Are you looking for the perfect spring walk during your trip to Orkney?
Spring is a time when many of us feel that itch to get out and about. While the long, lazy days of an Orkney summer may be some way off, there’s already enough extra daylight to prompt most of us out of our semi-hibernated state.
We’ve got plenty of space in Orkney to get out and explore. And while we have some excellent locations for a relaxed wander, visitors who prefer a more energetic walk might want to try some of our suggestions below.
So, pull on your boots and prepare for a lung full of fresh Orkney air.
Roseness
This is one of our favourite walks. Located in the east end of the parish of Holm, a walk along this rugged stretch of low-lying coastline is a real lung-cleanser, particularly in an easterly wind, when the North Sea sends waves crashing into the angular cliffs and coves. Highlights include a collapsed sea cave, a mysterious stone beacon, and a pocket lighthouse.
Pierowall Circular
A walk along Grobust beach in Westray is a treat at any time of the year but we think it looks its best when there’s a bit of an Atlantic swell rolling in, with the turquoise and blue waters giving a splash of colour under a heavy sky. This relatively short walk also takes in a fine castle (with a connection to Mary Queen of Scots) and the island’s main village of Pierowall, where you’ll find a cup of tea – or something a little stronger – as a reward for your efforts.
Whitemill Circular
People often comment on the apparent size of the skies in Orkney, particularly in springtime when the dark clouds of winter draw back to reveal a vastness of blue. There are few places where you’ll find this more profoundly than at Whitemill Bay in Sanday, where the low-lying landscape gives way to a great sweep of sand and the endless horizon of the Atlantic. As you walk around the coast here in spring, the wetlands on your landward side are alive with the sound of birdlife.
Flotta Wartime Trail
While many of our walks showcase the natural landscape of Orkney, the Flotta Wartime Trail is very much about the island’s 20th century human history and the very profound effect that both World Wars had on this small island. Flotta lies at the very heart of the former naval anchorage of Scapa Flow. As well as giving it a strategic importance it also makes it an island with unique views across the rest of Orkney. Stanger Head is one of our favourite places to simply watch the tide slipping past and the island’s small heritage centre is a real gem, curated by local people and telling their experience of being at the heart of Britain’s defences, as well as the coming of the oil terminal which shaped the island in the latter part of the century.
Birsay Circular
Amongst locals, Birsay is probably the number one go-to location for a leg stretch, or just a spot of fresh air. This walk starts at the village known as ‘The Palace’, named after the palace of the Norse earls, the impressive remains of which dominate this modest settlement. The route takes in a beautiful section of coast (with the option of a detour to the tidal island of the Brough of Birsay – if you time it carefully!) Beyond the picturesque fishermen’s hut lies a stretch of coast which comes alive in April sunlight and is a marvellous spot to sit and watch Atlantic waves roll in from the west. Arriving back in the village you have the option of one of our favourite tearooms or the local shop, which produces a tempting range of speciality pies.
Trumland RSPB Reserve
A short ferry journey from Tingwall takes you to the island of Rousay. This walk begins at the pier and takes in one of Orkney’s finest Neolithic tombs, before climbing to 250m for a fabulous view across Orkney’s North Isles. The area is an RSPB reserve and mid-March into April is a great time to visit, as hen harriers perform their acrobatic courtship displays and skylarks fill the air with bright sound. This route does involve some rough ground and may be wet in places during early spring.
We’ve gone for a selection that hopefully avoids the wettest of routes but do be aware that you are likely to encounter mud on most these walks and that some of the more overgrown sections might not have had their first grass cut of the season.
View all our Orkney walking routes to explore more the islands.
