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Skitten Broch

BirdsInsectsWildlife

Dogs welcome

Getting here

58.49183, -3.16238

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦69+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Herring Gull and Curlew
✦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

🐦69+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Herring Gull and Curlew
✦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

Best for

5 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Herring Gull, Curlew, Greylag Goose +66 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Herring Gull, Curlew, Greylag Goose +66 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Winter Moth, Silver-ground Carpet, Silver Y +120 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Winter Moth, Silver-ground Carpet, Silver Y +120 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Strong match

Birds — Herring Gull, Curlew, Greylag Goose +66 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Herring Gull, Curlew, Greylag Goose +66 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Seasonal nature

Good match

Plants — Baltic Rush, Frog Rush · last seen 2017; Plants — Baltic Rush, Frog Rush · last seen 2017

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

John O'Groats Trail (Keiss to John O'Groats)Walking route

Named routeRef JoG14Local walking route

John O'Groats Trail (Wick to Keiss)Walking route

Named routeRef JoG13Local walking route

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Great North Trail (John o' Groats)Mountain bike route223.7 km

Named routeLength 223.7 kmNational Cycle Network

Wildlife to spot

1,903 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

1,903 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds70 species

summer

2025

Herring Gull · Curlew · Greylag Goose · Meadow Pipit · Lapwing +65

Herring GullLarus argentatus
CurlewNumenius arquata2023
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2022
LapwingVanellus vanellus2019
Common GullLarus canus2023
SwallowHirundo rustica2020
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
Rock DoveColumba livia2023
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2020
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2019
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2022
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2020
LinnetLinaria cannabina2018
BlackbirdTurdus merula2018
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
BuzzardButeo buteo2022
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2020
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2019
SiskinSpinus spinus2017
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2013
JackdawColoeus monedula2023
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2022
DunlinCalidris alpina2020
House SparrowPasser domesticus2019
CuckooCuculus canorus2019
TwiteLinaria flavirostris2013
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Great White EgretArdea alba2024
Black-throated DiverGavia arctica2024
WigeonMareca penelope2023
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2023
GreenshankTringa nebularia2023
Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensis2022
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2022
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2020
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis2020
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2020
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle2020
ShagGulosus aristotelis2020
SanderlingCalidris alba2020
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2018
TealAnas crecca2018
House MartinDelichon urbicum2018
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2018
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2018
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea2018
Mute SwanCygnus olor2018
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2018
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2018
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2018
RavenCorvus corax2016
Greenish WarblerPhylloscopus trochiloides2013
RobinErithacus rubecula2013
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2013
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2013
SwiftApus apus2013
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2013
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2013
Great TitParus major2013
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris2013
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2012

