Accessibility Guide for RSPB Scotland The Loons and Loch of Banks

Travel by public transport

You can get to RSPB Scotland The Loons and Loch of Banks by bus.

There are no marked bus stops for the reserve - just ask the driver to let you off for The Loons or Loch of Banks nature reserves. For the Loons Hide and the Loons Listening Wall, the nearest stop is on the B9056 road just before Marwick. This is 0.3 miles from the Loons Hide and 0.7 miles from the Listening Wall. For the Loch of Banks reserve, the nearest stop is on the A986 at Twatt Crossroads, at the reserve. The bus stop is 0.3 miles / 0.5 km from RSPB Scotland The Loons and Loch of Banks.

For the Loons Hide and Listening Wall, the bus service is the Stagecoach 8S Kirkwall to Skarabrae service. Ask the driver to drop you off at the end of the Loons Road near Marwick and follow the brown tourist sign along the single track road towards Twatt to reach the Loons Hide. From here it is a further 0.4 mile walk east along the same road to the Loons Listening Wall.

There are two bus services that pass by the Loch of Banks, the 8S as described above and the Stagecoach 7 Kirkwall - Dounby - Stromness service. Alight at Twatt crossroads and the reserve is the wetland area directly to the south, viewable from the A986 and A967 roads which form its boundaries. Please beware of fast traffic if viewing the reserve from the roadside, using the verges rather than the road.   

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

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. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 920mm wide, or more.

The Loons Hide has a tarmac parking area directly outside the entrance to the hide. 

The Listening Wall has a tarmac parking area directly behind the wall. There are good views of The Loons wetlands from the parking area. 

The Loch of Banks has no parking or facilities. The best way to see the reserve is from a vehicle on the road. Please pull off the road safely if you are stopping to view the reserve. 

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The main door is side hung and manual.

Visual Impairment - General Information

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Loons Listening Wall

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 900mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1000mm wide.

The Loons Listening Wall is accessed by a short fine gravel path. The surface of the Listening Wall is made up of fine gravel and there are inset stones which are raised slightly from the ground. There are two low stone benches which allow you to take in the fantastic sights and sounds of the Loons reserve. The path is gently sloping and there are some tight turns. 

The Loons Hide

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 920mm wide, or more. The entrance is 800mm wide.

Access to the Loons Hide consists of a short gravel path from the car parking area leading to a wooden boardwalk ramp to the door of the hide. The ramp is is covered in chickenwire and has wooden handrails. Inside the hide, directly opposite the door, the first wooden bench can swing out to accommodate a wheelchair. The window in this section is 1m from the ground.  

Accessibility equipment

The nearest toilet area for assistance dogs is along the edges of the parking areas outside the Loons Hide and Listening Wall. Please remove any dog waste from the site.

You can hire mobility equipment from Orkney Disability Forum by calling 01856 870340.