A long walk on short grass past the Kitchener memorial, taking in the spectacular seabird cliffs of Marwick Head and the Earl's Palace, to a tidal island with historic remains. The full route there and back between makes a great day's outing; most of the walking is soft turf, rich in wild flowers. It is also possible to break this walk up into sections, if you fancy a more leisurey stroll!

The crossing to the Brough of Birsay is safe for about two hours either side of the low tide. Check the tides with the Visitor Information Centre in Kirkwall and plan the walk accordingly - if necessary do it in the reverse direction. Both the Marwick Bay and Brough of Birsay car parks are signed from the A967.

From Marwick Bay, take the path along the back of the storm beach, following signs for Marwick Head. Pass a road end and continue into the nature reserve on a grass path that climbs between the fence and cliff. From a standing stone at the top corner, look ahead to the Kitchener memorial and the distant Brough of Birsay. The memorial commemorates Earl Kitchener and other men who died when the HMS Hampshire sank near here in 1916. Walk on beyond it.

Continue along the cliffs, which drop steadily in height. Stay outside the fields to a gate and a sandy lane just beyond. Go over a stile to continue along the coast across sandy links.

Skirt a knoll and the area of loose sand, then walk parallel to the shore until going through a gate on to a track. Join a road (beside public conveniences) and turn left to follow it round the Earl's Palace. A kissing gate gives you access to the ruins. At a T-junction turn left on the minor road to the Brough of Birsay car park.

If the tide is out, cross the concrete causeway to the wedge-shaped island. On the right, are the low ruins of Norse houses and an early Christian church. Walk ahead on a path that climbs up the middle of the island to the lighthouse. Return to the car park and continue along the shore on a grassy path signed Skiba Geo. This leads round low cliffs with geos to a turf-roofed fisherman's bothy beside the hollows of some old boat nousts. There is a plaque about them and a nearby well. The apex of the walk is at the next headland, where a much photographed whale skull forms an interesting sculpture. Retrace your steps to the coast.

The above information was taken from the 'Walks Orkney' guide book.