Known affectionately as Papay, this entrancing island is rich in wildlife. The reserve on the north end has one of Britain’s largest colonies of arctic terns – over 2,000 pairs breed here. The low cliffs along the east coast hold a small but densely packed colony of guillemots, razorbills, puffins, shags and kittiwakes. You can see them from a wide platform of rock nearby. It was here in 1813 that the last great auk (a large flightless relative of the puffin) was shot.

A reserve speciality is the purple Scottish primrose; it grows in large numbers in the short turf behind Fowl Craig.

Small visitor centre and observation point in the former coastguard hut, trail guide, guided walks in summer.