The Tombs of Rousay

Summary

Mostly a stroll along quiet minor roads, this walk visits three very fine chambered cairns all set on the southern flanks of the island of Rousay. There is also the opportunity to visit the gardens of Trumland House (there is an admission charge for this).

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Mostly tarmac road; short climb up to Knowe of Yarso is steeper on rough but good path.

Public Transport

Rousay is served by a ferry from Tingwall on Orkney Mainland. The walk begins from the ferry.

Start

Ferry pier, Isle of Rousay. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 8km / 5 miles
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Ascent: 158m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: HY436274

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

Starting from the ferry pier, the walk heads up the road through Brinian. On the left is the island heritage centre - well worth a visit - and on the right is a bar / restaurant / cafe. Follow the main road when it bends left and then right up the hill, eventually reaching a t-junction with the road that makes a circuit round Rousay. If you wish to visit Trumland House gardens, the entrance is opposite; to continue the walk, turn left along the road.

Stage 2

Continue along the road, passing Trumland Home Farm, until a track goes off to the right (just by a parking layby) at the entrance to the RSPB Trumland nature reserve. Go through the gate onto the track here, and then veer left up the grassy slope to the obvious grassy dome. This is Taversoe Tuick chambered cairn.

Stage 3

Like the other two burial cairns on this walk, Taversoe Tuick is around 4,500 years old, but unlike others it has two storeys, with an upper and lower chamber (the upper chamber also has a compartment just off). Enter the upper chamber through the entrance passage; a ladder then leads down to the lower chamber. The bones of five individuals - all left here late in the tombs use - were found on excavation, together with flint, stone tools and fragments of pottery.

Stage 4

Return to the road and continue west along it for over 1km to reach another layby - Blackhammer Cairn is the long mound just above the road here. The cairn is entered through a sliding hatch. This is a stalled cairn with seven compartments, 13 metres long inside. Badly damaged over the millenia, the walls remain only to a low height and the tomb is covered by a concrete ceiling with skylights. The bones of two men and eight sheep were found here; as the tomb was used over many centuries it was probably cleared periodically.

Stage 5

Again return to the road, passing the fire station and continuing for just under 1km to another parking layby. Here a sign indicates the way to the Knowe of Yarso cairn, up the left hand of the two tracks on the right. The track passes a bungalow; further up fork left (sign) onto a lesser track. At a sharp bend leave this to take a signed footpath, soon crossing a wooden walkway heading through fuscias. After passing a stone wall corner the path - now rougher - climbs steeply uphill to the right to reach a level terrace across the moorland. The cairn is visible along this.

Stage 6

The Knowe of Yarso is another stalled cairn; being in a better state of repair than Blackhammer with higher original walls means it feels more atmospheric. The bones from 29 different adults were found inside, with the tomb thought to have been in use for 1,000 years starting in 2900BC.

Stage 7

Again return to the road, enjoying the fine views across to the mainland and Wyre. Retrace your steps back to the ferry. If you are interested in chambered cairns, it is also well worth visiting the massive Midhowe Cairn on the Westness Heritage walk.

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