Welcome
North Hill is a wild landscape of maritime heath and low sandstone cliffs where seabirds and the tiny Scottish primrose can be found. The North Hill reserve is owned by the community and is managed by RSPB Scotland in partnership with the North Hill Grazing Committee. The lookout at the old coastguard hut offers views across the heathland of nesting Arctic and great skuas and of Arctic terns, as well as providing shelter on windy days. In summer, guillemots, razorbills, puffins and kittiwakes can be seen on the cliffs. Keep your eyes peeled for seals, whales and dolphins too as you walk around the coastal trail.
Getting here
For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.Travel by public transport
Passenger ferries for Papa Westray can be taken from Kirkwall or from Westray. On arrival at the Papa Westray ferry terminal, take the unnamed road north up the island to reach the main reserve entrance. A welcome panel and bench are located next to the entrance gate. Travel to Papa Westray is also possible by Loganair flight from Kirkwall. Details on how to get to Papa Westray can be found on the website http://www.papawestray.co.uk/. There is no public transport on Papa Westray, but guided tours of the island can be arranged in summer - see http://www.papawestray.co.uk/ for details.
Parking
There is limited parking at the reserve entrance gate for one or two cars. Please note that the ferry to the island from Kirkwall is not a roll on-roll off service, so any vehicles are lifted on and off the ferry by crane.
Arrival
Main entrance
Please note that there is no Visitor Centre at the reserve. The only facilities are a small unmanned Coastguard Hut and three nature trails around the reserve. There are no staff based at the reserve. The main entrance to the reserve is through a field gate on an unsurfaced grassy path. There is an alternative entrance along the east shore via ladder stiles to the seabird cliffs at Fowl Craig.
Getting around inside
Getting around outside
Coastal Trail
This is a circular mainly unsurfaced trail with rough terrain, uneven surfaces, boggy ground, cliff edges and slopes. Park at the main entrance to the reserve. The route follows the coast around North Hill, and the final section returns to the car park at the main entrance along a gravelled road.
Designated Walking Trail
Fowl Craig Trail
This is a circular trail. The trail follows rough terrain including beach, rocky shore, slopes, and boggy ground. The trail is uneven, unsurfaced and sloping. Part of the trail passes along the top of sea cliffs. Park at the main entrance and the trail starts 750m east of here (this distance is included in the total trail length) - follow the gravelled road toward the shore at Hundland to pick up the circular route.
Designated Walking Trail
Hide Path
The trail allows access to a coastguard hut observation point, which is an superb elevated position overlooking the heathland, and follows rough grassy terrain up a steep slope from the car park at the main entrance. The coastguard hut is surrounded by a fence and is accessed via a narrow gate (0.9m) in the fence and a narrow doorway (0.6m). The surface inside is level and there are two movable seats beside the windows.
Coastguard Hut