The Howe (Iron Age broch + Neolithic chambered cairn)
Plan your visit
🦅 Birds🦉 Wildlife🍂 Seasonal
Dogs welcome
Places › Scotland › Highlands and Islands › Orkney Islands Getting here
58.97931, -3.26149
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 — Coltsfoot, Red Campion, Sea Plantain +43 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Coltsfoot, Red Campion, Sea Plantain +43 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Good match
Insects — Leiodes obesa, Hemicrepidius hirtus, Black Carrion Beetle +1 more · last seen 2023; Insects — Leiodes obesa, Hemicrepidius hirtus, Black Carrion Beetle +1 more · last seen 2023
Free
Plants — Dandelion, Common Hemp-nettle, Red Dead-nettle +1 more foraging species
Varies
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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Wildlife to spot
3,365 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 3,365 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 50 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Curlew · Oystercatcher · Common Gull · Black-headed Gull · Lapwing +45
Curlew Numenius arquata Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Common Gull Larus canus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Redshank Tringa totanus Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Herring Gull Larus argentatus Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Mute Swan Cygnus olor Carrion Crow Corvus corone Common Tern Sterna hirundo Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Linnet Linaria cannabina Rock Dove Columba livia Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Eider Somateria mollissima Swallow Hirundo rustica Blackbird Turdus merula Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Raven Corvus corax Starling Sturnus vulgaris Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba House Martin Delichon urbicum Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Rook Corvus frugilegus Greenfinch Chloris chloris Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Greylag Goose Anser anser Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Shoveler Spatula clypeata Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides Gadwall Mareca strepera Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Snipe Gallinago gallinago2024 Teal Anas crecca2024 Wigeon Mareca penelope2024 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2024 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2024 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata2024 🌿 Plants 42 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Coltsfoot · Red Campion · Thrift · Sea Plantain · Dandelion +37
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Red Campion Silene dioica Thrift Armeria maritima Sea Plantain Plantago maritima Dandelion Taraxacum Primrose Primula vulgaris Lesser Celandine Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 3,365 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 50 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Curlew · Oystercatcher · Common Gull · Black-headed Gull · Lapwing +45
Curlew Numenius arquata Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Common Gull Larus canus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Redshank Tringa totanus Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Herring Gull Larus argentatus Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Mute Swan Cygnus olor Carrion Crow Corvus corone Common Tern Sterna hirundo Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Linnet Linaria cannabina Rock Dove Columba livia Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Eider Somateria mollissima Swallow Hirundo rustica Blackbird Turdus merula Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Raven Corvus corax Starling Sturnus vulgaris Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba House Martin Delichon urbicum Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Rook Corvus frugilegus Greenfinch Chloris chloris Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Greylag Goose Anser anser Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Shoveler Spatula clypeata Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides Gadwall Mareca strepera Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Snipe Gallinago gallinago2024 Teal Anas crecca2024 Wigeon Mareca penelope2024 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2024 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2024 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata2024 🌿 Plants 42 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Coltsfoot · Red Campion · Thrift · Sea Plantain · Dandelion +37
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Red Campion Silene dioica Thrift Armeria maritima Sea Plantain Plantago maritima Dandelion Taraxacum Primrose Primula vulgaris Lesser Celandine Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Ficaria verna
Ficaria verna
Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis
Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis
Sea Aster Tripolium pannonicum
Sea Aster Tripolium pannonicum
Greater Sea-spurrey Spergularia media
Greater Sea-spurrey Spergularia media
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica
Sea-Milkwort Lysimachia maritima
Sea-Milkwort Lysimachia maritima
Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta
Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta
Common Scurvygrass Cochlearia officinalis
Common Scurvygrass Cochlearia officinalis
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Common Hemp-nettle Galeopsis tetrahit
Common Hemp-nettle Galeopsis tetrahit
Polygonum aviculare Polygonum aviculare
Polygonum aviculare Polygonum aviculare
Common Ramping-fumitory Fumaria muralis
Common Ramping-fumitory Fumaria muralis
Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis
Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis
Scots Lovage Ligusticum scoticum
Scots Lovage Ligusticum scoticum
Common Fumitory Fumaria officinalis
Common Fumitory Fumaria officinalis
Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
Purple Ramping-fumitory Fumaria purpurea
Purple Ramping-fumitory Fumaria purpurea
Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Bugloss Lycopsis arvensis
Bugloss Lycopsis arvensis
Wild Pansy Viola tricolor
Wild Pansy Viola tricolor
Redshank Persicaria maculosa
Redshank Persicaria maculosa
Lady's Bedstraw Galium verum
Lady's Bedstraw Galium verum
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium
Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum
Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum
Buck's-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus
Buck's-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus
Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus
Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus
Sticky Mouse-ear Cerastium glomeratum
Sticky Mouse-ear Cerastium glomeratum
Dame's-violet Hesperis matronalis
Dame's-violet Hesperis matronalis
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Wavy Bitter-cress Cardamine flexuosa
Wavy Bitter-cress Cardamine flexuosa
Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana
Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana
Erophila verna Erophila verna
Erophila verna Erophila verna Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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