Reserve Closure
This reserve will close on Thursday 14 November for an all-staff meeting. Please check locally for site specific closure times and details.
Days out
Mousa
MousaOpenSee opening timesHop on the small ferry and set sail for the remote and wild island of Mousa. This is an island uninhabited by humans, but alive with seabirds and marine life.
About
Mousa is a small, wild island in Shetland, uninhabited since the nineteenth century. Discover one of the UK's largest Storm Petrel breeding colonies, and the Broch of Mousa, a 2000-year-old Iron Age drystone tower.
Through spring and summer, Mousa hums with breeding populations, such as Black Guillemots and Arctic Terns, Harbour Seals, Great Skuas, Snipe, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Dunlin.
We've been studying and monitoring Storm Petrels, Arctic Terns and Arctic and Great Skuas here since the early 1980s. Today, we also monitor Red-throated Divers, waders, Shags and Harbour and Grey Seals.
The Mousa Ferry operates between April to September, every day except Saturdays. A visit to this wild island is unforgettable. Do remember though, there are no facilities on the island, so why not bring a picnic with you?
At a glance
Mousa is reached by boat via The Mousa Boat who run trips every day of the week except Saturdays, from early April until early September. Parking for the boat is at Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick. 20 spaces. Tarmac surface. Firm, flat, bare ground and paving to interpretive centre.
There are no accessible toilets on the island or near to the parking. The nearest accessible toilets are in Lerwick round 14 miles away.
There are no baby changing facilities on the island or near to the parking. The nearest baby change is in Lerwick round 14 miles away.
The trail is uneven, steep, narrow, stony and boggy in places, and therefore not suitable for those visitors requiring extra mobility assistance or are not sure-footed.
The trail is uneven, steep, narrow, stony and boggy in places, and therefore not suitable for those visitors requiring extra mobility assistance or are not sure-footed.
There are no toilets on the island. Nearest toilets can be found at the car park by Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick. Step and narrow door to ladies. Wide cubicle in gents' but shallow step and no grab rails.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the reserve at any time.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve. Please check with ferry providers whether dogs are permitted to travel on the ferry.
Please check with ferry providers whether dogs are permitted to travel on the ferry. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. During the ground-nesting bird breeding season (1 April to 15 August) and in areas with livestock, we would ask that you keep your dog on a short lead and clean up after them.
See what’s here
Contact Mousa
shetland@rspb.org.uk Mousa, via Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick, Shetland Island, ZE2 9HP 01950 460800