Handa Island is a Scottish Wildlife Trust nature reserve located in the far north west of Scotland, and is home in the height of summer to close to 100,000 seabirds gathering to breed including guillemots, razorbills great skua and puffins (Information as published on the Scottish Wildlife Trust site).

The reserve is accessed by a pedestrian ferry service that runs from Tarbet on demand during the visitor season. Tarbet and the ferry is well sign posted off the A894, 3 miles north of Scourie. If you find yourself at Laxford Bridge then you have missed the turning. It is recommend to phone before traveling to make sure the ferry is running, as the service can be affected by bad weather. This is the page for directions, running times of the ferry and contact numbers.

There is a decent amount of car parking spaces and the ferry price was very reasonable (only £12pp for an adult). There is no extra charge once on the reserve, where you are met by a resident volunteer there to answer any questions, provide information on the bird sightings and to give directions on the paths and the time it takes to get around the island.

Opening Times & Ferry Details (From the Scottish Wildlife Trust site)

2015 Handa visitor season: Monday 30 March to Saturday 5 September inclusive.

Running times: Mon to Sat 9 am – 17:00pm. Last ferry to island at 14:00.

The ferry does not operate on a Sunday.

OS Grid Ref : NC138480