St Magnus Way: Orphir to Kirkwall

Summary

The final stage of St Magnus Way returns to the coast at Waulkmill Bay, with fine sands when the tide is out. It then crosses boggy moorland before rejoining the coastline atop low cliffs. After a brief detour up to the road, the route returns to the coast to pass Scapa Distillery and beach. All that remains is to walk into Kirkwall to complete the journey at the magnificent cathedral.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Tarmac road, boggy salt flats and moorland, rough heather and grassy coastal paths. Cycle path and pavements heading into Kirkwall. At very high tides the Waulkmill Bay path at Stage 2 may be impassable, continue on the road instead.

Getting there

Start

Orphir.

Public Transport

Orphir and Kirkwall are linked by bus.

Start Grid Ref

HY343059

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 18.7km / 11.5 miles
Time: 5 - 7 hours
Ascent: 310m (Profile)

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

From Orphir head east along the A964 towards Kirkwall. After just over 1km and just beyond where you came out at the road on the previous stage of the Way, turn left to head up a waymarked grassy lane that soon passes behind a pink house. The lane descends to a house and the road opposite the Loch of Kirbister. Turn right and follow the road to the A964 at a bus shelter. Turn left here passing a water treatment works and an old mill before turning right to go through a waymarked farm gate (near a telegraph pole) and following the fence downhill. Bear left to reach another farm gate now on a more distinct grassy track and follow this towards the sea at Waulkmill Bay.

Stage 2

Go through the gate leading to the salt marsh shore and bear left following a faint path along the edge of the salt marsh. This section may be impassable at very high tides - the alternative is to stay on the A964 and turn right to follow the minor road towards Waulkmill Lodge to rejoin the route at Stage 3. In good weather this section is lovely with a good chance of seeing wildlife. When the back of the bay is reached bear left along the grass, cross a small bridge and follow the narrow path through bracken and bog myrtle to reach the road.

Stage 3

Turn right at the road soon reaching toilets and a parking area with nearby benches with good views over the bay. At the end of the road continue along the signed track, passing to the right of a bungalow. Shortly afterwards turn left on a track up onto the moorland. This soon becomes rough; follow it to a stile and continue ahead, ignoring a path off right. Ignore another rough track off left, continuing ahead until a t-junction with a very soggy track. Turn left here, but then right shortly afterwards onto a very narrow path in the heather.

Stage 4

The path - which is very wet in places - keeps to the right of a fence line, bending left when a fence corner is reached. Cross the fence at a ladder stile, then bear right to aim for a second ladder stile in another fence. After this the path continues through heather, with a section through bracken by a burn. Marker posts help lead the way, eventually joining the coastline at Cony Geo. The route now continues along the edge of low coastal cliffs.

Stage 5

Continue on the narrow clifftop path, descending to cross the Burn of Greenigoe after around a kilometre. Climb up the far side and keep to the coastal cliffs for a further 400m; the route then turns inland along the near side of two parallel fences. The going on this part can be quite overgrown. Keep ahead when the route continues between fences, then turn right through a farm gate at a waymarker, following a grass track towards a turbine. Before reaching the turbine turn left, joining a farm track and heading through a gate to reach the main road.

Stage 6

Turn right along the road for almost a kilometre, taking care with the traffic, then turn right onto a tarmac lane towards the Foveran restaurant. When the restaurant is reached bear right of it to pick up a track, which soon bends left and leads down towards the coast, becoming an overgrown path before it reaches it. Once down at the shore turn left along a grassy path atop the low cliffs once more.

Stage 7

The path passes above a sandy bay at one point, and then along the outside edge of livestock fields. After a wooden footbridge it heads along the cliffs in front of the Scapa Distillery, where it crosses another bridge. Eventually the path descends to reach some old buildings at the near end of Scapa Bay. Turn right onto the sand-and-seaweed shore to pass these buildings; once beyond them you can pick up the minor road that runs along the back of the beach. There are public toilets towards the far end.

Stage 8

At the far end of the bay turn left at the road junction to head inland. After 300m leave the road, turning left onto the Crantit Trail, a shared path. This soon bends right and then continues, with a small dog-leg right and left at one point, and then turns right at the end to remerge on the road. Turn left here to the roundabout, then go straight across on New Scapa Road, with the hospital on your left. Now continue ahead into Kirkwall; the road becomes Junction Road. Keep straight ahead at a roundabout. You may spot the Cathedral off to your right, but St Magnus Way continues ahead to the roundabout at the harbour first.

Stage 9

Turn right at the roundabout at the harbour, then right again onto Bridge Street. This is Kirkwall's main shopping street, swinging right into Albert Street, and passing many historic buildings. Soon it becomes Broad Street, and journey's end - the magnificent Kirkwall Cathedral - is reached at last. Inside the Cathedral, there is a table dedicated to the pilgrimage in the south transept; the bones of St Magnus were discovered within the broad square pillar between the transept and the choir.

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