls.

Puffin

You can enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer.

Nature spectacles

Visit in June to enjoy the frenetic activity of the seabird city at its best with the sights, sounds and smells of thousands of seabirds rushing to raise their chicks before returning to sea for the winter.

Seabirds return to the cliffs to breed, including guillemots, gannets, puffins and kittiwakes. At the beginning of May, Arctic terns arrive to begin breeding.

The coastal plants are in full bloom along the cliff tops. You can see seabirds feeding chicks on the cliff ledges too.

Whales and dolphins, although not common, can occasionally be seen on calm days.

Fulmars and gannets can be seen offshore during the winter months. The seas can be impressive during periods of wild and stormy weather, but take care as the cliff edges are dangerous in high winds.

About Noup Cliffs

Habitat

A spectacular cliff-top walk. Marvel at the sights, sounds and smells of thousands of jostling seabirds, but don't miss the delicate wildflowers along this wild coastal path.

Conservation

We are maintaining the spectacular sea cliffs for the benefit of breeding populations of gannets, guillemots, fulmars, razorbills and puffins, while protecting the site from disturbance and introduced mammalian predators.

We monitor the breeding populations of our seabirds, and the results are fed into national monitoring schemes to help inform policy on seabird conservation measures. Our wider work on Westray also includes surveying for corncrakes and monitoring wader and tern populations across the island.

Site information

Reaching more than 76 metres above the sea, these dramatic cliffs house Orkney's largest seabird colony. The reserve is small, at only 14 hectares, but once seen, it's never forgotten!

Walk along the cliff path in the summer and you'll see an array of wildflowers, while below you on the cliffs, gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes and razorbills will be nesting. Puffins are seen daily, and whales and dolphins are occasionally spotted.

Take care on the paths. The importance of the seabird cities is recognised by designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA).

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Leisure activities

Birdwatching, walking, photography, botany.

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