SC 37 · RSPB reserve guide
RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss
Settiscarth, Mainland Orkney
Hen harriers, Short-eared owls, Curlews, Merlins
Decide if the visit fits.
RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss at a glance
Last checked 18 October 2026.
- Best time
- Spring and autumn passage; seasonal breeding and winter birds
- Opening & entry
- Hours, admission and parking: see Entry below.
- Trails & visit length
- The rewarding part of Cottascarth is the time spent sitting quietly in the Eddie Balfour hide.
- Accessibility
- The hide approach is 600 m from the car park.
- Facilities
- A picnic bench is provided outside the hide.
- Dogs
- The RSPB requests that pet dogs are not brought to this working-farm reserve.
- Public transport
- The reserve lies north of Finstown, reached from the A966 via the signed local road.
Reserve overview
RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss reserve and habitat
Hen harriers, Short-eared owls, Curlews, Merlins
Eight checks for a smoother visit.
Planning your visit to Cottascarth and Rendall Moss
Conditions change: check the operator and transport notices before travelling.
Cottascarth and Rendall Moss best time to visit and seasonal birds
Jan–Feb: the Eddie Balfour hide offers a fixed place to watch the moorland without wandering into it. Hen harriers and merlins may usually be encountered in the wider landscape, though activity and visibility depend on conditions. Choose a clear period from mid-morning to early afternoon and watch patiently across the full view rather than concentrating on one distant patch. Mar–Apr: spring brings curlew calls and changing raptor activity around Cottascarth. Use the official hide in the morning, when bird calls can help make sense of the heath and grassland. Hen harriers must be watched from that public facility only; displaying or low-flying birds are never a reason to leave the visitor route. May–Jun: curlews, hen harriers and short-eared owls are among the RSPB's highlights. Early morning or a quiet late-afternoon session in the Eddie Balfour hide usually provides a more absorbing visit than a quick stop. Observe hunting behaviour across the landscape without trying to work out where a bird is breeding. Jul–Aug: the hide remains the appropriate viewpoint for hen harriers and other birds of prey. Typically midsummer offers long periods of useful light, but a warm, hazy afternoon can reduce distant identification. A morning watch allows time to compare shape, flight and hunting style before the view becomes indistinct. Sep–Oct: autumn movement can bring fresh interest to the moorland and scrub. Look for merlins and other raptors from the hide in good daylight, with curlews and smaller birds providing clues to changing activity. Choose a longer stationary watch instead of ranging beyond the signed path. Nov–Dec: short days favour a compact visit around midday. Hen harriers may usually be seen hunting in Orkney's open country, but no individual appearance is assured. Finish while there is enough light to return comfortably along the approach.
RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss opening times, entry and facilities
The RSPB tariff checked on 18 October 2026 lists free adult and child admission for members and non-members. Its published opening calendar describes the reserve as open 24 hours. The small car park lies beyond Lower Cottascarth working farm; the operator lists three spaces and one Blue Badge space, with room for a minibus. A larger coach cannot be accommodated. No separate parking fee appears in the reserve information reviewed. The Cottascarth charges page refers to a visitor centre, while the RSPB facilities page advertises no staffed visitor-centre service. Bring the supplies needed for the hide watch. Check the reserve's current official information before travelling, particularly if arranging a group visit or a vehicle larger than a car.
Cottascarth and Rendall Moss trails, hides and visit length
The rewarding part of Cottascarth is the time spent sitting quietly in the Eddie Balfour hide. Follow the signed approach from the public car park and settle into the broad view over heath, grassland and willow scrub. Binoculars make it easier to follow a bird's movement before using a telescope to examine it more closely. Watch the whole landscape, including low passes that are easily missed while looking only at the skyline. Two-hour plan: walk directly to the official hide, allow a substantial uninterrupted watch, and leave enough time for an unhurried return. Start by locating the visible terrain features so that everyone in the party can follow a bird described as crossing a slope or passing beyond a strip of scrub. During quieter periods, listen for curlews and notice how small birds respond to a passing raptor. Record observations from the hide without publishing sensitive breeding locations. Full-day plan: make this a prolonged morning or afternoon watch within a wider Orkney birdwatching day. Take a proper break away from the reserve and return for a second hide session if conditions remain suitable. A changing angle of light can make the same view feel different, and repeated watches are more useful here than inventing a cross-country circuit. Watch Hen Harriers only from the official Eddie Balfour hide, allowing birds to use the surrounding landscape undisturbed. Do not follow flight lines, enter the moss or use tracks beyond the signed visitor route to search for nests. Keep the farm approach clear for people working there. A useful exercise during a quiet spell is to pick a distant reference point and follow every bird crossing it. This builds a sense of scale and makes a later raptor easier to describe to another watcher without anyone needing to move outside the hide.
