What's here? at Cottascarth and Rendall Moss
Available on site
3 spaces 1 Blue Badge space The car park is located just beyond the working farm of Lower Cottascarth. Space available for one minibus.
The hide at Cottascarth is accessed by a trail which leads from the car park, 600 m away. The trail is sloping, unsurfaced and can be wet and muddy at times. The track to the hide is along a rough track.
Wheelchair Accessible
There is a picnic bench outside the hide at Cottascarth.
Eddie Balfour hen harrier hide at Cottascarth, 600 m from car park. The track to the hide is along a rough track.
The hide at Cottascarth is accessed by a trail which leads from the car park, 600 m away. The trail is sloping, unsurfaced and can be wet and muddy at times.
The Orkney RSPB field teacher uses the reserve and hide for education visits throughout the year. School visits are available on our Orkney reserves on a variety of topics.
Please contact the Orkney office on 01856 850176 for further details.
Group visits are welcome, however the Cottascarth car park is not accessible for vehicles larger than a minibus.
For more information, please contact the Orkney office on 01856 850176.
Not available on site
There are no toilets here. Nearest toilets, including accessible facilities (RADAR required), are at Finstown, 5 miles (8 km) away. Open 24 hours.
There are no toilets here. Nearest toilets, including accessible facilities, are at Finstown, 5 miles (8 km) away. Open 24 hours.
There are no toilets here. Nearest toilets, including accessible facilities, are at Finstown, 5 miles (8 km) away. Open 24 hours.
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.
There is no visitor centre here and this reserve does not have any staff on site.
There is no cafe or shop here, the nearest places for food and drinks are at Dounby, 6 miles (10 km) away, or Kirkwall, 11 miles (18 km). We recommend you bring your own food and drinks if this is likely to affect your visit.
Restrictions
This nature reserve is important for wildlife and is also a working farm. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. As this is a working farm we request that dogs are not brought to the reserve. If you do bring your dog please keep your dog close to you, preferably on a short lead and avoid areas with livestock.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve.