Did you know
Cattle at work.
The wet grassland is grazed by cattle to keep gorse down and the fields open for waders like lapwing and redshank.
Ross and Cromarty
RSPB Udale Bay
An RSPB reserve on the Cromarty Firth near Jemimaville, where a hide by the road looks out over mudflats, saltmarsh and wet grassland full of wading birds and wildfowl.
Welcome
Along the south shore of the Cromarty Firth, near the village of Jemimaville, the land runs out into a wide, shallow bay.
Visited and photographed by Simon Hird
At low tide it becomes a great expanse of mud and sand, with saltmarsh around its edges, and it is one of the richest feeding grounds for birds on the whole firth. This is Udale Bay, looked after by the RSPB.
The hide stands right by the road, a simple timber building among the birches, its benches set below long windows onto the bay. Bring binoculars for the flocks of wildfowl and wading birds out on the bay. Behind the shore, wet fields grazed by cattle are kept open for lapwing, snipe and redshank, and a trail leads to a second viewing screen at Kirkmichael.
There are no toilets at the reserve, so plan a stop in Cromarty, five miles further on.
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Before you go
The reserve and its hide are open at all times and free.
There is space for four cars at the lay-by next to the hide, and more at the Kirkmichael viewing screen. There are no toilets; the nearest are in Cromarty.
- Where
- Near Jemimaville, on the Cromarty Firth.
- Hide
- At the lay-by on the shore road.
- Toilets
- In Cromarty, five miles away.
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Did you know
Four ways in.
There are four places to park for the bay, with a hide and a separate viewing screen at Kirkmichael.
Hidden Scotland
From our guide to Ross and Cromarty
On the south shore of the Cromarty Firth near Jemimaville, a wide, shallow bay empties at low tide into a great spread of mud, sand and saltmarsh. It is one of the richest feeding grounds for birds on the firth, and the RSPB looks after it. The hide stands right by the road, a simple timber building with benches and long windows onto the bay. Bring binoculars for the wildfowl and wading birds, and look for lapwing, snipe and redshank in the wet fields behind. There are no toilets, so plan a stop in Cromarty, five miles further on.
Read moreWhat is on
What is new across Ross and Cromarty, day by day.
New places, news and stories, as we find them.
What is on in Ross and CromartyWhere it is
On the shore road by Jemimaville, on the south side of the Cromarty Firth, with the hide at a lay-by.
Close byThe Black Isle.
Kirkmichael1 mile 2 min by road
Udale Bay ViewpointA viewpoint on the B9163 over the mudflats of Udale Bay.2 miles 3 min by road
Cromarty Brewing Company5 miles 8 min by road
Cromarty FerryThe little summer ferry from Cromarty to Nigg.5 miles 8 min by road
Cromarty LighthouseThe Stevenson lighthouse on Cromarty's shore.5 miles 8 min by road
Chanonry PointDolphins off the point.8 miles 15 min by road
Stay nearby
Places to stay near the reserve, and when each is next free.
Newhall Mains- To stay
- In Balblair
- A mile from Udale Bay
Boath Cabin- Sleeps 4
- In Nairn
- 14 miles from Udale Bay
Links House at Royal Dornoch- To stay
- In Dornoch
- 16 miles from Udale Bay
Culbin Edge- Sleeps 4
- In Brodie
- 16 miles from Udale Bay
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Find out more
For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .