Handa Island is a must-visit destination for birdwatchers. Located off the west coast of Sutherland, Scotland, this 309-hectare island is home to a variety of seabirds, including puffins, razorbills, and great skuas.

Each spring, tens of thousands of seabirds migrate to the magnificent Torridonian sandstone cliffs that rise from the Atlantic on the north-west coast of Handa Island. The island is an internationally important breeding site for guillemots, razorbills, and great skuas that spend the summer breeding and feeding in the rich waters around Handa.

The dramatic cliffs provide stunning ocean panoramas and a chance to spot some of our larger marine species: minke whales, bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins, grey seals and even the occasional orca or basking shark can be seen.

Handa Island is accessible via a small ferry that sails from Tarbet on the mainland, and boat trips operate to it from Fanagmore. The island receives around five thousand visitors per annum.