The Oa

At more than 2,000 hectares, The Oa is a large and diverse reserve characterised by rugged windswept moorland, encircling high nature value farmland. Moving towards the coast that bounds two sides of the reserve, the moorland and heath gives way to coastal grassland, grazed by our traditional breeds of livestock and the feral goats that call The Oa home.

The stunning coastal cliffs tower 100m over the often turbulent sea below and rise, at their highest point, to Beinn Mhòr at 202m. Within the folds of cliff face are hidden bays, where tumbling waterfalls terminate the burns and streams that run from the freshwater lochs and peatland bogs inland.

Amongst the rich natural heritage, the human history is evident. The American Monument is a striking landmark, visible from much of Islay and beyond. It stands as a memorial to lives lost in the First World War and the compassion and selflessness that Islay residents displayed in dealing with two maritime tragedies. Along the coast, the site of a hilltop fort, Dùn Athad, provides the most iconic view of The Oa, but less obviously, ruins of farm buildings, lime kilns and watermills betray a past where a much larger community was a feature of the magnificent hills and glens.

The Oa reserve is a working farm, managed in hand by the RSPB. We use a mix of native and more commercial cattle and sheep breeds to provide suitable habitat for a range of key species, with a particular focus on choughs.

We're managing our coastal grassland and heath for the benefit of rare breeding birds, including choughs, twites and golden eagles. This involves grazing to create a mix of short and medium sward, while controlling heather and bracken, and maintaining fences and earth banks.

We are maintaining a good mosaic of blanket bog and moorland for breeding birds, including hen harriers, curlew and snipe. This also benefits wintering geese and rare marsh fritillary and large heath butterflies. Work includes blocking ditches to restore bog, while maintaining areas of open water.

Our many other habitats each receive special care: lochs host otters, roosting geese and breeding red-throated divers; sea cliffs support breeding seabirds, raptors and choughs; and scrub areas provide cover for small birds like grasshopper warblers, redpoll and whinchat; even old farm buildings provide nest sites for bats, choughs and barn owls.

Thanks to SNH Peatland Action Fund.

This nature reserve is important for wildlife. It is also a working farm and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.