Step ashore on one of Britain's most untouched wildlife sanctuaries — Copinsay RSPB reserve. Towering sea cliffs host tens of thousands of guillemots, razorbills, and puffins in a landscape utterly unchanged for centuries.
What to expect
Your Zodiac lands on Copinsay's rocky foreshore, where a specialist naturalist guide leads you along cliff-top paths alive with seabird noise and salt spray. The reserve's James Fisher Memorial status means no commercial crowds — just your small group and half a million birds. You'll observe guillemots in their packed 'apartment block' colonies, scan for white-tailed eagles, and watch grey seals haul out on wave-worn skerries below. The return crossing gives sweeping views of the uninhabited island from the sea — a perspective granted to very few.
Good to know
Pre-book well in advance — private landings on Copinsay require RSPB liaison and calm sea conditions. Wear waterproof layers and non-slip deck shoes. All-aboard times are tight on tender ports; confirm your pickup window with the operator at booking.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Copinsay Island — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Copinsay Island
- Ring of Brodgar & Skara Brae: Private Expert-Led UNESCO Tour
- Orkney Trike Tours: Coastal Panorama Ride Across Mainland Orkney
- Italian Chapel & Churchill Barriers: Private Wartime History Tour
- Copinsay Lighthouse: Private Boat Passage & Coastal Photography
- Maes Howe Chambered Cairn: Expert Solstice & Viking Runes Tour