SC 38 · RSPB reserve guide
RSPB Loch of Spiggie
Skelberry, South Mainland, Shetland
Whooper swans, Wigeon, Arctic terns, Teal
Decide if the visit fits.
RSPB Loch of Spiggie 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
- Loch of Spiggie is best approached as a hide watch and a sequence of careful public-road views, not as a lakeside walking circuit.
- Accessibility
- The northern hide has ramped access, a dedicated wheelchair viewing bay and parking outside, according to the RSPB.
- Facilities
- There are no toilets, baby-changing facilities, café, shop or visitor centre at the reserve.
- Dogs
- Follow RSPB Scotland's short-lead guidance during the ground-nesting period, 1 April to 15 August, and wherever livestock are present.
- Public transport
- The operator's directions place the loch off the B9122 near Scousburgh.
Reserve overview
RSPB Loch of Spiggie reserve and habitat
Whooper swans, Wigeon, Arctic terns, Teal
Eight checks for a smoother visit.
Planning your visit to Loch of Spiggie
Conditions change: check the operator and transport notices before travelling.
Loch of Spiggie best time to visit and seasonal birds
Jan–Feb: whooper swans, teal and wigeon are the main winter interests identified by the RSPB. Choose a bright late-morning session in the north-shore hide to compare birds feeding on the loch with those resting. Usually a telescope helps reveal distant ducks without any need to approach the water. Low winter light can be attractive, but allow sufficient time to identify silhouettes carefully. Mar–Apr: winter wildfowl may linger as lapwings, curlews and redshanks become more conspicuous in the surrounding landscape. From the official hide, an early morning watch typically provides a mixture of calls, display and feeding activity. Keep observation within the existing public viewing arrangements. May–Jun: Arctic terns, tufted ducks and mallards are among the operator's spring and summer birds. Watch from the north hide or safe public-road viewpoints in the morning, allowing terns to come into view naturally. Waders can be using the marshes, so shore access would cause precisely the disturbance this reserve's viewing arrangements are intended to prevent. Jul–Aug: terns can still be active in July before dispersing. Typically the loch becomes a place to compare changing duck plumage and look for early returning waders. A calm morning from the north hide makes small movements easier to follow than a hurried tour around the shore. Sep–Oct: whooper swans and winter ducks usually return, bringing the loch's colder-season character into focus. Try a morning hide watch and scan slowly through any larger flock. Autumn arrival dates vary; recent operator reports are more useful than assuming all winter birds will already be present in September. Nov–Dec: the RSPB's winter wildfowl theme continues with teal, wigeon and whooper swans. Use the best daylight around the middle of the day and stay with the view long enough to distinguish feeding, resting and incoming birds.
RSPB Loch of Spiggie opening times, entry and facilities
Checked 18 October 2026: the RSPB publishes free admission for adults and children, whether members or non-members, and lists the nature reserve as open 24 hours. Parking is limited to a small number of vehicles at the north end of the loch by the hide. No separate parking charge is stated on the official pages reviewed. This is an unstaffed viewing reserve, so there is no ticket-office routine to build into the day. The charges page's generic visitor-centre payment sentence conflicts with the facilities information, which explicitly says no visitor centre or resident staff are present. Check the reserve page before travelling and leave the small parking area without blocking the public road if it is full.
Loch of Spiggie trails, hides and visit length
Loch of Spiggie is best approached as a hide watch and a sequence of careful public-road views, not as a lakeside walking circuit. The RSPB explicitly prohibits access to the loch shore because of disturbance. Use the hide at the northern end and observe any roadside stopping restrictions. Passing places on the single-track road must remain available to road users; leave immediately if your position prevents traffic moving freely. Two-hour plan: begin in the north hide with a broad scan to establish where the wildfowl are concentrated. Identify the obvious larger birds first, then work systematically through the ducks. Spend some time watching feeding methods and flock movements, rather than counting a distant group once and moving on. If another safe public viewpoint is available without obstructing traffic, use it for a different angle before returning to the hide. Otherwise remain with the first view; the birds, light and weather can all change while you sit. Full-day plan: make Spiggie the principal freshwater stop in a South Mainland Shetland day. Allow a long morning session here, take a break in an appropriate public place, and return later to compare the birds and light. Pair it with a separate official coastal visitor site rather than attempting an unofficial walk through the marshes or fields. The adjacent Loch of Brow is part of the reserve landscape, but that does not create a general permission to enter its shore. Keep every stop within the operator's viewing guidance and protect access for the people who live and work beside the lochs. When ducks are distant, compare their proportions and feeding actions before relying on colour. A bird diving repeatedly needs a different identification approach from one grazing near the surface. Discuss uncertain identifications quietly with companions and leave room for others to use the viewing windows.
