The Cairns (Prehistoric Fort - possible)
🦅 Birds🦉 Wildlife🍂 Seasonal
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Dogs welcome
Places › Scotland › Highlands and Islands › Orkney Islands Getting here
58.97022, -3.23575
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🐦 79+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Curlew and Oystercatcher ✦ 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
🐦 79+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Curlew and Oystercatcher ✦ 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 🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Curlew, Oystercatcher, Common Gull +76 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Curlew, Oystercatcher, Common Gull +76 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 — Sea Plantain, Coltsfoot, Perennial Sow-thistle +24 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Sea Plantain, Coltsfoot, Perennial Sow-thistle +24 more · last seen 2025
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 9 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref EV12 International cycle route
Show on map Orkney Prehistory Loop Ride Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
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id: c8319310-58f7-4f05-b86c-d61da0806fff
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Wildlife to spot
2,830 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 2,830 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 50 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Common Gull · Curlew · Oystercatcher · Black-headed Gull · Lapwing +45
Common Gull Larus canus Curlew Numenius arquata Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Redshank Tringa totanus Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Mute Swan Cygnus olor Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Common Tern Sterna hirundo Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Starling Sturnus vulgaris Greylag Goose Anser anser Herring Gull Larus argentatus Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Red Grouse (scotica) Lagopus scotica Wigeon Mareca penelope2024 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Rock Dove Columba livia Carrion Crow Corvus corone Eider Somateria mollissima Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Linnet Linaria cannabina Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata2024 Rook Corvus frugilegus2024 Shag Gulosus aristotelis2024 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba House Martin Delichon urbicum Swallow Hirundo rustica Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Blackbird Turdus merula Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Snipe Gallinago gallinago2024 Teal Anas crecca2024 Raven Corvus corax2024 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2024 Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus2024 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2024 Skylark Alauda arvensis2024 Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle2023 Otter
🌿 Plants 24 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Sea Plantain · Coltsfoot · Perennial Sow-thistle · Red Campion · Sea Aster +19
Sea Plantain Plantago maritima Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis Red Campion Silene dioica Sea Aster Tripolium pannonicum Greater Sea-spurrey Spergularia media Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 2,830 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 50 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Common Gull · Curlew · Oystercatcher · Black-headed Gull · Lapwing +45
Common Gull Larus canus Curlew Numenius arquata Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Redshank Tringa totanus Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Mute Swan Cygnus olor Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Common Tern Sterna hirundo Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Starling Sturnus vulgaris Greylag Goose Anser anser Herring Gull Larus argentatus Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Red Grouse (scotica) Lagopus scotica Wigeon Mareca penelope2024 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Rock Dove Columba livia Carrion Crow Corvus corone Eider Somateria mollissima Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Linnet Linaria cannabina Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata2024 Rook Corvus frugilegus2024 Shag Gulosus aristotelis2024 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba House Martin Delichon urbicum Swallow Hirundo rustica Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Blackbird Turdus merula Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Snipe Gallinago gallinago2024 Teal Anas crecca2024 Raven Corvus corax2024 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2024 Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus2024 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2024 Skylark Alauda arvensis2024 Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle2023 Otter
🌿 Plants 24 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Sea Plantain · Coltsfoot · Perennial Sow-thistle · Red Campion · Sea Aster +19
Sea Plantain Plantago maritima Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis Red Campion Silene dioica Sea Aster Tripolium pannonicum Greater Sea-spurrey Spergularia media Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Sea-Milkwort
Sea-Milkwort
Lysimachia maritima
Lysimachia maritima
Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Dandelion Taraxacum
Dandelion Taraxacum
Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis
Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis
Scots Lovage Ligusticum scoticum
Scots Lovage Ligusticum scoticum
Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula
Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica
Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus
Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus
Thrift Armeria maritima
Thrift Armeria maritima
Dame's-violet Hesperis matronalis
Dame's-violet Hesperis matronalis
Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta
Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta
Primrose Primula vulgaris
Primrose Primula vulgaris
Common Scurvygrass Cochlearia officinalis
Common Scurvygrass Cochlearia officinalis
Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense2024
Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense2024
Creeping Willow Salix repens2024
Creeping Willow Salix repens2024 