Few places in Britain feel as remote, dramatic or alive with history as the Orkney and Shetland Isles, where 5,000 years of human history, extraordinary wildlife and sweeping Atlantic seascapes unfold across 25 islands. From ancient Neolithic monuments on Orkney to dramatic cliff-top coastlines and open moorland on Shetland, these Northern Isles offer a walking experience unlike anywhere else in the country.

This third edition Cicerone guidebook by Graham Uney is the most complete walking companion to the Northern Isles available, covering 80 walks ranging from 2 to 26km (1 to 17 miles) across Orkney, Shetland and Fair Isle with clear route descriptions, 1:50,000 OS mapping and downloadable GPX files. Suited to walkers of all abilities, it includes thorough practical guidance on ferry crossings, public transport and inter-island travel so you can plan every aspect of your trip with confidence.

• 80 walks are included across 25 islands spanning Hoy, Rousay, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Foula, Fair Isle and both mainland archipelagos, with distances and terrain to suit every level of fitness and experience
• 1:50,000 OS mapping and GPX downloads provided for each route, giving walkers the tools to navigate whether walking on Orkney's waymarked coastal paths or Shetland's open moorland
• Unmissable highlights across both island groups, including the Old Man of Hoy, Skara Brae, Jarlshof, the Mousa Broch and Hermaness National Nature Reserve, the northernmost point of the British walking network
• Opportunities to experience the islands' incredible wildlife throughout, with regular sightings of puffins, otters, seals, whales, whooper swans and vast seabird colonies that rank the Northern Isles among Britain's finest wildlife destinations
• Rich archaeological and historical context is included for each walk, bringing Neolithic, Iron Age and Norse heritage to life in a landscape where ancient monuments are still a defining feature of the countryside
• Island logistics are covered in full, including ferry crossings, public transport, inter-island travel and local centres such as Kirkwall, Lerwick, Stromness and Scalloway — essential reading before you set foot on the first ferry

Author Graham Uney draws on years of first-hand exploration across the Northern Isles to reveal the walks, viewpoints and hidden corners that make Orkney and Shetland so special. Whether you're watching puffins on Hermaness or standing at Skara Brae as the Atlantic light fades, this guide gives you the tools to experience these remarkable islands at their very best.

Walking on the Orkney and Shetland Isles - Quick Facts

Area: Orkney and Shetland Isles, Northern Isles, Scotland  
Islands covered: 25 
Total walks: 80 
Walk distances: 2 to 26km (1 to 17 miles) 
Difficulty: All abilities, from short waymarked strolls to longer moorland and coastal traverses requiring basic navigation skills 
Highlights: Old Man of Hoy, Skara Brae, Jarlshof, Mousa Broch, Hermaness National Nature Reserve 
Wildlife highlights: Puffins, otters, seals, whales, whooper swans, birds of prey, seabird colonies 
Centres: Kirkwall, Lerwick, Stromness, Scalloway, Hamnavoe, Sumburgh 
Islands featured: Hoy, Rousay, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Foula, Fair Isle, Bressay, Noss, Papa Westray, Westray, Stronsay, Eday, Whalsay and more 
Mapping: 1:50,000 OS maps included for every walk 
Digital navigation: Downloadable GPX files included 
Travel information: Ferry crossings, public transport and inter-island travel are covered in full 
Best time to visit: April to June for daylight, wildlife and settled weather; year-round destination

Author Highlight

“Each island within the Northern Isles is unique. Every one is very different from its neighbours, both in terms of physical geography and character, and all have something to offer the walker. This book will lead you on the very best walks in these islands, so that you too can discover the magic of the magnificent Northern Isles.”

- Graham Uney, author of Walking on the Orkney and Shetland Isles

Map key

Introduction
Wildlife
Archaeology and history
Walking on the Northern Isles
Getting to the Northern Isles
Getting between Orkney and Shetland
When to go
What to take
Maps and access
Using this guide

ORKNEY
Orkney mainland
Walk 1 Mull Head and the Brough of Deerness
Walk 2 The Deerness Covenanter’s Memorial
Walk 3 Wideford Hill
Walk 4 Skara Brae, Yesnaby and Stromness
Walk 5 Marwick Head and the Kitchener memorial
Walk 6 Brough Head
Walk 7 The Loch of Hundland and Mid Hill
Walk 8 Fibla Fiold and Mid Tooin

Southern Islands
Walk 9 South Ronaldsay – Hoxa Head
Walk 10 Graemsay Island Circuit
Walk 11 Hoy – Heldale Water and Tor Ness
Walk 12 Hoy – The Old Man of Hoy, St John’s Head and Cuilags from Rackwick
Walk 13 Hoy – Ward Hill from Moaness

