RSPB - giving nature a home
Search
Close
Skip to content
Shop | Community
Log in | Sign up
  • About the RSPB
      About us
    • Our History
    • What we do
    • How the RSPB is run
    • RSPB Media Centre
    • RSPB job vacancies
    • At home & abroad
    • International
    • England
    • Northern Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Get in touch
    • Contact us
    • RSPB offices
    • Connect with us your way
      Our activities
    • Gardening for wildlife

      Gardening for wildlife

      See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus

    • Connect with us your way

      Connect with us your way

      From our regular emails to your favourite social media, there’s more than one way to keep in touch with nature

    • Our History

      Our History

      Discover how a campaign against feathers in fashion sparked a global force to save nature with more than a million members

  • Our work
      Nature conservation
    • Conservation and sustainability
    • Projects
    • Landscape scale conservation
    • Centre for Conservation Science
    • Satellite tracking birds
    • RSPB News
    • RSPB News
    • 'Our work' blog
    • Policy and Insight
    • Policy and Insight: England and Westminster
    • Casework
      Featured news
    • Mindful mornings

      Mindful mornings

      If you can’t get outside, why not bring the outside in by downloading our bird song radio app?

    • How nature can help protect our homes

      How nature can help protect our homes

      Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector.

    • Casework

      Casework

      Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places.

  • Birds and wildlife
      Wildlife guides
    • Identify a bird
    • Bird A-Z
    • Other garden wildlife
    • Guide to birdwatching
    • What is the Red List for UK birds?
    • Nature's Calendar
    • Nature's Home magazine
    • About Nature's Home magazine
    • Birds and wildlife articles
    • RSPB Podcasts
    • Nature's Home blog
    • Birds and Wildlife Advice
    • How you can help birds
    • Gardening for wildlife
    • Ask an expert
    • Wildlife and the law
    • How to report crimes against wild birds
    • Bird songs
    • Which bird song is that?
    • Most popular bird guides this month
    • Bird migration

      Bird migration

      Migrating birds have travelled thousands of miles just to get here. Find out why.

    • Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help

    • In for a duck

      In for a duck

      It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans?

  • Get Involved
      Activities
    • Big Garden Birdwatch
    • Nature on Your Doorstep
    • RSPB Competitions
    • Dolphinwatch
    • #MyClimateAction
    • Community & advice
    • Join our local groups
    • How green are you?
    • RSPB Community
    • Get involved blog
    • Volunteering & fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Fundraise
    • Help nature thrive as a corporate partner
    • Our grant funders
    • Campaigning
    • Campaigning in Scotland
    • Campaigning in Wales
    • Campaigning in England
    • Campaigning in Northern Ireland
    • The nature and climate emergency
    • Protecting wildlife sites
    • Campaign with us
    • Top activities to do
    • Nature on Your Doorstep

      Nature on Your Doorstep

      Great ideas on how your garden, or even a small backyard or balcony, can become a mini nature reserve

    • How green are you?

      How green are you?

      See some of the ways you can get into green living.

    • Campaigning

      Campaigning

  • Reserves & events
      Reserves A-Z
    • Consall Woods
    • Fore Wood
    • Haweswater
    • Langford Lowfields
    • Loch Spynie
    • Oronsay
    • Otmoor Reserve
    • Loch Druidibeg
    • Events, dates & inspiration
    • Events
    • COVID-19 information
    • Dates with nature
    • Places to visit blog
    • #ThanksToYou
    • Reserves Alerts
      Top reserves this month
    • Marshside

      Marshside

      This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region.

    • Lytchett Fields

      Lytchett Fields

      The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds.

    • Arne

      Arne

      Heathland home to more than 2565 species.

  • Fun & learning
      For teachers
    • Supporting resources
    • Wild Challenge
    • School outreach visits
    • Big Schools Birdwatch
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • School trip ideas
    • For kids
    • Fun factoids for all the family
    • Games and activities
    • Kids stories
    • RSPB kids competitions
    • For families
    • Big Wild Sleepout
    • Wild Challenge
    • Nature reserves for families
    • Robin Robin
    • Cameron's Cottage
    • Your Support
    • About Cameron's cottage
    • Latest kids' activities
    • Wild Challenge

      Wild Challenge

      Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Get out, get busy and get wild!

