Explore the small island of Egilsay, visiting the ancient remains of St Magnus church with its unusual round tower, a beautiful sandy beach, then crossing farmland and the Onziebust RSPB Reserve where a freshwater loch on the coast is a haven for birds.
Minor road, farm tracks and paths, livestock in fields
Ferry from Tingwall via Rousay (some services only with pre-booking request).
Egilsay ferry pier.
Start from the ferry pier (waiting room and toilets) and begin by walking up the road. Just before the first house on the left climb a stile on the left and follow the fence heading for the round tower and roofless remains of St Magnus church.
Go through a gate on the right and then through the church gate to access the graveyard (if the gate won't open there is a stone stile next to it). The church dates from the late 12th century and probably sits on the site of a much older church and is mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga. Magnus shared the Viking earldom with Earl Hakon. In 1115 the two earls had arranged a meeting on Egilsay but Hakon arrived with boatloads of men intent on killing Magnus. Magnus led his men to pray and was eventually executed. Canonised in 1136 his remains were discovered in one of the pillars of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall in 1919.
Leave the church via the gate and track heading east and turn right at the road. At the crossroads turn left passing the old school and community hall which is open for visitors to use and has facilities to make a hot drink and also WiFi, very useful if the weather is poor. Continue down the track, taking a signed detour to the right through the kissing gate to visit the memorial built at the spot where St Magnus was slain.
The perfect beaches here have good views across to Eday. Return to the track and continue towards the coast going through a farm gate and following the, sometimes muddy, track across the field to a kissing gate giving access to the beach. Return to the crossroads by retracing the route across the field and up the track. Once at the crossroads near the community centre turn left and stay on this road as it bends left and right to head down the small spine of Egilsay.
The road leads past a trig point marking the high point of the island at 35m. The yellow painted house at Howan can be seen down on the left, a typical 17th century lairds house. At Onziebust Farm go straight through the farmyard between the buildings and pass to the right of the house before continuing ahead through a gateway on a track. Ahead go through the farm gate on the right and follow the track through another gate.
Just before the next gate (and before the land slopes down to the coast) turn left to follow the fence southeast to another gate. Go through this and through the next gate staying on the grassy track. Pass a small ruin and take the left hand gate and follow the faint path which keeps near the fence to heading to the left side of the loch visible ahead.
This area is popular in summer with lapwing, curlew and snipe and you may also be lucky to hear or even see a concrake who breed on the island. Bear left to a gate which gives access to the coast and turn right to pass the Loch of the Graand aiming for the headland. Seals sometimes haul out on the low rocks and can often be seen in the surrounding sea. From the headland return to the loch and then stay on the east coast to follow a faint path along the shoreline soon passing the remains of a wall.
Continue until a gate gives access to the field on the right and the prominent mound which is the remains of the Hillocks of the Graand chambered cairn. Skirt round the right hand side of the cairn and then bear slightly left to reach a farm gate. Go through this and straight up the track leading back to Onziebust Farm. Go through the farmyard and follow the road back to the crossroads near the community centre. Turn left to return to the ferry pier.
Please consider setting up a direct debit donation to help support the continued maintenance and updates to Walkhighlands.
