Five best short walks on the Orkney Islands: Neolithic sites, sea stacks and seabirds
The Orkney Islands sit six miles off the north coast of Scotland and pack an extraordinary concentration of Neolithic monuments, Viking history and dramatic coastline into a compact archipelago. Graham Uney's 15 Short Walks on the Orkney Islands covers 15 routes across the islands, from the streets of Kirkwall and Stromness to the remote outer islands of Hoy and Westray, with each walk between 3.5 and 10.5km and accessible to walkers of all abilities. Here are five of the best to get you started. (Date updated: June 2026. Guidebook updated: May 2024.)
The five walks featured here range from easy town trails through Kirkwall and Stromness to a visit to the UNESCO-listed Neolithic village of Skara Brae and a full-day adventure on the island of Hoy to see the famous Old Man sea stack, with an Iron Age earth house, and a spectacular clifftop colony on Westray along the way. All are on good paths with clear navigation, and suit families, first-time visitors and anyone wanting to explore Orkney at a relaxed pace. Two of the walks require a ferry crossing and a full day's planning; the other three are straightforward half-day outings from the main towns.
For longer walks, Walking on the Orkney and Shetland Isles is also available from Cicerone.
How to get to Orkney?
Ferries to Orkney run from Scrabster in Caithness to Stromness, making the Northlink Ferry Terminal at Stromness the arrival point for many visitors. Kirkwall, the capital, is served by buses from around Mainland Orkney and has its own airport with flights from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. For the outer island walks, ferries from Kirkwall serve Westray, and foot-passenger ferries from Stromness serve Hoy (Moaness Pier). A car is useful for reaching Mainland walk start points, though buses connect both main towns with many of the trailheads.
15 Short Walks on the Orkney Islands
£9.95
Discover 15 of the best short walks on the Orkney Islands. Each walk comes with easy-to-read Ordnance Survey maps, clear route description and lots of images, plus information on local beauty spots and tasty refreshment stops. No challenging terrain or complicated navigation means walks can be enjoyed by everyone.
More information"The Orkney Islands are a magical place to visit. For many people coming to these beautiful islands the chief appeal is the extraordinary number of internationally important Neolithic archaeological sites, while others visit Orkney for the many poignant reminders of our wartime history, or to rediscover their own Viking heritage. Some come for close-up views of some of the UK's most charismatic and impressive wildlife species, or just to relax in the clean air and take in the stunning scenery that abounds throughout these islands."
— Graham Uney
Kirkwall town trail and the Peerie Sea
Summary: Explore the old harbour town of Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney
Start/finish: The Orkney Distillery and Visitor Centre, Kirkwall (KW15 1QX)
Time: 2hr
Distance: 4km (2½ miles)
Climb: 35m
This short, easy walk takes you from the bustling harbourside through the historic old town to St Magnus Cathedral, the most northerly cathedral in the UK and the oldest in Scotland, and the nearby Bishop's and Earl's Palaces. The route is easy to follow throughout, and buses from around Mainland Orkney make Kirkwall simple to reach without a car.
The walk then loops around the Peerie Sea, a unique lake in the centre of town. When the town was built, a spit of land known as The Ayre was created to help reclaim the marshland, and the Peerie Sea is part of this. Today, it is an important place for overwintering ducks and waders. If you want to go inside the Iron Age Grain Earth House along the way, pick up the key from the Judith Glue shop as you pass through the old town.
Best time to visit: Year-round. The town is busiest in summer when cruise ships call; an early start gives a quieter experience of the cathedral and old streets. The Peerie Sea is worth a look in any season for waterbirds.
Skara Brae and the Bay of Skaill
Summary: An easy exploration of a unique Neolithic village, followed by a scenic walk along a lovely white-sand beach
Start/finish: Skara Brae Visitor Centre (KW16 3LR)
Time: 3hr
Distance: 4km (2½ miles)
Climb: 30m
For many visitors Skara Brae is the main reason they come to Orkney. It is the best-preserved Neolithic site in Western Europe and part of the UNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Entry fee applies; a single ticket covers both Skara Brae and Skaill House. After your visit, the walk continues along the fabulous white-sand beach at the Bay of Skaill to the remains of a broch on the northern headland. Buses run from both Kirkwall and Stromness to the visitor centre, and there is a cafe on site.
Best time to visit: May to September for the best weather on the beach section. The site is open year-round but quieter in spring and autumn.
Stromness and the Sands of Warebeth
Summary: Explore the fishing town of Stromness and enjoy views of Hoy from the Sands of Warebeth
Start/finish: Stromness Northlink Ferry Terminal (KW16 3BH)
Time: 3hr
Distance: 7km (4¼ miles)
Climb: 90m
An easy walk out from the old town of Stromness, taking in the quiet back roads to reach the lovely beach at the Sands of Warebeth, with views across to the hills of Hoy. The route then returns via the popular coastal path to Ness Point before a stroll through the oldest part of Stromness. The walk is easy to follow throughout, partly on tarmac and partly on a good path.
