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Spittal Farm Broch

0 ha

📷 John Ferguson · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Dogs welcome0 ha

Getting here

58.46990, -3.41503

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦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

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦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

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Siskin +64 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Siskin +64 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — daffodils, Sitka Spruce, Ground-elder +33 more · last seen 2015; Plants — daffodils, Sitka Spruce, Ground-elder +33 more · last seen 2015

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White +9 more · last seen 2018; Insects — Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White +9 more · last seen 2018

Free

Foraging

Good match

Plants — Ground-elder, Common Nettle, Hawthorn +3 more foraging species

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚵

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

357 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

357 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds61 species

summer

2025

Collared Dove · Swallow · Chaffinch · Siskin · House Sparrow +56

Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
SiskinSpinus spinus2023
House SparrowPasser domesticus2023
BuzzardButeo buteo2023
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
Barn OwlTyto alba2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2023
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2023
Coal TitPeriparus ater2023
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2020
CuckooCuculus canorus2019
Common GullLarus canus2015
JackdawColoeus monedula2015
BlackbirdTurdus merula2011
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2023
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
RobinErithacus rubecula2023
Rock DoveColumba livia2023
Redpoll (cabaret/flammea)Acanthis flammea cabaret/flammea2023
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2020
Herring GullLarus argentatus2020
DunnockPrunella modularis2020
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2020
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2020
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2017
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2015
LapwingVanellus vanellus2015
House MartinDelichon urbicum2011
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2023
Great TitParus major2023
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2023
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
SwiftApus apus2021
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2020
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2020
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2017
SnipeGallinago gallinago2017
TwiteLinaria flavirostris2017
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra2017
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2017
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2016
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2015
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2015
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2015
RookCorvus frugilegus2015
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2015
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2015
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2015
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2012
GreenfinchChloris chloris2011
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2011
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2011
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2010

🦌

Mammals3 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2016

Mole · Weasel · Wild Cat Hybrid

MoleTalpa europaea2015
WeaselMustela nivalis2012
Wild Cat HybridFelis silvestris x catus

🐸

Amphibians2 species

spring

2023

Common Frog · Palmate Newt

Common FrogRana temporaria
Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus2016

🐝

Insects11 species

springsummerautumn

2018

Large White · Small Tortoiseshell · Green-veined White · Red Admiral · Meadow Brown +6

Large WhitePieris brassicae2013
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2013
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2013
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2013
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2013
Pale Brindled BeautyPhigalia pilosaria2013
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2012
Common BluePolyommatus icarus
Great Yellow BumblebeeBombus distinguendus2013
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2013
White ErmineSpilosoma lubricipeda2012

🌿

Plants36 species

spring

2015

daffodils · Ground-elder · Sitka Spruce · Cock's-foot · Rhubarb +31

daffodilsNarcissus
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
RhubarbRheum x rhabarbarum
ElderSambucus nigra
SilverweedPotentilla anserina
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Red FescueFestuca rubra
BroomCytisus scoparius
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
White StonecropSedum album
Garden Solomon's-sealPolygonatum multiflorum x odoratum = P. x hybridum
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Noble FirAbies procera
Thale CressArabidopsis thaliana
IvyHedera helix
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Common WhitlowgrassErophila verna
RaspberryRubus idaeus
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa subsp. cespitosa
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
WallflowerErysimum cheiri
CleaversGalium aparine
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
GorseUlex europaeus
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Lodgepole PinePinus contorta
Matchstick FlapwortOdontoschisma denudatum2011

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

357 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds61 species

summer

2025

Collared Dove · Swallow · Chaffinch · Siskin · House Sparrow +56

Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
SiskinSpinus spinus2023
House SparrowPasser domesticus2023
BuzzardButeo buteo2023
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
Barn OwlTyto alba2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2023
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2023
Coal TitPeriparus ater2023
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2020
CuckooCuculus canorus2019
Common GullLarus canus2015
JackdawColoeus monedula2015
BlackbirdTurdus merula2011
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2023
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
RobinErithacus rubecula2023
Rock DoveColumba livia2023
Redpoll (cabaret/flammea)Acanthis flammea cabaret/flammea2023
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2020
Herring GullLarus argentatus2020
DunnockPrunella modularis2020
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2020
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2020
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2017
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2015
LapwingVanellus vanellus2015
House MartinDelichon urbicum2011
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2023
Great TitParus major2023
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2023
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
SwiftApus apus2021
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2020
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2020
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2017
SnipeGallinago gallinago2017
TwiteLinaria flavirostris2017
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra2017
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2017
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2016
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2015
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2015
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2015
RookCorvus frugilegus2015
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2015
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2015
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2015
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2012
GreenfinchChloris chloris2011
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2011
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2011
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2010

🦌

Mammals3 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2016

Mole · Weasel · Wild Cat Hybrid

MoleTalpa europaea2015
WeaselMustela nivalis2012
Wild Cat HybridFelis silvestris x catus

🐸

Amphibians2 species

spring

2023

Common Frog · Palmate Newt

Common FrogRana temporaria
Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus2016

🐝

Insects11 species

springsummerautumn

2018

Large White · Small Tortoiseshell · Green-veined White · Red Admiral · Meadow Brown +6

Large WhitePieris brassicae2013
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2013
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2013
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2013
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2013
Pale Brindled BeautyPhigalia pilosaria2013
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2012
Common BluePolyommatus icarus
Great Yellow BumblebeeBombus distinguendus2013
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2013
White ErmineSpilosoma lubricipeda2012

🌿

Plants36 species

spring

2015

daffodils · Ground-elder · Sitka Spruce · Cock's-foot · Rhubarb +31

daffodilsNarcissus
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
RhubarbRheum x rhabarbarum
ElderSambucus nigra
SilverweedPotentilla anserina
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Red FescueFestuca rubra
BroomCytisus scoparius
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
White StonecropSedum album
Garden Solomon's-sealPolygonatum multiflorum x odoratum = P. x hybridum
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Noble FirAbies procera
Thale CressArabidopsis thaliana
IvyHedera helix
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Common WhitlowgrassErophila verna
RaspberryRubus idaeus
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa subsp. cespitosa
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
WallflowerErysimum cheiri
CleaversGalium aparine
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
GorseUlex europaeus
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Lodgepole PinePinus contorta
Matchstick FlapwortOdontoschisma denudatum2011

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 John Ferguson · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Farm road at Toftingall

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Bridge of Dunn, Broch siteHistoric site3.4 km→✦Cairn of Dunn, Broch siteHistoric site3.5 km→✦Torr an Fhidhlier, BrochHistoric site1.3 km→✦St Magnus' ChapelHistoric site1.7 km→✦Achcomhairle, BrochHistoric site2 km→✦Mybster BrochHistoric site2.1 km→

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