Start Point Lighthouse, Sanday

Summary

This fantastic tidal walk to the lighthouse at Start Point has views to North Ronaldsay and Fair Isle lighthouses on a clear day. Can only be done at low tide.

Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Rough track, tidal ground to Start Point can only be accessed at low tide (tide times are available online - note these are GMT and so must be adjusted during the summer), slippery rocks and seaweed.

Getting there

Start

Parking area at road end, NE end of Sanday.

Public Transport

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

Start Grid Ref

HY769438

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 3.75km / 2.25 miles
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Ascent: 5m (Profile)

Mapping and GPS

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Explorer 465 - Sanday, Eday, Stronsay

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Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

There is a parking area at the end of the public road beyond Thrave (note the low-lying trig point) at the northeast corner of Sanday. The track beyond the parking area is eroded and not suitable for vehicles so do not drive beyond this point. Start the walk by heading east along the track bearing left when the track forks.

Stage 2

Keep left again at a second fork, the track now follows the shore with the lighthouse visible ahead. After the small building head out along the pebbly spit and at low tide the route across to the tidal island should be clear although the rocks and seaweed can be slippery - there is a built causeway for some of the route slightly to the right.

Stage 3

Once across Ayre Sound keep to the left of the deserted farm buildings (you can head around the southern shore to the right to reach the lighthouse but during the nesting season terns breed here and do not take kindly to being disturbed), keep an eye out for the blue-flowered Oyster plant which grows here.

Stage 4

Follow the grassy track to the lighthouse, turning right at the wall and then left through a farm gate to reach the lighthouse. This was Scotland's first revolving light, replacing an earlier stone tower (the 8 foot diameter stone ball from which was moved to the old beacon on North Ronaldsay). The unique vertical stripes were added in 1915 and the lighthouse was automated in 1962, before that several families would have lived in the buildings here and farmed the island.

Stage 5

Limited tours of the lighthouse are bookable thought the Sanday ranger (Rod Thorne, 01857 600341). The lighthouse now uses solar power and the bank of 36 solar panels which charge the batteries can be seen at the foot of the tower.

Stage 6

Return by the same outward route, the wet ground to the right supports a diverse range of birdlife including many species of duck. Once back at the parking area it is possible to continue the walk by heading onto the dunes and across the back of Scuthvie Bay and then either returning along the sands or following a waymarked route inland around the small Loch of Rummie and then back along the minor road passing the trig point and memorial stone.

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