Seven things to do in Burray & South Ronaldsay

If you’re looking for coastal walks or beaches then you’ve come to the right place. Don’t worry if history is your thing either – there’s plenty of that across these communities too.

We’ve picked out seven of our favourite things to do when you’re over the barriers. Check them out below.

Burray and South Ronaldsay are home to some very talented craftspeople. In Burray, you’ll find the Orkney Glass Hut where Liz Rickard creates a range of glasswork in all kinds of vibrant colours and styles. She offers workshops where you can design your own pieces too. In the Burray village you can pop past Leo Kerr, who handmakes beautiful wooden mirrors influenced by the Orcadian elements. Nearby, Karen Duncan designs jewellery inspired by Orkney’s natural world and rich heritage.

Cross the final barrier to South Ronaldsay to visit the Workshop & Loft Gallery in St Margaret’s Hope, a craft cooperative set up more than forty years ago, which is full of local textiles, artwork, ceramics, and much more.

Finally, don’t miss out the Hoxa Tapestry Gallery, a family-run art gallery with stunning views out over Scapa Flow. It’s full of original artwork, handcrafted rugs, cards, and prints, all made by the talented Jo Thomson, her brother, Andrew, and their late mother, Leila.

As you’re crossing the Churchill Barriers, you can’t help but notice the rusting remains of the wartime blockships in the water, scuttled to protect Scapa Flow before the causeways were built. It’s a beautiful view, but there’s no doubt the best way to see them is from sea level – or even beneath it.

Kraken Diving offer Discover Scuba Diving sessions at the Churchill Barriers where you can learn the basics before taking to the water accompanied by a qualified guide. You’ll see these ships from beneath the surface and all the sea life surrounding them.

If scuba diving isn’t your thing, the team also offer snorkelling safaris at the wreck sites, or you can follow the new Orkney Snorkel Trail if you’re an experienced snorkeller.

Orkney’s history is well documented across the islands, but did you know one special site in Burray has exhibits even older than Skara Brae on show.

The Orkney Fossil & Heritage Centre has a huge collection of fossils from the islands and further afield on display, alongside local heritage displays and exhibitions on the building of the Churchill Barriers.

The collections were donated by Leslie Firth and his father, Ernest, who gathered fossils and rocks in Orkney’s West Mainland, along with objects such as furniture, household china, cameras, tools and much more, all used by Orcadians over the generations.

South Ronaldsay’s coastline is one of the most spectacular in the islands with a number of walking routes that are well worth seeking out.

There are plenty of well-established trails, and you can even walk the entire coastline over the course of a couple of days. Our favourite walk starts at Burwick at the southern point of the island, heading up the west coast to Barth Head (although you can continue on to Sandwick Bay too). It’s beautiful in the summer with sea pinks to enjoy, and during the autumn months you’ll find grey seals and their pups on the shore.

Another excellent walk stretches between St Peter’s Kirk and the dramatic coastline at Windwick.

One of Orkney’s most fascinating archaeological excavations takes place in South Ronaldsay every summer, where you can watch experts at work, uncovering more secrets from the past.

Digging at The Cairns, an Iron Age site close to Windwick, began in 2006 and over the years the efforts have revealed a large broch and other structures dating from the Iron Age right through to the Norse period.

The dig usually runs for much of June with visitors welcome. There’s an annual open day at the site too.

If you’re keen to take a stroll on the sand during your visit to Orkney then Burray and South Ronaldsay have some fabulous beaches to enjoy.

One of the best can be found snaking its way along the east coast of Glimps Holm, the island linked to Burray by the 3^rd barrier, and it comes complete with a blockship in the bay for company. The 4^th barrier beach has been transformed by the change in water flow to become a huge dune system with a great arch of golden sand.

In South Ronaldsay, the Sands of Wright is a popular spot during the summer, and the beach at Eastside is beautiful, and often quieter, too.

As museums go in Orkney, this is definitely one of the smallest, but it’s still a fascinating place to visit.

The restored blacksmith’s smiddy in St Margaret’s Hope now houses a display of tools and artefacts the local blacksmith would have used.

There’s also a collection of archives and photographs covering island events and life in South Ronaldsay in days gone by.

VIsit our Explore Burray & South Ronaldsay page to find out more about the area.