Handa Island
Eilean Shannda
A seabird reserve managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, where about 100,000 seabirds nest on sea cliffs more than 100 metres high in summer, including puffins and great skuas.
Handa Island lies off the Tarbet coast, north of Scourie, and is a nature reserve managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT). Its sandstone sea cliffs rise more than 100 metres high. During the breeding season, about 100,000 birds nest here, including common guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars and puffins. On the north end, the Great Stack sea stack is covered with seabirds. From roughly April to August (closed on Sundays), a small ferry runs from Tarbet to the island in about 10 minutes. There is an approximately 6-kilometre circular trail around the island, which takes about 2 to 3 hours. A return ferry costs about £20, and it is recommended that you donate to the reserve. Handa is about 1.5 hours' drive from Ullapool. Note that there are no facilities on the island, so bring your own food and drink. Great skuas will swoop to defend their nests, so keep to the path.
Opening hours
approx. Apr–Aug, ferries from 09:30 (no service Sun)
Nearby sights
- Kylesku Bridge
- Quinag
- Wailing Widow Falls
- Old Man of Stoer
- Lochinver
- Achmelvich Beach
- Clachtoll Beach & Broch
- Suilven