The cliffs at Troup Head house mainland Scotland's only gannetry, with 1,500 pairs of these majestic birds. There are also puffins, guillemots and razorbills. This short but very dramatic walk visits the clifftops overlooking the gannets' nests.
Farm track then grassy clifftop path. Parts of the cliffs are unprotected so keep well back from the edge.
None to start.
RSPB car park accessed through Northfield Farm.
For a longer walk, start at Crovie, from where this walk can be done as an extension to the Crovie Five Farms walk. Otherwise, drive to Northfield Farm and continue on the track beyond (following the RSPB markers) to reach a signed parking area on the right. Begin the walk by continuing along the track, swinging right at the junction just past the car park. After passing through a gate the walk continues along the edge of the field, keeping the fence on your left. At the fork at the far end, take the left branch.
The path soon reaches a fence at a kissing-gate; the cliff-tops are just beyond. From here on take great care as the cliffs of Troup Head are unfenced and dangerous; it is difficult to get a good view down. Follow the path to the left, parallel to the fence. Hundreds of gannets can usually be seen circling below; these graceful birds fly far to fish, which they catch by harpooning into the sea.
Soon a signed viewpoint is reached; there are CCTV cameras just below. This is the only spot on the clifftop where the gannets' nests can be seen easily.
The young, known as Gugas, are huge and fluffy by the summer and it is possible to watch the parent birds regurgitating food for them. Once you've seen enough of the gannets, return to the gate in the fence.
This time don't pass through, but instead continue by the fence. There's another gate and path directly back to the car park, but you can continue on a newly created path that keeps around the field edges. There are good views over to the right, with the tiny village of Pennan visible beyond sea-cliffs stained white with guano. Eventually the path emerges back at the start.
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