Closer to Wildlife

Close to nature

  1. otter in water
    Official tourist guide to Otters and Seals in the Outer Hebrides
  2. Machair flowers a luskentyre beach, harris
    The Outer Hebrides Machair
  3. Coastal birds
    Official tourist guide to coastal birds in the Outer Hebrides

Island Highlights

Hen Harrier © Laurie Campbell

Surrounded by rolling moorland and young plantations this is a hotspot for hen harriers and short-eared owls. The roadside car park is an excellent vantage point from which to watch.

Hen Harrier © Laurie Campbell

This location is on the shore of a large fresh water loch surrounded by moorland with views south over Beinn Mhor, the highest peak in the Uists. Both species of eagle, hen harrier, merlin and…

Golden Eagle © Laurie Campbell

This visitor centre, hostel and cafe have good views over the shore of loch Erisort, a sea loch regularly visited by white-tailed eagles. This is also an excellent place from which to explore the…

Golden Eagle © Laurie Campbell

A path takes you to the shore of Loch Seaforth, a long fjord-like loch and a stronghold for the white-tailed eagles and otters.

Common Buzzard © Laurie Campbell

A path leads into the interior of Barra with views over Heaval, the islands highest peak. Scan the ridges for golden eagles and white-tailed eagle and keep an eye out for melin darting across the moor

Merlin © Laurie Campbell

Beinn Langais is a prominent hill surrounded by vast areas of peatland, freshwater and sea lochs. A short path runs up to an archaeological site with excellent views over the area.

White-tailed Sea Eagle © Laurie Campbell

The Sound of Harris ferry runs between Berneray and Leverburgh. The route meanders round skerries and rocks and is a haven for wildlife. White-tailed eagles are a particularly common sight around…

White-tailed Sea Eagle © Laurie Campbell

This ferry route runs from Eriskay to the north end of Barra. White-tailed eagles, golden eagles and peregrines are often seen from the ferry as it passes numerous islands and skerries close to Barra.

Common Buzzard © Laurie Campbell

The observatory is a purpose built hide perched in the interior of the rugged North Harris hills commanding spectacular views over the territory of a pair of golden eagles.

White-tailed Sea Eagle © Laurie Campbell

Located at the North of the Archipelago, this rich Machair loch and surrounding wetland is an important migration stopover for wildfowl and waders attracting regular visits from hunting bird of prey,…

Golden Eagle © Laurie Campbell

Located in the northern end of South Uist, Loch Sgioport is a great placee to spot white-tailed eagles.

Common Buzzard © Laurie Campbell

A path leads you into the North Harris hills; one of the largest areas of un-roaded land is Scotland. One of the most reliable places for locating both golden and white-tailed eagles and where the…

Hen Harrier © Lauries Campbell

A path runs across Benbecula, through an area of low lying moorland and lochs. This is an excellent area for hen harrier, short-eared owl and merlin during the breeding season.

A few ideas.....

  1. Puffin and boat at the Shiant Isles
    Take a wildlife trip to The Shiant Isles
  2. Many wading and farmland birds nest on the machair including corn buntings and corncrakes.
  3. White-tailed Sea Eagle © Laurie Campbell
    At Loch Stiapabhat in Ness there is an fantastic eagle hide
    1. 1st January 202331st December 2023
  4. Puffins
    Puffins are lots of people's favourite bird. Their iconic colouring - the blacks, whites and bright oranges, instantly giving rise to nicknames like ‘Sea Parrots’ and ‘Clowns of the Sea’.
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Number of results: 155

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  1. Address

    Committee Road, Isle of North Uist, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of North Uist

    This is our smallest bird of prey with males appearing a dashing, steel blue compared with the slightly larger, rusty-brown females and young.

    Add Merlin-Committee Road to your Itinerary

  2. Address

    Barvas, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, HS2 0XR

    Isle of Lewis

    Low to medium growing with globular flowerheads. Found on coastal grassland and agricultural land

    Add Red Clover-Loch Mor Barvas to your Itinerary

  3. Address

    Boisdale, Isle of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, HS8 5TF

    Isle of South Uist

    A good area to see this species during the spring and summer.

    Add Short Eared Owl - Boisdale to your Itinerary

  4. Address

    Loch Langavat, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of Harris

    Large diving water bird with red neck in summer plumage

    Add Red-throated Diver - Loch Langavat to your Itinerary

  5. Address

    Bruernish, Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of Barra

    Platanthera bifolia
    This delicate coloured orchid, becoming quite rare, can be found at the junction to upper/lower Bruernish

    Add Lesser butterfly orchid-Bruernish to your Itinerary

  6. © Laurie Campbell

    Address

    Loch Carabhat, North Uist, Outer Hebrides

    North Uist

    This stunning diver species breeds on large moorland lochs in the summer and winters in coastal waters.

    Add Black Throated Diver-Loch Carabhat to your Itinerary

  7. Address

    Hushinish, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of Harris

    Large, dark green/black seabird common on the Harris coastline.

    Add Shag - Huisnish to your Itinerary

  8. Address

    Polochar, Isle of South Uist, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of South Uist

    This is a large, heavy-billed diver can resemble a goose, especially in flight.

    Add Great Northern Diver - Polochar to your Itinerary

  9. Address

    Northton, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of Harris

    Distinctive medium sized wading bird with dark green upper parts, white underparts and a crest.

    Add Lapwing - Northton Machair to your Itinerary

  10. Address

    Houghgarry, Isle of North Uist, Outer Hebrides

    Telephone

    01876 560287

    Isle of North Uist

    A beautiful reserve on the north west coast of North Uist with sandy beaches, rocky foreshore,, marshes and sand dunes.

    Add Balranald RSPB Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

  11. Address

    Lochmaddy, Isle of North Uist, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of North Uist

    Refered to as a 'flying barn door' due to its sheer size and bulk.

    Add White Tailed Sea Eagle - Lochmaddy to your Itinerary

  12. © Copyright Anne Burgess and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

    Address

    Hushinish, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of Harris

    A carnivorous plant with starfish-shaped bright green leaves and a blue flower.

    Add Common Butterwort - Huisinis to your Itinerary

  13. © Laurie Campbell

    Address

    Lochmaddy, Isle of North Uist, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of North Uist

    The gardens and surrounding moorland often hold the odd bird during the spring and summer.

    Add Cuckoo-Lochmaddy to your Itinerary

  14. Address

    Loch Thallan, Isle of South Uist, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of South Uist

    This rather fat looking, sparrow-like bird is found in the area around the cemetery or to the south at Kilpheder.

    Add Corn Bunting - Loch Thallan to your Itinerary

  15. Address

    Clisham, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of Harris

    The mountain hare is about twice the size of a rabbit with much longer hind legs and a white winter coat.

    Add Mountain Hare - An Cliseam to your Itinerary

  16. Slavonian Grebe-Sound of Taransay

    Address

    Sound of Taransay, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of Harris

    Small diving waterbird

    Add Slavonian Grebe-Sound of Taransay to your Itinerary

  17. Address

    Lochmaddy Bay, Isle of North Uist, Outer Hebrides

    Isle of North Uist

    Pairs often visit the sea loch to feed.

    Add Red Throated Diver - Lochmaddy Bay to your Itinerary

  18. © Laurie Campbell

    Address

    Kershader, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, HS2 9QA

    Isle of Lewis

    Large semi-aquatic animal. Very sleek profile in water.

    Add European Otter - Loch Erisort to your Itinerary

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