The Vat of Kirbuster and Lamb Head, Stronsay

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The Vat of Kirbuster is a gloup or blow hole whose entrance is spanned by a spectacular rock arch. It is just one of the highlights of this excellent circuit, which also has large seabird colonies in the season. The return is along quiet tarmac lanes.

Terrain

Coastal clifftops, path indistinct at times with some wet sections. Minor roads on return.

Public Transport

None to start, which is 8km from the ferry jetty.

Start

Vat of Kirbuster car parking area, HY681240. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is parking area at the end of the section of public road leading down towards Kirbuster Farm - it is signed. The walk begins by turning left here, following a fenced, surfaced path towards the coast. Part way down it passes through two gates, and once at the cliffs turns right along the clifftop. It passes round the top of a deep geo (or inlet), before reaching the spectacular Vat of Kirbuster (sometimes spelt Vat of Kirbister). The path keeps to the right of this large gloup (or blow hole, caused by a collapsed cave), soon giving views of the finest rock arch in Orkney.

Stage 2

The very well made path ends here, replaced by faint trods in the grass above the cliffs for the next section. The fine cliff scenery continues, however, with the Two Castles - stacks detached from the cliffs. One of these has traces of a hermitage once used by monks from Papa Stronsay; today the whole area is home to fulmars and guillemots. Cross a stile and continue above the cliffs.

Stage 3

Look out for a keyhole-like slit in a projecting cliff at one point. Continue out to Burgh Head, where the coast changes direction and turns southwest.

Stage 4

The route passes above the bulky stack of the Brough of Burgh Head; this was once attached by a land bridge and stonework on the stack reveals that it too was once used as a hermitage site. The views ahead now stretch along the coast towards the promontory of Lamb's Head - the next destination.

Stage 5

On this stretch the walk is forced inland by two very deep and dramatic geos, and crosses a stile at the head of the second of these. Continue past a rock shaped like a sheep.

Stage 6

Above Lamb Bay the route passes between two fences before the rejoining the clifftop and continuing to the remains of a broch - once an iron-age defensive tower with rooms within the double walls. Holes in the ground reveal sections of intact chambers - but there is a danger of collapse so do not attempt to descend therein.

Stage 7

Instead continue around Lamb Head - with traces of ancient Pictish settlement - to reach Whale Geo on the south side. The island with the lighthouse seen to the south is Auskerry. Now pass through a gate to head towards the Bay of Houseby. The route soon joins a rough track heading around the back of the bay. Look out for grey seals basking on the rocks.

Stage 8

Ignore a muddy track heading off to the right, but take a second track which has two strips of concrete enclosing a strip of grass. This leads straight as an arrow away from the beach, becoming a tarred lane. After it bends to the right, ignore roads off to the right and left, instead continuing until it bends right, and then back left itself. Continue to a t-junction; turn right here (signed for Vat of Kirbuster), then right again to return to the parking area at the start.

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The Vat of Kirbuster and Lamb Head, Stronsay

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Terrain

Public Transport

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