Just off the Sutherland coast, north of Scourie, lies a little jewel of Hebridean nature: Handa Island. Dramatic cliffs, heather-covered moorland, and one of the UK’s most spectacular seabird colonies make this small island an unforgettable destination for walkers, birders, and lovers of the untamed. Handa Island is truley a land of cliffs & seabirds
Managed for conservation and accessible only by boat, Handa offers the feeling of true remoteness — a place where humans are temporary visitors, and nature still rules.
Getting to Handa Island
To visit Handa, you must first get to the tiny hamlet of Tarbet, just a few miles west of Scourie. From there, a small passenger boat — usually operated by local ferrymen between April and September — takes visitors across the narrow sound in under 10 minutes.
There are no cars or bikes on Handa, and visitor numbers are limited by boat capacity, preserving the island’s wild feel. It’s best to arrive early on fine-weather days in peak season.
The return boat operates on a queue basis — once you’re on the island, you simply wait at the jetty to be ferried back when you’re ready. Bring waterproofs, sturdy shoes, and everything you need for your visit — there are no shops or cafés, just sea air and seabirds.
Who Manages Handa Island?
Handa Island is owned and managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) in partnership with local crofters from Scourie Estate. The SWT took over management in 1963, recognising the island’s exceptional value for seabirds and its fragile, sensitive habitat.
Each summer, volunteers from across the UK and beyond come to live and work on the island — maintaining trails, monitoring wildlife, educating visitors, and helping protect the landscape. It’s one of the most active and respected conservation volunteering projects in Scotland, and part of why Handa continues to thrive.
A Haven for Seabirds
Handa’s 400-foot Torridonian sandstone cliffs are home to more than 100,000 seabirds during the breeding season — making it one of the most important colonies in Britain.
Among the stars are:
- Puffins, which nest in burrows at the clifftop edge. Their tameness and bright bills make them a photographer’s dream.
- Razorbills and guillemots, packed in tight lines along ledges, jostling and squabbling through summer.
- Kittiwakes, with their plaintive cries and neat grey-and-white plumage.
- Great skuas (bonxies) — formidable aerial predators that patrol the moorland.
- And fulmars, gliding effortlessly on stiff wings along the wind-battered cliffs.
Handa also supports arctic skuas, black guillemots, and occasionally sea eagles overhead. Even outside the breeding season, the island is rich in birdlife and surrounded by porpoises and seals, often seen from the ferry or along cliff paths.
Exploring the Island
A well-marked circular walking trail (about 4 miles) takes in all of Handa’s best views and wildlife. Most visitors walk clockwise, climbing gradually from the landing point to the dramatic cliff tops at Great Stack, the iconic sea stack where guillemots nest in their thousands.
As you round the coast, you’ll come to Poll Ghlup, a narrow sea inlet often packed with birds, and Dùn Beag, a crag that gives sweeping views out to the Outer Hebrides on clear days.
The return route across the centre of the island offers quiet heather moorland, cotton grass bogs, and the haunting calls of skuas nesting in open terrain. Boardwalks protect fragile habitats and keep walkers’ feet dry — but sturdy boots are still a must.
Allow 2 to 4 hours for a full circuit, with time to linger at viewpoints, enjoy a picnic, or just sit and watch the skies.
History and Human Footprints
Although uninhabited today, Handa once supported a small population of crofters. In the 1840s, around 65 people lived here in a cluster of turf-roofed cottages near the east coast. They raised sheep, fished, and even ran a small school. But following the potato famine and wider Highland Clearances, the community emigrated — many to Canada — and by the 1850s, the island was deserted.
Ruins of croft houses still remain, moss-covered and softened into the landscape, reminding visitors that even this wild corner of Britain was once someone’s home.
Wildlife Photography Heaven
For photographers, Handa is paradise. Puffins are approachable and photogenic, often standing outside their burrows just feet from the trail. The cliff-edge platforms offer safe and dramatic vantage points for wide shots of seabird-covered ledges.
In the right light, the contrast of red cliffs, blue sea, and white birds is extraordinary. Bring a long lens and patience — and prepare for some of the most exhilarating wildlife photography in the UK.
The Local Benefit of Birdwatching
While Handa is uninhabited, its existence supports livelihoods in nearby Scourie and Tarbet, especially during the summer season. Boat operators, accommodation providers, and local shops all benefit from the flow of visitors — especially those drawn by the island’s natural history.
The presence of SWT volunteers and visitors also helps promote awareness of conservation work, and provides valuable income through donations, guided walks, and the adopt-a-puffin scheme. Handa is a classic example of how eco-tourism, done well, can sustain both people and place.
Why Visit Handa Island: Cliffs & Seabirds
Just off the Sutherland coast, north of Scourie, lies a little jewel of Hebridean nature: Handa Island.Handa Island: Cliffs & Seabirds. Silence on Scotland’s Wild Edge
Just off the Sutherland coast, north of Scourie, lies a little jewel of Hebridean nature: Handa Island.
Handa offers something increasingly rare: wildness without crowds. It’s a place where time slows, and attention sharpens. The call of seabirds replaces traffic noise. The sky feels bigger. And the path, once taken, often leads to deeper curiosity about how land, sea, and life interconnect.
Whether you’re a birder chasing lifers, a hiker seeking peace, or a photographer hunting the perfect puffin portrait, Handa Island delivers — every time, and in every weather.