The Geo of Sclaites and nesting birds in Scotland
Discover the remarkable geology of the Scottish Highlands
Near Duncansby Head there is a stunning formation just off the coast that you can’t miss seeing. Or, to be more precise, if you are nearby you can’t miss hearing it! Geo of Sclaites looks like a large slice of the earth has been removed and in its place thousands of nesting birds in Scotland have taken up home! Here we’ll tell you a little more about the history of this beautiful feature and what you can find there.
We attended a function at Mackays to open the Mey Games 2019, the staff were superb and very attentive, the food (Buffet) was second to none, beautifully presented and fresh. Great choice of beers and whiskies, and very reasonably priced for a hotel, what more could we ask for? The Manager introduced himself and nothing was too much trouble – we’re looking forward to attending again next year.
Highland geology
As you peer over into the crevice, you can see some Scottish Highland geology with Old Red Sandstone formations dating from 300 – 400 million years ago. And today, they are being used by some very noisy residents…
Sights and sounds
See nesting birds in Scotland
When you visit this area, you’ll probably be able to find it just by using your ears. That’s because the cliff faces are used by hundreds of nesting birds, each on shouting to be heard above all others.
The sound can be quite disorientating, but what an experience it is! Thousands of birds nest here, including gannets, fulmars, skuas, razorbills, shags and ever-delightful puffins.
You can visit any time of year to see the birds, but they reach peak numbers (and volume, and smell!) from the middle of April to the middle of July. Take your binoculars for an even better view of the birds.
How to get there
Visiting the Geo of Sclaites
Getting to Geo of Sclaites from Mackays is straightforward. You can combine it with visits to other areas of interest on your trip. Nearby is Duncansby Head, the most northerly point of the British Isles. And there’s also Duncansby Head Lighthouse, which makes for a great spot to look out over the sea.
If you are doing ‘most northerlies’, then make sure you also tick ‘most northerly village’ – the famous John O’Groats. This is where you can get your photo next to a signpost pointing out how far away you are from other places of interest, including Land’s End, the most southerly point on Britain’s mainland. You can also visit their local brewery!
You can get to Geo of Sclaites in around half an hour by car. There is some walking required on grassland paths and it can be windy around here.
Explore more below…