🐝

Insects123 species

summer

2025

Winter Moth · Silver-ground Carpet · Silver Y · Square-spot Rustic · Snout +118

Winter MothOperophtera brumata2019
Silver-ground CarpetXanthorhoe montanata2019
Silver YAutographa gamma2019
Square-spot RusticXestia xanthographa2019
SnoutHypena proboscidalis2019
Brindled OchreDasypolia templi2018
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2019
Frosted OrangeGortyna flavago2019
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2012
Garden CarpetXanthorhoe fluctuata2019
Magpie MothAbraxas grossulariata2019
Grey Pine CarpetThera obeliscata2019
Brimstone MothOpisthograptis luteolata2018
Beautiful Golden YAutographa pulchrina2018
Large WhitePieris brassicae2012
Dark ArchesApamea monoglypha2019
Rosy RusticHydraecia micacea2019
Angle ShadesPhlogophora meticulosa2017
Red Sword-grassXylena vetusta2019
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua janthe2019
Small Square-spotDiarsia rubi2018
Common WainscotMythimna pallens2019
Common QuakerOrthosia cerasi2019
Mottled GreyColostygia multistrigaria2019
July HighflyerHydriomena furcata2018
Burnished BrassDiachrysia chrysitis2018
Red-green CarpetChloroclysta siterata2019
Haworth's MinorCelaena haworthii2018
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2012
Smoky WainscotMythimna impura2019
Garden TigerArctia caja2018
Twin-spot CarpetMesotype didymata2018
SpectacleAbrostola tripartita2018
Ingrailed ClayDiarsia mendica2018
True Lover's KnotLycophotia porphyrea2018
Antler MothCerapteryx graminis2018
Bright-line Brown-eyeLacanobia oleracea2018
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2012
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2012
Clouded DrabOrthosia incerta2019
Dark Sword-grassAgrotis ipsilon2018
Light ArchesApamea lithoxylaea2018
Common Marbled CarpetDysstroma truncata2016
Barred RedHylaea fasciaria2015
Barred YellowCidaria fulvata2012
Convolvulus Hawk-mothAgrius convolvuli2019
Ear MothAmphipoea oculea2019
Autumnal RusticEugnorisma glareosa2019
Hebrew CharacterOrthosia gothica2019
Lempke's Gold SpotPlusia putnami2018
Foxglove PugEupithecia pulchellata2018
November MothEpirrita dilutata2015
Clouded-bordered BrindleApamea crenata2015
ChevronEulithis testata2015
Common Rustic agg.Mesapamea secalis agg.2013
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2012
Setaceous Hebrew CharacterXestia c-nigrum2019
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2019
Dusky BrocadeApamea remissa2019
Double-striped PugGymnoscelis rufifasciata2019
Six-striped RusticXestia sexstrigata2018
Green PugPasiphila rectangulata2018
Dotted ClayXestia baja2018
Gold SpotPlusia festucae2018
Barred StrawGandaritis pyraliata2018
Scalloped HazelOdontopera bidentata2018
Flame ShoulderOchropleura plecta2017
Red ChestnutCerastis rubricosa2014
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2019
Ghost MothHepialus humuli2019
Purple BarCosmorhoe ocellata2018
Double-square SpotXestia triangulum2018
Double DartGraphiphora augur2018
Middle-barred MinorOligia fasciuncula2018
Map-winged SwiftKorscheltellus fusconebulosa2018
Gold SpangleAutographa bractea2017
Small WainscotDenticucullus pygmina2017
White ErmineSpilosoma lubricipeda2017
Poplar Hawk-mothLaothoe populi2017
Common CarpetEpirrhoe alternata2013
Pine CarpetPennithera firmata2012
Large HeathCoenonympha tullia2012
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2012
Small Dotted BuffPhotedes minima2012
Cheilosia illustrataCheilosia illustrata
St Marks FlyBibio marci2024
Smoky WaveScopula ternata2019
Emperor MothSaturnia pavonia2019
Pink-barred SallowXanthia togata2018
Light EmeraldCampaea margaritaria2018
Dark BrocadeMniotype adusta2018
GothicNaenia typica2018
Currant PugEupithecia assimilata2018
Empis digrammaEmpis digramma2017
Cantharis nigricansCantharis nigricans2017
Rhagonycha nigriventrisRhagonycha nigriventris2017
Pale-shouldered BrocadeLacanobia thalassina2017
Broom MothCeramica pisi2017
Knot GrassAcronicta rumicis2017
Glaucous ShearsPapestra biren2017
Narrow-winged PugEupithecia nanata2017
Common HeathEmaturga atomaria2017
EngrailedEctropis crepuscularia2017
Pale Brindled BeautyPhigalia pilosaria2017
Sandy CarpetPerizoma flavofasciata2016
Common PugEupithecia vulgata2016
Grass RivuletPerizoma albulata2015
Flame CarpetXanthorhoe designata2014
Mottled UmberErannis defoliaria2013
SatelliteEupsilia transversa2013
Large WainscotRhizedra lutosa2013
BrickSunira circellaris2013
Flounced RusticLuperina testacea2013
Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes2013
Minor Shoulder-knotBrachylomia viminalis2013
Yellow ShellCamptogramma bilineata2013
Small PhoenixEcliptopera silaceata2013
Cabbage MothMamestra brassicae2013
Large EarAmphipoea lucens2012
Pale Mottled WillowCaradrina clavipalpis2012
Red CarpetXanthorhoe decoloraria2012
Small RivuletPerizoma alchemillata2012
July BelleScotopteryx luridata2012

