Tour 1 RouteTour 1 - Noup Cliffs RSPB Reserve

Noup Cliffs RSPB Reserve

Comprising of 2.5km of sea cliffs which at the highest point is 76 metres above sea level, the Noup Cliffs RSPB bird reserve has the largest collection of seabirds in Orkney.

Guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars can be seen in large numbers but puffins, razorbill's and black guillemots also breed on the reserve.

Grey and common seals can regularly be seen on the skerrie below the cliffs.

The top of the sea cliffs are home to large amounts of sea pinks, sea campion and sea spurrey, these types of plants are common among coastal areas of northern and western Britain.

Noup Head LighthouseNoup Head Lighthouse

Noup Head Lighthouse was built in 1898 at a cost of £7550 (£964 under estimate!!)

Noup head is a group flashing light which shows 5 flashes over a period of 20 seconds followed by an eclipse of 40 seconds.

The lighthouse was de-manned on 16th December 1964

The original "keepers" house was demolished in 1971 by request of the Northern Lighthouse Board who deemed this course of action cheaper than the upkeep of the buildings, the dwelling house which can be seen today was built in the early fifties for the use of the occasional keepers.

Sights Along the Way

Holm of Aikerness: Used solely for grazing sheep.

Qouygrew: Recently restored medieval building dating back to the 12th - 13th century.

Sand of Grobust: Prehistoric settlement on the Links of Noltland thought to be up to four times larger than Skara Brae and one of the very few Bronze Ages settlements in Orkney.

Noltland Castle: Founded in the second half of the 16th century by Gilbert Balfour who held high office under Mary Queen of Scots. The fortress is built of local grey flagstones, however the dressed work of the castle is wrought in fine red freestone probably brought over from Eday.

Wildlife to Look Out For

Common Seals: Common seals are approximately 1.5 metres long with the bulls weighing up to around 250kg and the cows around half that. Breeding season is between June and July.

The Scottish population of Common seals is estimated at 33,000, about 90% of the world population.

Grey Seals: Grey seals are a little larger than the Common seal, at approximately 2 metres long, the bulls weighing up to around 300kg and the cows about a third less. Their diet consists of all types of fish supplemented by squid, sand eels and crabs. Breeding season is in Autumn.

The Scottish population of Grey seals has been estimated at 140,000.

Harbour Porpoise: Harbour Porpoise are most commonly found around the Hebrides and Northern Isles. Their length ranges from 1.4 - 1.9 metres and they can weigh up to around 65kg. Harbour porpoises are sociable and gather in pods od 2-5.

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