A coastal circular above cliffs to the highest point on Faraclett Head, a good place to spot terns and skuas.
Waymarked path, crosses farmland with livestock.
Ferry to Rousay from Tingwall, Mainland Orkney. Bus on Rousay every Thurs (book on 01856 821 360) or taxi minibus by arrangement.
Faraclett parking area, Rousay.
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Start the walk just south of Faraclett where there is a small parking area and information board just off to the left of the minor road on the track to Faraclett. Begin by walking up the track and then straight ahead over the stile when the track bends right. Go directly uphill and over the next stile and then take a line diagonally right uphill to cross the second field to reach a gate and signpost at the far top corner.
Once through the gate bear left following the white waymarkers with the dome of Kierfea Hill dominant to the left. The path eventually curves around the hillside to the right to head towards the sea. This section of coastline is popular with arctic terns who take a 3000 mile round trip every year from Antarctica to return to these breeding grounds on Orkney. Follow the marker posts to bear northeast heading uphill to keep well above the high cliffs.
The narrow path crosses heather (ling, bell and cross leaved heath all grow here) and there are views across the sea to remote Westray. A large cairn marks the summit of Faraclett Head where you are likely to also see skuas and ravens and occasionally peregrine falcons.
From the summit the faint path heads northeast down to a marker post on the cliffs and then works its way east and then finally south down and then traversing the flanks of the slope. The 'ayre' or natural causeway between Stockness and the rest of Rousay can be seen below with the Loch of Stockness behind.
Descend to a kissing gate, cross the next field to a stile over the wall and then bear right, parallel to the wall. When a wall blocks the way ahead bear a little left to another stile from where the route heads across the slope, aiming above the farmhouse at Faraclett. From here you may be able to make out the Yetnasteen standing stone down on the left at the field edge, it is said to walk to the nearby loch every New Year for a drink. Aim directly for the wind turbine on the distant hill and you should reach a farm gate, bear left once through this to return along the track to the parking area.
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