handa Island
the hIlls are alive
Handa Island is a unique and beautiful nature reserve managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. It’s renowned across the world for its enormous colony of breeding seabirds – one of the largest in Northwest Europe.
Sea cliffs rise dramatically from the Atlantic to provide a home for around 100,000 birds during breeding season, including guillemots, razorbills, skuas, terns and puffins.
from Sky to sea
Aside from the magnificent seabird colonies, Handa Island offers stunning views across to the Torridonian sandstone mountains on the North-West Coast of Scotland.
You could also spot sea life such as dolphins, minke whales, grey seals and basking sharks enjoying the waters off the island and visit the archaeological remains of the last inhabited village on the island dating back to 1847.
handa fErry
The only way to reach Handa Island is by the ferry, which leaves regularly from Tarbet on Mondays-Saturdays between April and early September.
Though the journey only takes around ten minutes, you’ll feel as though you’re being transported to another world as you land on the sandy beaches of the island.
planning your experiEnce
The best time to visit Handa Island to see breeding seabirds is April to July. For the best chance of spotting puffins, visit between mid-May and the end of July. Visiting Handa Island is free, but there is a small fee for using the ferry across to the island.
Visitors generally spend around three hours exploring the island, taking the winding routes to see the seabird colonies, sea cliffs and archaeological sites.
build yoUr uniQue journey
Get the most out of your Celtic Routes journey and build your adventure around the experiences that matter to you. Talk to us about planning your unique trip of a lifetime.
