Sumburgh 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 Sumburgh Head, Shetland, ZE3 9JN, UK

Grid ref: HU407079

See our updates page to see which reserves are open.

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

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

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

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

9 degrees, Fog

Contact Sumburgh Head

RSPB Sumburgh Head, Shetland, ZE3 9JN, UK
shetland@rspb.org.uk
01950 460800

What will you see?

Our star species

Fulmar

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

Guillemot

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

Kittiwake

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

Puffin

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

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.

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 - Aberdeen University monitors our breeding seabirds for the Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group (SOTEAG). Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) also help and the Shetland Ringing Group rings seabird adults and chicks. The RSPB monitor puffin breeding success throughout the summer by tracking which burrow an adult puffin brings fish back to, which means there is a puffling inside!
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.

Latest forum posts

read our forum

Activities and events

Events

October

Friday 2 October

Magic of Migration
Shetland

More events

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Sumburgh Head