Quoyness Cairn, Sanday

Summary

Quoyness Cairn is an 5000 year old large chambered burial cairn - one of the most impressive in Scotland, and similar in style to Maes Howe though less grand in construction. Situated next to the sea on Els Ness this out-and-back route, described from Lady, also takes in the Little Sea, popular with wading birds. It is possible to greatly shorten the walk by driving it as far as a parking area on the Quoy Ayre.

Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Farm track and country roads. Low, narrow passageway into the cairn.

Getting there

Start

Lady village, parking near Heritage Centre.

Public Transport

Daily, ferries and flights to Sanday from Kirkwall, local bus meets ferry in summer and by arrangement in winter.

Start Grid Ref

HY686409

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 8.25km / 5.25 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 14m (Profile)

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Explorer 465 - Sanday, Eday, Stronsay

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Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

The walk starts from Lady village where there is a shop and also parking next to the Heritage Centre. The exhibits on island life and the restored croft house are well worth a visit. Start by walking south-east on the B9079 passing the war memorial. Follow the road until a sharp bend to the right; continue straight ahead here onto a track.

Stage 2

The track keeps to the edge of the Little Sea which is a great place to spot wading birds. Els Ness was probably once an island but sand has filled in the gap over time and created what is called, in Orkney, an 'ayre'. Follow the track south over Quoy Ayre, passing the parking area and bear left to go through a gate and pass to the left of a house (signed for Quoyness Cairn).

Stage 3

After leaving the sandy bay, the grassy track runs next to the sea with the mound of Quoyness cairn visible ahead. The cairn is thought to date from 5000 years ago and was used as a burial site, probably with a neolithic village nearby. When it was excavated in the 1800's it was found to contain human skulls and bones in 4 of the 6 cells with a central, circular cist containing the remains of at least 10 adults and 4 or 5 children.

Stage 4

The entrance to the cairn is a narrow 9m long passageway which requires crawling for the last section.

Stage 5

The tomb itself is spacious inside, although the roof is a modern addition. There is usually a torch near the entrance which is useful for exploring the side chambers.

Stage 6

From the cairn return along the track passing the parking area and continue past the Little Sea. Once back on the B9069 take the next right to follow a lane through farmland. Keep following this past a building until you turn left at a T junction near Overbister to head north west to return to the crossroads in Lady.

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