Northern Islands
Walk 14 Rousay – Knitchen Hill and the Trumland RSPB Reserve
Walk 15 Rousay – Mid Howe Broch and the Westness walk
Walk 16 Rousay – The Suso Burn and Kierfea Hill
Walk 17 Rousay – Faraclett Head
Walk 18 Eday – Ward Hill and War Ness
Walk 19 Eday – Noup Hill and Red Head
Walk 20 Westray – Inga Ness to Noup Head
Walk 21 Papa Westray – Mull Head and North Hill RSPB Reserve
Walk 22 Stronsay – The Vat of Kirbuster
Walk 23 Stronsay – Tor Ness

SHETLAND
Mainland South
Walk 24 Jarlshof and Sumburgh Head
Walk 25 The Ness of Burgi Iron Age fort
Walk 26 Fitful Head
Walk 27 St Ninian’s Isle over the tombolo
Walk 28 To the Taing of Maywick
Walk 29 Deepdale from Maywick
Walk 30 Sandwick to No Ness
Walk 31 The Helli Ness peninsula
Walk 32 Muskna Field from Wester Quarff
Walk 33 Scrae Field and the White Stone of Toufield  

Southern Islands
Walk 34 Fair Isle – the climb to Ward Hill
Walk 35 Fair Isle – Malcolm’s Head
Walk 36 Fair Isle – a west coast traverse
Walk 37 Mousa – the Mousa Broch and RSPB reserve
Walk 38 West Burra – Kettla Ness
Walk 39 West Burra – Meal Beach and Fugla Ness  

Mainland Central
Walk 40 Lerwick old town and the Knab
Walk 41 Scalloway to the Hill of Burwick
Walk 42 Fora Ness
Walk 43 Westerwick and Culswick
Walk 44 Staneydale Temple
Walk 45 Sandness Hill from Huxter
Walk 46 Vementry and the Ward of Hostigates
Walk 47 Scalla Field and the Butter Stone
Walk 48 The North Nesting coast  

Central Islands
Walk 49 Foula – the Daal to the Sneck Ida Smallie
Walk 50 Foula – the Sneug
Walk 51 Foula – the Noup
Walk 52 Bressay – Ander Hill
Walk 53 Bressay – the Ward of Bressay and the Ord
Walk 54 Noss – Noss Head Nature Reserve
Walk 55 Papa Stour – Virda Field and Mauns Hill
Walk 56 Whalsay – the Ward of Clett
Walk 57 Out Skerries – Housay  

Mainland North
Walk 58 Lunna Ness
Walk 59 The Villians of Hamnavoe and the Tingon Waterfall
Walk 60 Esha Ness from Tangwick
Walk 61 Ronas Hill – highpoint of the Shetland Isles
Walk 62 Ronas Hill, Langayre and the North Roe plateau
Walk 63 The Beorgs of Skelberry
Walk 64 Towards Uyea Island
Walk 65 Point of Fethaland

Northern Islands
Walk 66 Muckle Roe – the west coast and the Hams
Walk 67 Yell – the Old Haa and Heoga Ness
Walk 68 Yell – Ward of Otterswick
Walk 69 Yell – the White Wife
Walk 70 Yell – Stuis of Graveland
Walk 71 Yell – the Gloup and North Neaps
Walk 72 Unst – Valla Field
Walk 73 Unst – the west coast of Unst and the Dale of Woodwick
Walk 74 Unst – Keen of Hamar
Walk 75 Unst – the Horns of Hagmark
Walk 76 Unst – the abandoned village of Framgord
Walk 77 Unst – Hermaness National Nature Reserve
Walk 78 Fetlar – Lamb Hoga
Walk 79 Fetlar – Funzie Ness
Walk 80 Fetlar – Vord Hill 

Seasons

April, May and June are the best months to go for daylight, sunshine and nesting birds, but the Northern Isles are a year-round destination - hardly ever getting midges or snow!

Centres

Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Stromness, Hamnavoe, Scalloway

Difficulty

from short walks to ancient monuments and waymarked coastal strolls to 10-mile traverses, there is something for everyone. Some routes will require basic navigational skills.

Must See

superb wildlife - whales, otters, seals, puffins, whooper swans, birds of prey, seabirds; ancient archaeological sites - Skara Brae, Jarlshof, the Mousa Broch; the Old Man of Hoy; and the North Ronaldsay Coastal Traverse.

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