Tuquoy and Mae Sand, Westray

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This circular walk explores the southern the Ness of Tuquoy, heading along the coast to visit a 12th century Norse kirk. The walk then continues on an often overgrown path to reach Mae Sand - a spectacular beach.

Terrain

Grassy coast path, faint at times - can be very overgrown in parts in summer; return along tarmac road.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Bay of Tuquoy car park. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Park carefully at the end of the public road, taking care not to obstruct the creel boats or their operators. The sunsets from here - looking back across the Bay of Tuquoy - can be spectacular around midsummer. Begin the walk on a grassy path signposted for Westside Church. As well as the creel boats seeking crab, the shallow sandy Bay of Tuquoy is a good habitat for edible cockles, and during spring tides a prime location for spooting - locals can often be seen walking backwards looking for a squirt of water from the sand indicating the hiding place of a razorfish (spoots). As well as human predators the beach provides an ideal habitat for wading birds such as redshank, dunlin and ringed plover.

Stage 2

The path becomes very narrow as it continues along the grassy foreshore, and it can be overgrown in high summer. Below are large expanses of flagstone - the main building material on the island and used for everything from floors to incredibly heavy but weatherproof roofs.

Stage 3

The path soon reaches the wall of the Cross Kirk and cemetery, built in 1140 by a Westray Norseman and still in use today, though the kirk building itself was partly dismantled in the 19th century. Cross the wall via a stile and explore the cemetery and building remains before exiting via a further stile in the southern wall and continuing along the shoreside path. This section can be even more overgrown in summer, and it may be easier to drop down and instead walk along the pebbly beach unless the tide is very high. At one point it is sometimes easier to use gates to temporarily continue inside the fields.

Stage 4

Eventually the path becomes more obvious again and passes a series of old drystone boat nousts, originally designed as winter shelters for Norse fishing boats which were similar in design to the Westray Skiff in use until recent times as a veritable sea taxi between the isles. A green waymarker indicates a short set of steps leading down onto the rocky foreshore - take care on the greasy flagstones - and continue west to drop down onto the dazzling white beach of Mae Sand, one of 17 such beaches on Westray's 80km coastline.

Stage 5

The beach is backed by a vast expanse of fascinating wind-sculpted dunes topped by lyme grass. At the end of the beach turn right to head inland along a well-used farm track to a pedestrian gate funneling walkers between fields. There are further views over the eroded and atmospheric dunes before the farm of Langskaill is reached at a surfaced minor road. Substantial Norse building remains have been discovered in this area, built on top of a previous Iron Age broch known as Round Howe. Continue inland along the road and take the right fork at the first junction. The left fork heads towards the abandoned village of Nether House below 169m Fitty Hill - the highest point on Westray. Follow the road as it bears right and then go straight across a series of road junctions to return to the start at Tuquoy.

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Tuquoy and Mae Sand, Westray

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Terrain

Public Transport

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