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Accessibility Guide for RSPB Scotland Brodgar

Contact for accessibility enquiries: RSPB Orkney Office

email addressorkney@rspb.org.uk phone number01856 850176 websitehttps://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/brodgar/
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Guide last updated: 7 July 2022

  • At a glance
  • Getting here
  • Arrival
  • Getting around inside
  • Getting around outside
  • Customer care support
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Welcome

Discover a wildlife haven in the heart of Neolithic Orkney. You'll find the nature reserve at Brodgar in a spectacular setting, sandwiched on a narrow strip of land between the Lochs of Harray and Stenness, bordering the iconic Ring of Brodgar. Curlews, snipe, lapwings, dunlins, redshanks and oystercatchers all call this place home and the lochs can be a wonderful place to scan through the large flocks of ducks, swans and grebes which frequent the area in winter. You may even see a seal basking on an isolated rock by the road, far inland from the sea. Visit in summer and you may spot the rare great yellow bumblebee feeding on the abundant wildflowers on the nature trail. 

 

RSPB Brodgar nature reserve
  • Level access icon Level Access

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

Getting here

For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.
RSPB Brodgar,
B9055,
Stenness,
KW16 3JZ

Travel by public transport

You can get to RSPB Scotland Brodgar by bus.
The nearest bus stop is on the A965 road at the junction with the B9055 road to the Ring of Brodgar. There is no marked bus stop - just ask the driver to let you off at the turn for the Ring of Brodgar. The bus stop is 1.6 miles / 2.6 km from RSPB Scotland Brodgar.

Bus route X1 passes the end of the B9055 road to the Ring of Brodgar near Stenness. The 8S route also passes the same way, but does not  operate daily. Alight at the road end by the brown tourist sign for the Ring of Brodgar and there is a 1.6 mile (2.6 km) walk along a road to the car park at the Ring of Brodgar, from where the reserve can be accessed. The nature trail around the reserve can also be accessed at its southern end, 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from the bus stop along the same route - look out for the RSPB sign on a fence post which leads you onto the trail. Up to date travel information can be found at https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/B/Bus-Services.htm

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Orkney Cabs by calling 01856 875000. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
You can get a taxi with Craigies Taxis by calling 01856 878787.

Parking

There is parking near the venue. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free.
There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is 1900mm wide, or more.

There is a main car park at Ring of Brodgar with designated accessible parking spaces. There are an additional two designated accessible parking spaces on the road edge by the Ring of Brodgar which shortens the journey distance to the Ring of Brodgar and to the nature reserve trail.

Main car park at Brodgar Roadside designated accessible parking bays at Brodgar

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
The path is 1900mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

Please note that there is no Visitor Centre and there are no buildings at the reserve. The only facilities are a nature trail around the reserve. There are no staff based at the reserve. 

Getting around inside

Getting around outside

Designated Walking Trail

RSPB Brodgar Nature Reserve Footpath

The trail is 3300metres long. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

The nature trail around Ring of Brodgar reserve is unsurfaced in most places. There is a short section of wooden boardwalk leading from the car park to the road, but the trail once the road has been crossed is generally unsurfaced. The boardwalk can be avoided by using the designated accessible car parking spaces by the roadside, which also shortens the length of the trail. The bulk of the trail is wide and grassy and although not level, most inclines are gentle. A short section between the road and the Ring of Brodgar has additional geogrid embedded matting. The trail can be wet and muddy in places, particularly in winter. There are two benches situated along the trail. There are kissing gates where the trail starts from the road at the north end of the reserve, but these are wide.

Boardwalk at entrance to reserve Main entrance to trails from roadside at Brodgar Kissing gate between accessible parking spaces and Brodgar trails Surface of trail for part of the way between road and Ring of Brodgar Brodgar nature reserve footpath Brodgar nature reserve footpath in summer Brodgar nature reserve footpath in winter Bench alongside Brodgar nature reserve footpath Bench by shores of Loch of Stenness on Brodgar nature reserve footpath Southern entrance to Brodgar nature reserve footpath

Designated Walking Trail

Ring of Brodgar Footpath

The trail is 1100metres long. The trail is sloped.

There is a shorter trail around the Ring of Brodgar, which is not on RSPB land.  The trail around Ring of Brodgar is unsurfaced in most places. There is a short section of wooden boardwalk leading from the car park to the road, but the trail once the road has been crossed is generally unsurfaced. The boardwalk can be avoided by using the designated accessible car parking spaces by the roadside. Much of the trail is wide and grassy (some sections with additional geogrid embedded matting), and although not level, most inclines are gentle. It can be wet and muddy in places, particularly in winter. There are kissing gates where the trail starts from the road at the north end of the reserve, but these are wide.

Boardwalk at entrance to reserve Main entrance to trails from roadside at Brodgar Kissing gate between accessible parking spaces and Brodgar trails Surface of trail for part of the way between road and Ring of Brodgar

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

There is no designated toilet area for assistance dogs. Any rough ground by the sides of the trail or car park can be used, but please remove any dog waste from the site.
You can hire mobility equipment from Orkney Disability Forum by calling 01856 870340.
Guide info
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