East Coast walk, South Ronaldsay

Summary

This excellent linear coastal walk runs along much of the east coast of South Ronaldsay, from the southernmost point up to the graveyard at Kirkhouse, 3km from St Margaret's Hope. Along the way is some fine coastal cliff scenery as well as archaeological remains. Transport would need to be arranged to walk the whole route, though there are several opportunities to join and leave the path.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Grassy clifftop path; can be rough and overgrown in places. Care with some stiles and footbridges that are rotten.

Getting there

Start

Car park at ND441842, just off the junction with the A961.

Public Transport

No regular bus to Burwick - but the nearby jetty is served by the Orkney Express bus from Kirkwall which connects to the passenger ferry from John o' Groats. The walk ends 3km walk along minor roads to St Margaret's Hope.

Start Grid Ref

ND441842

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 14.4km / 9 miles
Time: 4 - 5.5 hours
Ascent: 330m (Profile)

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Explorer 461 - Orkney East

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Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

Turn off the A961 Burwick road onto a minor (but wide) road 1km to the east of the ferry jetty. There is car parking immediately on the right hand side next to a storage container. The toilets shown here on some maps are long since closed. Begin the walk by heading south along the curiously wide road - given it leads almost nowhere. Pass a jetty and a further parking area. Further on, when the road turns inland, go over a stile on the right to instead head along a grassy path keeping nearer to the coast. The path is quite awkward underfoot. It leads towards the lonely house above the shore at Brough. Keep close to the shore here, crossing a stone stile over a wire fence well below the house. Keep to the shore side of a fence (itself on the shore side of a wall).

Stage 2

Eventually the route nears the coastguard lookout tower at Brough Ness. The route heads inland towards this, between two fences, to reach and cross a stile. Bear right, now heading east on the inland side of the coastal fence. Numerous small mounds are chambered cairns. At one point there's a deep channel - the outflow of Liddel Loch - with a stile on the far side - pass this on the shore side (no need to cross the stile). Soon the walk ascends to run along the edge of sea cliffs. Pass a kissing gate and continue along the cliff edge in front of the modern glass-fronted building. Continue to cross a wooden boardwalk to reach the head of a geo. Turn left here and through a gateway (broken stile on the left) onto a muddy track inland to meet a minor road at a bend (houses just to the left). Go straight ahead on the tarmac road until a junction, and then turn right along another tarred road signed for Tomb of the Eagles.

Stage 3

Continue ahead at the One Way sign passing the house and barn on your right. If you want to visit the Tomb of the Eagles Visitor Centre, open Apr-Oct, detour to the right here instead. Otherwise continue and turn left when the road forks and follow the track as it bends left and then right (white arrows) and go through the walkers gate (signed Tomb of the Eagles) to head towards the cliffs. Near the sea keep ahead when the grassy track forks to reach a clifftop stone bench. Turn left to follow the cliff path.

Stage 4

The route leads round the back of several geos and passes a large standing stone memorial to Ronnie Simison who discovered and excavated the Isbister chambered cairn on his land. The tomb itself is soon reached via a stile; it is currently run by a local community group as an attraction open during the summer months.

Stage 5

After the tomb continue along the coast path, heading past three geos, with some impressive slabby rocks below. After two more stiles Halcro Head is reached, and the faint path bears left across more open ground to reach a massive fenced Gloup - a collapsed sea cave. Viewing platforms enable you to peer into its depths.

Stage 6

Beyond the gloup the path returns to the clifftop, approaching the broad sweep of Windwick Bay. Cross a deep ditch on a stone and two more stiles to continue by the coast until the cliffs relent and the shore is reached with farm buildings ahead. After poassing the corner of the fence turn left at a waymarker to follow a rough and, very overgrown in summer, path just to the left of a stream between the buildings and meet a minor road. Turn right at the road, passing a parking area.

Stage 7

Turn right at the corner onto the signed coastal footpath which can sometimes be overgrown in summer. Pass the small headland of the Brough of Windwick, the site of an ancient fort. Just off the coast here is the spot where 2 British naval destroyers ran aground while heading for Scapa Flow in poor visibility in 1918 - out of a crew of 188 only one survived. Soon the path heads over a stile to follow the inland side of a fence to avoid the eroded cliff for a short section.

Stage 8

After crossing back to the cliff top path, pass Mousta Head, a breeding site for peregrine falcons. The cliffs on this section are dramatic and alive with nesting seabirds during the breeding season. After a wooden bridge the path rounds the final headland before the sandy beach of Newark Bay - walkers are asked to keep dogs under control due to livestock.

Stage 9

Keep to the path to pass the farm buildings well to the right (keep right at a farm gate to stay on the seaward side of the fence) and eventually descend onto the sand. Cross the sand to reach Kirkhouse at the end of the walk (there is a car park near the cemetery) and take time to explore St Peter's Kirk, one of Orkney's oldest parish churches dating back to 1642 as well as the modern standing stone near the sea which was erected to celebrate the millennuim. If continuing on foot, St Margaret's Hope is 3km away along a minor road.

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