The Sand of Rothiesholm is perhaps Stronsay's finest sandy beach. This circular walk runs the length of the beach before making a rougher return along the north shore of the peninsula.
Bog Factor
Sandy beach, then boggy section and some very tussocky grassy going above the coastline.
Sand of Rothiesholm parking area, HY636247.
None to start, which is 6km from the ferry jetty.
HY636247
There is a parking area for the Sand of Rothiesholm down a signed track branching south from the B9061 just west of Mount Pleasant. Begin the walk by heading through the gate and down through the sand dunes onto the spectacular beach.
Turn right along the sands, which stretch for over a mile. Amongst the beautiful shells washed up here have been the rare canoe shell - the only location in Orkney where it can be found. Continue towards the far end of the beach, cutting up to the right just before a cottage to head for a stile and the road beyond.
Turn left along the road, then right at a signed kissing gate just beyond the Loch of Rothiesholm. The path now runs parallel to a fence and crosses a boggy patch before continuing through tussocky grasses and over a couple of boardwalks. Go straight across at a track, then turning left over a grassy bridge and aiming just to the right of the grassy mound - the Hillock of Baywest, a chambered cairn.
From here the path heads across boggy ground to the Bight of Baywest, making use of two boardwalks. In wet conditions the ground may be waterlogged and the second boardwalk unreachable, in which case it will be necessary to make a soggy detour south from the Hillock to head round the left edge of the field to reach the coast. Either way, cross the stile and turn right along the coastline above the shore.
The going is a little awkward over tussocky grass, between a fence and the pebbly shore. There is a small sandy beach at one point, and eventually the grassy going improves. Pass through a broken gate, continuing along the coast until a fence blocks the route ahead when some houses are visible, and a path heads inland between two fences. This soon leads to the road; turn left here, then right at the track junction to head back to the start.
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