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Broch of Gurness settlement

1 ha

📷 Patrick Mackie · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeSeasonal

Dogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

59.12383, -3.08140

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦72+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Oystercatcher and Common Gull
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦72+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Oystercatcher and Common Gull
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingParking· Free

Best for

6 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Oystercatcher, Common Gull, Herring Gull +69 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Oystercatcher, Common Gull, Herring Gull +69 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Cowslip, Common Hemp-nettle, Changing Forget-me-not +18 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Cowslip, Common Hemp-nettle, Changing Forget-me-not +18 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Large Red Damselfly · last seen 2025; Insects — Large Red Damselfly · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Good match

Plants — Common Hemp-nettle, Watercress, Common Sorrel

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚴

Cycling

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 9Cycling route

Named routeRef EV12International cycle route

Orkney Prehistory Loop RideCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

4,546 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

4,546 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds54 species

summerautumn

2025

Ringed Plover · Oystercatcher · Common Gull · Redshank · Black-headed Gull +49

Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Common GullLarus canus
RedshankTringa totanus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
SwallowHirundo rustica
Rock DoveColumba livia
CurlewNumenius arquata
EiderSomateria mollissima
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
DunlinCalidris alpina
FulmarFulmarus glacialis
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
ShagGulosus aristotelis
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
GannetMorus bassanus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
LapwingVanellus vanellus
Common TernSterna hirundo
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
LinnetLinaria cannabina
RookCorvus frugilegus
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
SanderlingCalidris alba
RavenCorvus corax
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica
JackdawColoeus monedula
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Great SkuaStercorarius skua
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Common GuillemotUria aalge
RazorbillAlca torda
SkylarkAlauda arvensis

🦌

Mammals1 species

autumn

2025

Grey Seal

Grey SealHalichoerus grypus

🐝

Insects1 species

summer

2025

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula

🌿

Plants7 species

summer

2025

Common Hemp-nettle · Creeping Thistle · Gorse · Corn Spurrey · Changing Forget-me-not +2

Common Hemp-nettleGaleopsis tetrahit
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
GorseUlex europaeus
Corn SpurreySpergula arvensis
Changing Forget-me-notMyosotis discolor
Polygonum avicularePolygonum aviculare
Northern Dead-nettleLamium confertum

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

4,546 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds54 species

summerautumn

2025

Ringed Plover · Oystercatcher · Common Gull · Redshank · Black-headed Gull +49

Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Common GullLarus canus
RedshankTringa totanus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
SwallowHirundo rustica
Rock DoveColumba livia
CurlewNumenius arquata
EiderSomateria mollissima
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
DunlinCalidris alpina
FulmarFulmarus glacialis
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
ShagGulosus aristotelis
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
GannetMorus bassanus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
LapwingVanellus vanellus
Common TernSterna hirundo
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
LinnetLinaria cannabina
RookCorvus frugilegus
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
SanderlingCalidris alba
RavenCorvus corax
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica
JackdawColoeus monedula
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Great SkuaStercorarius skua
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Common GuillemotUria aalge
RazorbillAlca torda
SkylarkAlauda arvensis

🦌

Mammals1 species

autumn

2025

Grey Seal

Grey SealHalichoerus grypus

🐝

Insects1 species

summer

2025

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula

🌿

Plants7 species

summer

2025

Common Hemp-nettle · Creeping Thistle · Gorse · Corn Spurrey · Changing Forget-me-not +2

Common Hemp-nettleGaleopsis tetrahit
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
GorseUlex europaeus
Corn SpurreySpergula arvensis
Changing Forget-me-notMyosotis discolor
Polygonum avicularePolygonum aviculare
Northern Dead-nettleLamium confertum

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Patrick Mackie · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Neolithic dwellings at the Broch of Gurness

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Thing-Voll BrochHistoric site4.4 km→✦Taversoe TuickHistoric site4.5 km→✦Broch Of GurnessHistoric site0 m→✦LangstaneHistoric site2.3 km→✦Knowe of Hunclett, BrochHistoric site3.3 km→✦Blackhammer CairnHistoric site3.3 km→

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