🌿

Plants2 species

summer

2017

Baltic Rush · Frog Rush

Baltic RushJuncus balticus
Frog RushJuncus ranarius

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

1,903 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds70 species

summer

2025

Herring Gull · Curlew · Greylag Goose · Meadow Pipit · Lapwing +65

Herring GullLarus argentatus
CurlewNumenius arquata2023
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2022
LapwingVanellus vanellus2019
Common GullLarus canus2023
SwallowHirundo rustica2020
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
Rock DoveColumba livia2023
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2020
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2019
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2022
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2020
LinnetLinaria cannabina2018
BlackbirdTurdus merula2018
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
BuzzardButeo buteo2022
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2020
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2019
SiskinSpinus spinus2017
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2013
JackdawColoeus monedula2023
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2022
DunlinCalidris alpina2020
House SparrowPasser domesticus2019
CuckooCuculus canorus2019
TwiteLinaria flavirostris2013
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Great White EgretArdea alba2024
Black-throated DiverGavia arctica2024
WigeonMareca penelope2023
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2023
GreenshankTringa nebularia2023
Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensis2022
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2022
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2020
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis2020
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2020
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle2020
ShagGulosus aristotelis2020
SanderlingCalidris alba2020
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2018
TealAnas crecca2018
House MartinDelichon urbicum2018
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2018
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2018
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea2018
Mute SwanCygnus olor2018
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2018
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2018
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2018
RavenCorvus corax2016
Greenish WarblerPhylloscopus trochiloides2013
RobinErithacus rubecula2013
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2013
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2013
SwiftApus apus2013
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2013
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2013
Great TitParus major2013
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris2013
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2012

