Shapinsay East Coast Walk

To reach the start of the walk, follow the main road (B9059) from the ferry through the village, carrying on for a further 4km before turning left onto a singletrack road signposted ‘Frustigarth’. After 2km this road takes a sharp left. Leave the bikes here and turn right onto a track with the farm sign Greenatang (The local farmer does allow vehicle parking at the farmyard but asks that this is done without blocking access to buildings, gates, or tracks. If possible, please leave a mobile number on your dashboard.)

After 400m follow the track as it turns right to pass through a metal gate and across a field, before passing through a double set of metal gates and onto a track heading left towards the coast. As you reach the coast, you’ll arrive at an old quarry at Dog Geo.

Walk carefully down the sloping rock and turn to your right to view the remarkable stone sea stack (unnamed on OS maps). The natural stone obelisk appears to teeter on its base and looks for all the world like one of the great heads of Easter Island.

From here follow the track on the left, which passes through the quarry and shadows the clifftops as it heads south for around 400m before reaching a second disused quarry. Keep a little to the right, to stay on the upper ‘floor’ of this quarry. Straight ahead you’ll see a very short, steep and narrow track that leads over a stable section of spoil heap. Cross over this and follow the coastline to reach the distinctive headland of Holm of Berstane.

The coast south of here is pockmarked with caves and natural arches carved by the sea. One of the caves here is rumoured to run deep under the island for miles, accounting for a deep rumbling vibration often heard by various islanders a great distance from the coast.