    • Fun factoids for all the family

      Fun factoids for all the family

      Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window.

    • Youth membership

      Youth membership

      As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home.

  • Join & Donate
      Join us
    • Choose a membership
    • Family membership
    • Youth membership
    • Gift membership
    • Nature is stronger with you on its side. Become a Life Fellow today.
    • Renew your membership
    • Donate
    • Philanthropy & Major Gifts
    • Our appeals
    • Make a one-off donation
    • Make a regular donation
    • In Memory Donations
    • Plant a celebration tree
    • In Memory Booklet
    • Leave a gift to nature in your Will
    • Why Include a Gift to Nature in Your Will
    • How to Include us in Your Will
    • Information for executors & solicitors
    • Download your free guide
    • Other ways to help
    • Gift Aid
    • Support us when you shop
    • RSPB Images
    • RSPB second-hand binocular scheme
    • Win with the RSPB
    • Payroll Giving
    • Stamp out albatross deaths
  • Login to your account Sign up for an RSPB account
  • Shop
  • Community
  • Home
  • Reserves & events
  • Reserves A-Z
  • Sumburgh Head

Sumburgh Head

gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
Address
RSPB Sumburgh Head, Shetland, ZE3 9JN, UK
Grid ref
HU407079
What3Words
void.tank.exporters

At the southern tip of mainland Shetland, Sumburgh Head is characterised by steep cliffs, a historic lighthouse building and one of Britain’s most accessible seabird colonies. Enjoy the spectacle of thousands of seabirds during the summer, including puffins, fulmars, guillemots and shags. Also keep watch for passing cetaceans such as minke whales, orcas and dolphins in the sea.

Plan your visit

Opening times

The trails and car park are open at the reserve. For further information about The Sumburgh Head Lighthouse and Visitor Centre please visit www.sumburghhead.com.

Trails 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.
Car park suggested donation

All facilities onsite including the toilets are managed by Shetland Amenity Trust, please do consider donating to help support their upkeep of the facilities. Thank you

Facilities

  • Visitor centre
  • Car park
  • Toilets
  • Accessible toilets
  • Pushchair friendly
  • Café
  • Picnic area
  • Viewing point
  • Shop

Accessibility

How to get here

By bus

The bus runs between Lerwick and Sumburgh Airport. The reserve is located approximately 2 miles (3.5 km) from the airport.

By road

The reserve is on the southern-most tip of Mainland Shetland. On the A970 about 0.3 mile (0.5 km) east of the turn off to Sumburgh Aiport, turn right at Grutness and carry on for about 1.25 miles (2 km) until you reach the main car park. From there it's a 0.3 mile (0.5 km) walk to the lighthouse. For less mobile visitors, there is a small disabled parking area near the lighthouse.

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
View on What3Words
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Contact Sumburgh Head

  • RSPB Sumburgh Head, Shetland, ZE3 9JN, UK
  • shetland@rspb.org.uk
  • 01950 460800
  • Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

    Flying adult Fulmar illustration

    Fulmar

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

    Guillemot illustration

    Guillemot

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

    kittiwake adult

    Kittiwake

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

    Puffin, adult in summer plumage

    Puffin

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

    Shag illustration

    Shag

    You can see shags perching on the rocks at Sumburgh Head.

Nature spectacles

Thousands of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes and shags put on a spectacular show from May to mid-August on the cliffs and sea stacks around Sumburgh Head.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer

During spring, seabirds return to the cliffs to breed. Other birds breeding on the reserve include oystercatchers, starlings, house sparrows, wrens and wheatears.

Summer is the best time to visit Sumburgh Head, when thousands of puffins and other seabirds put on a spectacular show from May to mid-August. Each species of seabird has its special nesting place on the cliffs. The seas here are home to harbour porpoises (neesicks), white-beaked dolphins, orcas and minke and even humpback whales are sometimes seen. Grey seals (selkies) often haul themselves out onto the rocks. In late summer, male eider ducks gather below the cliffs to moult from their black-and-white breeding plumage into a sooty-brown 'eclipse' plumage.