🐝

Insects123 species

summer

2025

Winter Moth · Silver-ground Carpet · Silver Y · Square-spot Rustic · Snout +118

Winter MothOperophtera brumata2019
Silver-ground CarpetXanthorhoe montanata2019
Silver YAutographa gamma2019
Square-spot RusticXestia xanthographa2019
SnoutHypena proboscidalis2019
Brindled OchreDasypolia templi2018
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2019
Frosted OrangeGortyna flavago2019
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2012
Garden CarpetXanthorhoe fluctuata2019
Magpie MothAbraxas grossulariata2019
Grey Pine CarpetThera obeliscata2019
Brimstone MothOpisthograptis luteolata2018
Beautiful Golden YAutographa pulchrina2018
Large WhitePieris brassicae2012
Dark ArchesApamea monoglypha2019
Rosy RusticHydraecia micacea2019
Angle ShadesPhlogophora meticulosa2017
Red Sword-grassXylena vetusta2019
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua janthe2019
Small Square-spotDiarsia rubi2018
Common WainscotMythimna pallens2019
Common QuakerOrthosia cerasi2019
Mottled GreyColostygia multistrigaria2019
July HighflyerHydriomena furcata2018
Burnished BrassDiachrysia chrysitis2018
Red-green CarpetChloroclysta siterata2019
Haworth's MinorCelaena haworthii2018
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2012
Smoky WainscotMythimna impura2019
Garden TigerArctia caja2018
Twin-spot CarpetMesotype didymata2018
SpectacleAbrostola tripartita2018
Ingrailed ClayDiarsia mendica2018
True Lover's KnotLycophotia porphyrea2018
Antler MothCerapteryx graminis2018
Bright-line Brown-eyeLacanobia oleracea2018
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2012
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2012
Clouded DrabOrthosia incerta2019
Dark Sword-grassAgrotis ipsilon2018
Light ArchesApamea lithoxylaea2018
Common Marbled CarpetDysstroma truncata2016
Barred RedHylaea fasciaria2015
Barred YellowCidaria fulvata2012
Convolvulus Hawk-mothAgrius convolvuli2019
Ear MothAmphipoea oculea2019
Autumnal RusticEugnorisma glareosa2019
Hebrew CharacterOrthosia gothica2019
Lempke's Gold SpotPlusia putnami2018
Foxglove PugEupithecia pulchellata2018
November MothEpirrita dilutata2015
Clouded-bordered BrindleApamea crenata2015
ChevronEulithis testata2015
Common Rustic agg.Mesapamea secalis agg.2013
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2012
Setaceous Hebrew CharacterXestia c-nigrum2019
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2019
Dusky BrocadeApamea remissa2019
Double-striped PugGymnoscelis rufifasciata2019
Six-striped RusticXestia sexstrigata2018
Green PugPasiphila rectangulata2018
Dotted ClayXestia baja2018
Gold SpotPlusia festucae2018
Barred StrawGandaritis pyraliata2018
Scalloped HazelOdontopera bidentata2018
Flame ShoulderOchropleura plecta2017
Red ChestnutCerastis rubricosa2014
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2019
Ghost MothHepialus humuli2019
Purple BarCosmorhoe ocellata2018
Double-square SpotXestia triangulum2018
Double DartGraphiphora augur2018
Middle-barred MinorOligia fasciuncula2018
Map-winged SwiftKorscheltellus fusconebulosa2018
Gold SpangleAutographa bractea2017
Small WainscotDenticucullus pygmina2017
White ErmineSpilosoma lubricipeda2017
Poplar Hawk-mothLaothoe populi2017
Common CarpetEpirrhoe alternata2013
Pine CarpetPennithera firmata2012
Large HeathCoenonympha tullia2012
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2012
Small Dotted BuffPhotedes minima2012
Cheilosia illustrataCheilosia illustrata
St Marks FlyBibio marci2024
Smoky WaveScopula ternata2019
Emperor MothSaturnia pavonia2019
Pink-barred SallowXanthia togata2018
Light EmeraldCampaea margaritaria2018
Dark BrocadeMniotype adusta2018
GothicNaenia typica2018
Currant PugEupithecia assimilata2018
Empis digrammaEmpis digramma2017
Cantharis nigricansCantharis nigricans2017
Rhagonycha nigriventrisRhagonycha nigriventris2017
Pale-shouldered BrocadeLacanobia thalassina2017
Broom MothCeramica pisi2017
Knot GrassAcronicta rumicis2017
Glaucous ShearsPapestra biren2017
Narrow-winged PugEupithecia nanata2017
Common HeathEmaturga atomaria2017
EngrailedEctropis crepuscularia2017
Pale Brindled BeautyPhigalia pilosaria2017
Sandy CarpetPerizoma flavofasciata2016
Common PugEupithecia vulgata2016
Grass RivuletPerizoma albulata2015
Flame CarpetXanthorhoe designata2014
Mottled UmberErannis defoliaria2013
SatelliteEupsilia transversa2013
Large WainscotRhizedra lutosa2013
BrickSunira circellaris2013
Flounced RusticLuperina testacea2013
Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes2013
Minor Shoulder-knotBrachylomia viminalis2013
Yellow ShellCamptogramma bilineata2013
Small PhoenixEcliptopera silaceata2013
Cabbage MothMamestra brassicae2013
Large EarAmphipoea lucens2012
Pale Mottled WillowCaradrina clavipalpis2012
Red CarpetXanthorhoe decoloraria2012
Small RivuletPerizoma alchemillata2012
July BelleScotopteryx luridata2012

🌿

Plants2 species

summer

2017

Baltic Rush · Frog Rush

Baltic RushJuncus balticus
Frog RushJuncus ranarius

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 JThomas · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Farm building on the site of the former Skitten Airfield

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⛳Wick Golf ClubGolf course1.7 km→✦Ackergil TowerHistoric site3.5 km→✦Norwall BrochHistoric site2.1 km→✦Castle Linglas, BrochHistoric site2.3 km→✦ROTOR radar stationHistoric site2.7 km→✦ROTOR radar stationHistoric site2.9 km→

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