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Overview
These high Old Red Sandstone cliffs on the Grampian coast hold some of the largest and most important seabird colonies in Britain.
The grass-topped cliffs reaching up to 65m are deeply indented with many crevices and ledges and are among the most accessible and easily viewed major seabird colonies in the country.
Birds
Notable Species
Around 30,000 pairs of Kittiwake and Common Guillemot breed, as well as smaller numbers of Razorbill and Atlantic Puffin, European Herring Gull and Northern Fulmar. Shag nest in caves lower down and Common Eider are commonly seen on the sea.
In spring and autumn during periods of onshore winds skuas and shearwaters are frequently seen.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Northern Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, European Shag, Common Eider, Arctic Skua, Great Skua, European Herring Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin
Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
The reserve has a small car-park at Crawton, signposted from the A92 Stonehaven to Inverbervie road, 5km south of Stonehaven. From the car-park take the cliff-top footpath northwards for 0.8km.
Grid reference: NO879808
Contact Details
Tel: 01346 532017 (RSPB)
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Reviews
Capercaillie71's review
I know a few people who have visited this reserve and been disappointed not to see Puffins. This is because most people only walk about 0.5km from the carpark to a deep indentation in the cliffs called Henry's Scorth. You get good views of birds on the cliffs here but almost never see Puffins. To see the Puffins you need to walk another 0.5km north to the end of the path (there is a sign warning you not to go further). Here you look down to a large cave in the cliff face. There are almost always Puffins on the slopes around the cave entrance. Pros
- Very accessible large seabird colony