Loch of Spiggie accessibility and step-free routes
The northern hide has ramped access, a dedicated wheelchair viewing bay and parking outside, according to the RSPB. These are useful specific features for a relatively short visit. The operator also describes the hide as pushchair accessible. Assess the vehicle-to-hide transfer and current ramp surface for your own needs; assistance with a heavy telescope or wheelchair should be planned before reaching the small parking area. Much of the reserve can be seen from the public road, which may make a vehicle-based visit possible for someone who cannot walk far. However, the surrounding road is single track with passing places. A convenient view is not a reason to occupy a space needed by traffic, and a roadside transfer may be unsuitable where there is insufficient room. Choose the hide as the main accessible destination and treat other stops as optional. Do not seek a flatter route along the shore: wildlife sensitivity prevents shore access, regardless of whether the ground appears physically manageable. Contact the Shetland team if you need precise information about the current entrance or viewing arrangement.
Loch of Spiggie visitor facilities
There are no toilets, baby-changing facilities, café, shop or visitor centre at the reserve. The RSPB points visitors towards public toilets beside the shop car park at Bigton and towards food supplies in the Dunrossness area. Bring refreshments for a long hide watch, together with a warm layer that can be put on without disturbing other visitors. Keep aisles and the wheelchair viewing bay clear of bags and optical equipment.
Loch of Spiggie dog rules
Follow RSPB Scotland's short-lead guidance during the ground-nesting period, 1 April to 15 August, and wherever livestock are present. Clean up after dogs and prevent them approaching birds or the loch margin. Visitors with assistance dogs are welcome at RSPB Loch of Spiggie. Keeping a pet settled and quiet is particularly important in the shared hide.
Loch of Spiggie public transport and getting there
The operator's directions place the loch off the B9122 near Scousburgh. A car-free approach can use ZetTrans's South Mainland bus network: service 6 links Lerwick and Sumburgh Airport on daytime Monday–Saturday journeys, with 6S the Sunday service. The RSPB suggests leaving the airport-bound bus at Robin's Brae and walking west towards the reserve. Confirm that stop and the return service against the current timetable; this is a substantial rural walk rather than a bus delivered to the hide door. A pre-booked taxi can be more practical if the lane approach or weather is unsuitable. Shetland's mainland connections are Loganair flights to Sumburgh and NorthLink ferries to Lerwick. The old reserve travel text still mentions Flybe and a Thurso ferry; use the current transport operators' routes instead of repeating those obsolete connections.
Useful bases for an early start.
Where to stay near Loch of Spiggie
Booking.com links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How these links work.
- 01
Lerwick
About 19.9 miles by road, roughly 33 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 Lerwick suits a longer break that includes RSPB Loch of Spiggie.Find places to stay in Lerwick on Booking.com - 02
Scalloway
About 20.0 miles by road, roughly 33 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 Scalloway suits a longer break that includes RSPB Loch of Spiggie.Find places to stay in Scalloway on Booking.com - 03
Sumburgh
About 5.9 miles by road, roughly 11 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 Sumburgh suits a longer break that includes RSPB Loch of Spiggie.Find places to stay in Sumburgh on Booking.com
Loch of Spiggie official sightings, safety and contact
Contact RSPB Shetland at shetland@rspb.org.uk or 01950 460800 for reserve and hide advice. Their official Loch of Spiggie pages distinguish the public viewpoints from the protected shoreline. Explain whether you intend a wheelchair visit, a group watch or a bus-and-walk journey so that any question is specific. Transport bookings and cancellations should be checked with ZetTrans, Loganair or NorthLink as appropriate. Share sightings without encouraging people onto the loch's restricted margins.
Best months for this reserve
Nearby complete guides.
Bird reserves near Loch of Spiggie
Stops with a purpose: use one as a contrasting habitat or weather-proof Plan B. Distances are straight-line estimates, not road journeys.
- About 6 miles away · A useful habitat changeRSPB Sumburgh HeadSpring and summer seabird colony · winter coastal birds
- About 7 miles away · A useful habitat changeRSPB MousaSpring and autumn passage; seasonal breeding and winter birds
- About 30 miles away · A useful habitat changeFair Isle Bird ObservatorySpring and autumn passage; seasonal breeding and winter birds