Stromness has been a port of call for ships rounding the north of Scotland since at least 1590, when there was already a seaman's inn. Between 1688 and 1815, conflict between Britain and France made passage through the English Channel difficult, and many ships instead sailed north around Scotland, stopping at Stromness. The ferry terminal at Stromness is the start point, so if you arrive by ferry from Scrabster, you can walk straight off the boat and begin. There are lots of cafes and pubs in town for the finish, and buses run from Kirkwall.
Best time to visit: Year-round. The coastal section is best on a calm day when the views of Hoy are at their clearest. The town itself is worth exploring in any season, and the walk doubles as an excellent leg-stretch after the ferry crossing from the Scottish mainland.
Hoy: The Old Man of Hoy
Summary: A real adventure on the island of Hoy, taking you across moorland to the famous sea stack, the Old Man of Hoy
Start/finish: Rackwick Hostel, Hoy (KW16 3NJ)
Time: 4hr
Distance: 8.5km (5¼ miles)
Climb: 600m
This is the most demanding walk in this selection and the one that requires the most planning, but it is also one of the most memorable. You will need to allow a full day for the visit to Hoy. The walk out and back to the Old Man takes you into relatively remote terrain on a good path across open moorland, with steep unfenced drops from the cliff edge above the stack. The final section from Stours Kinora is over pathless ground with no waymarkers; retrace your steps from here if you prefer to avoid the pathless terrain.
Getting to the start requires a foot-passenger-only ferry from Stromness to Hoy (Moaness Pier), followed by a shared taxi to Rackwick (contact Mr Clark on 01856 791315). There is a cafe at Moaness. Plan ferry and taxi timings carefully before setting out.
On the return from the walk, ask the taxi driver to let you out halfway to see the Dwarfie Stone, a rock-cut Neolithic tomb.
Ferry and access note: This walk is for foot passengers only. No car ferry serves Moaness. Book the Stromness-to-Hoy ferry in advance and arrange a shared taxi to Rackwick.
Best time to visit: Late spring and summer for the best conditions on the moorland crossing and the clearest views of the stack. Allow a full day and check ferry timetables before you go; this is not a walk to rush.
Westray: Noup Head
Summary: A coastal walk to an important seabird breeding colony on one of the most remote inhabited islands of Orkney
Start/finish: Farm at Backarass near Pierowall, Westray (KW17 2DW)
Time: 3hr
Distance: 7km (4¼ miles)
Climb: 270m
This walk takes advantage of the daily ferry to the remote island of Westray to explore Noup Cliffs, home to Orkney's largest seabird colony. If you visit in early summer, the towering cliffs will be teeming with nesting birds, but it's still a spectacular walk at other times of the year, giving beautiful clifftop views. If you have time at the end of the walk, there are some lovely beaches to explore on Westray.
To reach the start, take the ferry from Kirkwall to Westray, then a bus from the pier at Rapness to the village of Pierowall, 3km from the start (Westray Bus Service: www.westraybusservice.com). Ideally, take a bike to the island and cycle from the ferry to the start. Parking at Backarass is very limited; please do not block access to any gates. There is a cafe and hotel in Pierowall and toilets in Pierowall and at the ferry terminal at Rapness.
Ferry and access note: Plan the full day around Orkney Ferries timetables from Kirkwall. Taking a bike from the ferry is the most practical way to reach the start of the walk.
Best time to visit: Early summer for the seabird colony at its most active. The cliffs are worth the trip at any time of year for the coastal scenery, and Westray's beaches are at their best in late spring and summer.
15 Short Walks on the Orkney Islands
£9.95
Discover 15 of the best short walks on the Orkney Islands. Each walk comes with easy-to-read Ordnance Survey maps, clear route description and lots of images, plus information on local beauty spots and tasty refreshment stops. No challenging terrain or complicated navigation means walks can be enjoyed by everyone.
More informationYou'll find all these routes (and 10 more) in our guide to 15 Short Walks on the Orkney Islands, which contains clear route descriptions, OS mapping, plus facilities, parking and highlights for every route. Each route has been carefully selected to showcase the best of the area. No challenging terrain or complicated navigation means the walks can be enjoyed by everyone.
About Graham Uney, author of this guidebook:
Graham Uney's love of wild places and wildlife has taken him to all corners of the world. Today, having had 19 books published, he continues to work on new titles while also finding time to focus on his mountaineering instruction business. From his home in Cumbria, Graham offers a wide range of skills courses for walkers, mountaineers, and climbers, including providing training and assessment courses for Mountain Leaders.
