
Rum National Nature Reserve

Extinct volcanoes, wilderness and spectacular wildlife await visitors to Rum National Nature Reserve (NNR).
Here, on a mountain top, is one of the world’s largest colonies of Manx shearwater – representing some 30% of the world’s breeding population. Sea cliffs also support magnificent colonies of other seabirds. Red-throated divers breed on inland lochans and golden and white-tailed eagles soar high above the mountains and moorland.
More obscure wildlife includes rare plants, a rich diversity of mosses, lichen and fungi, and thousands of types of invertebrates. Otters also abound along the shorelines.
An incredible mix of habitats supports this wealth of wildlife. Heaths, grasslands, sea cliffs, crevices and peatlands peppered with lochs and lochans have also earned the reserve international recognition.
As you approach Rum, the largest of the Small Isles, the rugged mountains set a dramatic stage for spectacular wildlife and geology.
There is lots to see and do on Rum, whether you want to climb the hills, walk through the glens or join a ranger-led event.
Find out more about visiting Rum NNR.
Listen to our Podcast as Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of NatureScot visits Rum and explores this magical National Nature Reserve for this first time. Interviewed by Ian Sargent, Nature Reserves Manager.
Find out more about the reserve and its natural history.
Other attractions on the island include Kinloch Castle (tours available) and the community craft shops and cafe in the village.
Calum Maclean goes on a wild swimming, exploring and photography adventure to Rum National Nature Reserve, exploring the landscape, wildlife and Gaelic references to nature on the small isle of the Inner Hebrides in Scotland. ©NatureScot
Visit our Events page to see what upcoming events you can get involved in at this reserve.
Reserve manager: Lesley Watt
NatureScot
Rum Reserve Office
Isle of Rum
Inverness-shire
PA43 4RR
Telephone: 0131 314 4181
Email: [email protected]
Discover more about why Scotland’s National Nature Reserves were created and the partners who manage them.
Follow us on Instagram. Share your photos with us #RumNNR.
Find out more about the Isle of Rum Community Trust and what they offer visitors to the island.
Follow our NNR Facebook page for up-to-date information on reserves across Scotland.
Follow NatureScot’s Scotland’s Nature blog and find interesting articles on Scotland’s natural heritage.
Rum NNR is a member of VisitScotland and the GTBS (Green Tourism Business Scheme).
Enjoyed your visit?
Thanks to funding from the Scottish Government's Peatland ACTION programme, delivered in partnership with NatureScot and other agencies, peatland on this National Nature Reserve is being restored. Putting peatland on the road to recovery is helping Scotland tackle the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.