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Welcome

Hobbister is where sweeping sea views meet spring birdsong, a magical mixture of land and sea, from sea cliffs to saltmarsh, moorland to sandflats. On the moor, keep an eye out for hen harriers, short-eared owls and red-throated divers. A walk around the coastal footpath at Hobbister is a pleasure in all seasons, with twite overhead, distant bubbling curlews and black guillemots in summer. In winter, look out for long-tailed ducks, great northern divers and Slavonian grebes on the waters of Scapa Flow. At low tide, the sandy beach at Waulkmill Bay offers a walk on one of the most impressive beaches in west Mainland. 

 

RSPB Scotland Hobbister nature reserve

Access with steps

There are steps from the car park to:

Beach

Getting here

For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.
RSPB Hobbister
Orphir
Orkney
KW17 2RA

Travel by public transport

You can get to RSPB Scotland Hobbister by bus.
The nearest bus stop is on the A964 road at Hobbister at the entrance to the reserve. There is no marked bus stop - just ask the driver to let you off at the entrance to RSPB Hobbister nature reserve. The reserve can also be accessed at Waulkmill Bay along the same road - ask the driver to stop at the junction with the minor road down to Waulkmill Bay and there is then a 200 metre walk to the nearest trail leading down to the bay. The bus stop is 0 miles / 0.0 km from RSPB Scotland Hobbister.

Bus route 2 runs along the A964 past the reserve regularly throughout the day. From the A964, follow the brown tourist sign for RSPB Hobbister which directs you to the reserve car park, from where the Moorland Trail around the reserve leaves.

The reserve can also be accessed at Waulkmill Bay along the same road. From the A964, follow the minor road signposted down to Waulkmill Bay. There are two trails leading down westwards from the road to Waulkmill Bay and the Moorland Trail can also be accessed from this end of the reserve by following the road to the end and turning eastwards to join the main trail around the reserve. Up to date travel information can be found at http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/B/bus-timetables.htm

 

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Orkney Taxis by calling 01856 875511. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
You can get a taxi with Craigies Taxis by calling 01856 878787. You can get a taxi with Abs Taxis by calling 07437 332012.

Parking

We have a car park. 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 2500mm wide, or more.

There is a car park at the main entrance to Hobbister reserve which has a rough gravelly surface. The main Moorland Trail around the reserve leads from this car park. There is additional parking in two pull-ins by the roadside at the western edge of the reserve, above Waulkmill Bay, which allows access down two short trails to the bay itself.   

Main car park at RSPB Hobbister Parking area for Waulkmill Bay North Trail Parking area for Waulkmill Bay South Trail

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
The path is 2500mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

Please note that there is no Visitor Centre and there are no buildings at the reserve. The only facilities are three nature trails around the reserve. There are Council-owned public toilets, including a RADAR-accessible toilet, next to the roadside pull-in car parking area above Waulkmill Bay. There are no staff based at the reserve. 

Getting around inside

Getting around outside

Designated Walking Trail

RSPB Hobbister Moorland Trail

The trail is 3000metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. There is a stile if joining the Moorland Trail from the Waulkmill Bay end of the trail. If accessing the Moorland Trail from the main car park, the stile is not on the main trail and can be avoided. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

The track is rough, uneven and often wet and muddy (wellies advised in winter!), with a steep step up a peat bank at one point. It is also narrow in places (down to 30 cm wide), with vegetation overhanging the edges. If joining the trail from the Waulkmill Bay car parking areas, there is a stile. There are gentle slopes. There are two benches situated around the trail, where the views of Scapa Flow can be enjoyed. 

Bench overlooking Scapa Flow Picnic bench overlooking Scapa Flow Stile if accessing Moorland Trail from Waulkmill Bay end Surfaced section of Moorland Trail Moorland Trail surface Rough surface of Moorland Trail Moorland Trail on cliff top Peat bank step on the Moorland Trail Wet section on Moorland Trail

Designated Walking Trail

RSPB Hobbister Waulkmill Bay Trail - North

The trail is 600metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. There are steps leading from boardwalk sections of the trail and also raised cross drains. The trail is sloped.

This is a linear trail and the distance refers to the return journey. The trail allows access to the upper end of Waulkmill Bay. The track is rough, uneven and often wet and muddy, with short sections of boardwalk in places and loose stone surfacing. There are steps within and leading off the boardwalks and there are raised cross drains along the trail. It is also narrow in places (down to 20 cm wide), with vegetation overhanging the edges, and it is sloping in nature.

Trail surface and boardwalk on Waulkmill Bay North Trail Boardwalk on Waulkmill Bay Trail North Trail surface and raised cross drains on Waulkmill Bay Trail North Rough section of Waulkmill Bay Trail North Beach access from Waulkmill Bay Trail North

Designated Walking Trail

RSPB Hobbister Waulkmill Bay Trail - South

The trail is 200metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. There is a series of steps along the whole length of the trail. The trail is sloped.

This is a linear trail and the distance refers to the return journey. The trail allows access to the lower end of Waulkmill Bay when the tide is out. The track is rough, uneven, sloping, and consists of a long series of steps leading down to the bay. It is also narrow in places (down to 50 cm wide), with vegetation overhanging the edges, and there is loose stone surfacing in most areas. Good views of Waulkmill Bay can be had from the car parking pull-in at the top of the trail. 

Waulkmill Bay Trail South looking downwards from parking area Waulkmill Bay Trail South looking upwards to parking area Lower end of Waulkmill Bay Trail South Steps at lower end of Waulkmill Bay Trail South Beach access from Waulkmill Bay Trail South

Beach

The beach access point is 300.00meters from the nearest car park.
From the car park to the beach, there are 13 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

There are two trails leading down to the beach at Waulkmill Bay. These are described above in the section on Designated Walking Trails. The northern trail can be used to reach the beach at all states of the tide, whereas the southern one can only be used as low tide. Both trails are sloping, narrow and have steps. 

 

Beach access from Waulkmill Bay Trail North Beach access from Waulkmill Bay Trail South

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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