About Sumburgh Head

Habitat

Steep cliffs at Sumburgh Head support a large seabird colony, with each seabird species occupying different areas of the cliff. The sandy soils of the cliff tops are perfect for puffins to dig their burrows, and lots of passerines such as twites, wrens and rock pipits use the stone dykes, rocky cliff face and grassy cliff tops for nesting and feeding. 

Conservation

The RSPB is managing the site for all its wildlife interest, while promoting marine conservation and offering an exciting visitor experience. We also support other conservation and research organisations. Our Area Office has been on the reserve since 1996.

  • Breeding birds - We are safeguarding the site for its breeding colony of more than 10,000 seabirds, which includes kittiwakes, fulmars and shags. We also maintain the sea-cliff grassland for breeding birds, such as puffins, by limiting grazing to 4ha in the north.
  • Keeping tabs - Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group (SOTEAG) monitor the seabird populations onsite. NatureScot also help and the Shetland Ringing Group rings seabird adults and chicks. The RSPB monitor puffin numbers onsite, by carrying out a full headland count of returning adult birds.
  • Spreading the word - We are using Sumburgh to promote marine policy issues to local and national government and other relevant organisations. When possible, the reserve also serves as an advisory, education and training resource.

Site information

The lighthouse complex at Sumburgh Head is operated by the Shetland Amenity Trust. To find out about opening times, facilities and events, please visit their website. 

All facilities onsite including the toilets are managed by Shetland Amenity Trust, please do consider donating to help support the upkeep of the facilities. Thank you.

Read our blog and recent sightings

  • Dave and Jacky Sabbatical Blog

    Arriving on Shetland Like many visitors our first encounter of Shetland was a misty morning coming into Lerwick on the overnight ferry from Aberdeen.  The arctic terns (tirricks to give them their Shetland name) wheeling about and a passing arctic sk...

    Posted 04/08/2022 by Tirrick8
  • There's chicks about.

    We’re at a really lovely time of year on Shetland; the wildflowers are in bloom, the sun occasionally puts in an appearance and there are chicks everywhere. Down at RSPB Sumburgh Head the first pufflings have been seen and the adults are putting on q...

    Posted 08/07/2022 by Beth A
  • A month in Shetland - Keith's sabbatical

    My sabbatical on Shetland was planned from mid-May to mid-June, as although quite early in the season for many species so far north, it is a key time to help with breeding bird survey work, and there's a chance of seeing an exciting species or two on...

    Posted 22/06/2022 by Beth A
  • Phalarope season

    This week has seen the start to our favourite part of the year – red-necked phalarope monitoring time!  Once a week for the next six weeks we’ll be visiting phalarope breeding sites in Shetland to record the number of birds and the behaviour they are...

    Posted 17/06/2022 by Beth A
More blogs and sightings

Activities and events

Leisure activities

For more information on events and to book tickets, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/sumburghhead

Share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

You might also be interested in

Tufted ducks swimming, Glasgow

Loch of Spiggie

The Lochs of Spiggie and Brow are located west of Boddam in the parish of Dunrossness in Shetland.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Global Extinction appeal

Please help turn bad news into good for the puffin and turtle dove. Both are now facing global extinction.
A group of people in hiking gear walking through a hilly landscape

Volunteer

At the RSPB there are hundreds of ways you can volunteer and take action to help save nature.

We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy

Quick links

  • Contact us
  • Online Community
  • Vacancies
  • Media centre

Information for

  • Teachers
  • Policy makers
  • Farmers & landowners
  • Scientists

Our work in

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Email

Partnering with

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International.

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Find out more about the partnership

Fundraising Regulator logo OSCR logo

© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Charter and statutes
  • About our site
  • Modern Slavery Act

Cookie Preferences

Accepting all non-essential cookies helps us to personalise your experience

Edit settings
Accept all

Essential cookies are required

These cookies are required for basic web functions

Enable analytics cookies

Allow us to collect anonymised performance data

Enable marketing cookies

Allow us to personalise your experience

Save settings
Read our cookie policy