Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Paid entryDogs welcome
Getting here
58.12357, -3.65918
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦107+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Great Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull
- 🛝Playground 255m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦107+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Great Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull
- 🛝Playground 255m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
Best for
3 activities🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Shag +104 more · last seen 2025
Birds — Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Shag +104 more · last seen 2025
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Common Hawker, Common Green Grasshopper, Emerald Damselfly +14 more · last seen 2025
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
John O'Groats Trail (Brora to Helmsdale)Walking route▾
Named routeRef JoG07Local walking route
John O'Groats Trail (Helmsdale to Berriedale)Walking route▾
Named routeRef JoG08Local walking route
Photos
20 photos from nearby open sources
Approaching Helmsdale from the Strath of Kildonan
Photos
Approaching Helmsdale from the Strath of Kildonan
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
4,825 records from NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
4,825 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds107 species
springsummerautumn
2025Great Black-backed Gull · Herring Gull · Shag · Cormorant · Jackdaw
+102 more speciesHide species list
Red Deer · Hedgehog · Grey Seal · Pine Marten
🦎Reptiles3 species
springsummer
2025Adder · Slow-worm · Common Lizard
Common Hawker · Common Green Grasshopper · Emerald Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Pterostichus niger
+12 more speciesHide species list
All 17 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Common HawkerAeshna juncea2023
- Common Green GrasshopperOmocestus viridulus2023
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2023
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2023
- Pterostichus nigerPterostichus niger
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
4,825 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds107 species
springsummerautumn
2025Great Black-backed Gull · Herring Gull · Shag · Cormorant · Jackdaw
+102 more speciesHide species list
Red Deer · Hedgehog · Grey Seal · Pine Marten
🦎Reptiles3 species
springsummer
2025Adder · Slow-worm · Common Lizard
Common Hawker · Common Green Grasshopper · Emerald Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Pterostichus niger
+12 more speciesHide species list
All 17 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Common HawkerAeshna juncea2023
- Common Green GrasshopperOmocestus viridulus2023
- Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2023
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2023
- Pterostichus nigerPterostichus niger
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
Bombus terrestris
Macrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosaeMacrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosaeMacrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosaeMacrosiphum (Macrosiphum) rosaeGerman WaspVespula germanicaGerman WaspVespula germanicaTree BumblebeeBombus hypnorumTree BumblebeeBombus hypnorumElm-currant AphidEriosoma ulmiElm-currant AphidEriosoma ulmiRed-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipesRed-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipesEristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2024Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2024Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2023Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2023Siphonoperla torrentiumSiphonoperla torrentium2019Siphonoperla torrentiumSiphonoperla torrentium2019Mycetophila edwardsiMycetophila edwardsi2019Mycetophila edwardsiMycetophila edwardsi2019Bibio johannisBibio johannis2019Bibio johannisBibio johannis2019Heath BumblebeeBombus jonellus2019Heath BumblebeeBombus jonellus2019Events & activities nearby
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