Cottascarth and Rendall Moss accessibility and step-free routes
The hide approach is 600 m from the car park. The RSPB describes it as sloping and unsurfaced, with rough sections that can be wet and muddy. That is important when judging whether a wheelchair, walking frame or pushchair will be practical: the existence of a hide does not make the route to it a hard-surfaced accessible path. Discuss the present condition with the Orkney reserve team if uneven ground, gradients or the return climb would affect your visit. The approach road passes through a working farmyard. Move carefully around agricultural equipment, give machinery room and follow the signs instead of trying other gates. The designated Blue Badge bay reduces the distance within the parking area but does not remove the rough trail beyond it. Allow time to turn back if the surface proves unsuitable. A companion can help carry optical equipment, but should not be treated as a substitute for an appropriate route assessment. The official hide is the destination; the surrounding moorland is neither an access shortcut nor an alternative viewing area.
Cottascarth and Rendall Moss visitor facilities
A picnic bench is provided outside the hide. There are no reserve toilets, café or shop, so carry the food and drink needed for the watch and make any comfort stop before arriving. The RSPB identifies public toilets in Finstown, including accessible facilities requiring a RADAR key. Bring warm layers for sitting still: a sheltered watch can feel markedly colder than the walk in, especially when attention keeps you motionless for a long period.
Cottascarth and Rendall Moss dog rules
The RSPB requests that pet dogs are not brought to this working-farm reserve. If a dog is brought, its published guidance asks that it remain close, preferably on a short lead, and away from livestock. Visitors with assistance dogs are welcome at RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss, including throughout its visitor routes. A dog-free visit is the clearest way to follow the operator's request.
Cottascarth and Rendall Moss public transport and getting there
The reserve lies north of Finstown, reached from the A966 via the signed local road. For a car-free visit, the RSPB identifies Norseman village as the nearest bus connection, leaving a substantial walk to the reserve. Its location page calls the route the number 6 Kirkwall–Tingwall service, while Orkney Islands Council's current service listing titles number 6 Tingwall Ferry Terminal–Evie. Use the council's dated timetable and stop information to confirm the actual journey from your base rather than relying on the shortened RSPB route name. The final lanes pass a working farm and require ordinary road-walking care. A pre-booked taxi from Finstown or Kirkwall may make a more practical connection if the walking approach is unsuitable. Coordinate the return pickup before leaving mobile coverage or beginning a long hide session.
Useful bases for an early start.
Where to stay near Cottascarth and Rendall Moss
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- 01
Kirkwall
About 11.6 miles by road, roughly 20 minutes’ drive to the reserve approach (OSRM, measured 18 October 2026; estimate without live traffic).
Measured driving route · 18 October 2026. Map estimates exclude live traffic.
A base in Kirkwall suits a longer break that includes RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss.Find places to stay in Kirkwall on Booking.com - 02
Stromness
About 13.1 miles by road, roughly 23 minutes’ drive to the reserve approach (OSRM, measured 18 October 2026; estimate without live traffic).
Measured driving route · 18 October 2026. Map estimates exclude live traffic.
A base in Stromness suits a longer break that includes RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss.Find places to stay in Stromness on Booking.com - 03
Finstown
About 4.5 miles by road, roughly 9 minutes’ drive to the reserve approach (OSRM, measured 18 October 2026; estimate without live traffic).
Measured driving route · 18 October 2026. Map estimates exclude live traffic.
A base in Finstown suits a longer break that includes RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss.Find places to stay in Finstown on Booking.com
Cottascarth and Rendall Moss official sightings, safety and contact
The RSPB Orkney office can be reached at orkney@rspb.org.uk or 01856 850176. Ask the team about the current condition of the signed hide approach if mobility or heavy rain could affect the visit. Group organisers should discuss parking and vehicle size in advance. Send general bird observations without attaching sensitive breeding locations to public reports. For bus changes and individual journeys use Orkney Islands Council's transport information rather than the reserve office.
Best months for this reserve
Nearby complete guides.
Bird reserves near Cottascarth and Rendall Moss
Stops with a purpose: use one as a contrasting habitat or weather-proof Plan B. Distances are straight-line estimates, not road journeys.
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