Orkney and Shetland

A deep sense of history is everywhere in these scattered islands where life is defined by the past and sculpted by the sea.

Orkney is a truly unique holiday destination. It's like nowhere you've been before and perhaps that's why so many people return time and again. In total, around 70 islands make up Orkney with 16 inhabited. The farmsteads at Papa Westray are the oldest known houses in northern Europe, dating back to 3800 BC.

Nowhere on Shetland is farther than 3 miles from the coast and life is dominated by the sea. Travellers have been coming to these lands since Neolithic times and there is a strong Norse heritage which strongly influences the Shetland dialect. On the last Tuesday of January, you can be a Viking at the annual fire festival 'Up Helly Aa'. A true spectacle of the events calendar.

Moderate Walks

Shetland and Orkney, whose dozens of separate islands have deeply indented shorelines, excel in coastal walks. On both groups of islands relatively short walks can encompass secluded beaches and towering sea cliffs where vast sea bird colonies nest from spring to early summer.

Natural erosion features, such as caves, arches and sea stacks add to the interest. The sea cliffs on Papa Stour and Unst, and around the lighthouse at Esha Ness are among the most spectacular in Shetland. In Orkney, Yesnaby boasts dramatic cliffs and those at Noup Head on Westray support the second largest colony of breeding sea birds in Britain. As well as guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and puffins, sightings of seals, otters, dolphins and whales are possible on walks along the shore.

Orkney is remarkably green and fertile, while Shetland is wilder and more sparsely populated. Inland strolls on Shetland tend to cross moorland where snipe, golden plover, geese and merlin nest.

Orkney and Shetland have been continuously inhabited by man for six thousand years, including several centuries of Norse rule. The archaeological sites scattered across the treeless, windswept landscapes provide interesting diversions on walks.

Bressay Circular

Enjoy some of the best views of Bressay walking the coastline, near the broch.
Distance: 6.4km/4miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

Hoxa Head Footpath

Coastal walk exploring remnants from two World Wars.
Distance: 2.5km/1.6miles Duration: 1 hour Height Gain: 20 metres/66 feet

Wideford Hill

Short walk leading up to a Neolithic tomb dating from 3000BC.
Distance: 2km/1.25miles Duration: 1/2 hour Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet

Dingieshowe Circular Route

This walk has something for everyone.
Distance: 3.7km/2.3 miles Duration: 1 1/2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet.

Sands of Wright - South Ronaldsay

Interesting coastal footpath passing through wetlands and beaches.
Distance: 5.7km/3.6miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

West Burra Circular

The track takes you to a beautiful sandy bay with spectacular views.
Distance: 6.4km/4miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Covenanters Memorial, Deerness

A short walk to the Covenaners Memorial.
Distance: 2.1km/1.3miles Duration: 3/4 hour Height Gain: 20 metres/66 feet

Westness Walk

A heritage and coastal walk on the island of Rousay.
Distance: 4.7km/2.9miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet

Gloup Circular - Isle of Yell

A stroll along the fjord like Gloup Voe and a short climb up to dramatic cliffs.
Distance: 5km/3.1miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet

Tuquoy Footpath, Westray

Easy coastal heritage walk leading to medieval parish church.
Distance: 3.6km/2.25miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

North Nesting Circular

A heritage and coastal walk from Housabister, where remains of a broch lie.
Distance: 5.6km/3.5miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

Out Skerries - Bruray

Easy walk round the island of Bruray, with view of stone circle on Housay.
Distance: 4km/2.5miles Duration: 1 hour Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

St Ninian's Isle

An easy walk across the sands to and around St Ninian's Isle.
Distance: 6km/3.75miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet

Breckon, Yell

Get a taste of wild, windswept Shetland on this route.
Distance: 4km/2.5miles Duration: 1 hour Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Sandwick - Broch of Burraland

A coastline walk with the island of Mousa always in sight.
Distance: 5.6km/3.5miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Culswick

A short walk taking in some of the finest cliff scenery in Shetland.

Distance: 6km/3.75miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet

North Hill, Papa Westray

A circular walk round the North Hill RSPB reserve on Papa Westray.
Distance: 6km/3.75miles Duration: 3 hours Height Gain: 60 metres/198 feet

Swartland Drover's Road

Stretch of former Birsay-Kirkwall road takes you through the wetlands in Orkney.
Distance: 3.1km/1.9miles Duration: 1 1/2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Jarlshof - Sumburgh Head - Grutness

An easy walk combining history, wildlife, a lighthouse and cliff scenery.
Distance: 4km/2.5miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Isbister - Skaw Taing

Heritage walk from Isbister to Skaw Taing following a coastal track.
Distance: 8km/5miles Duration: 2 1/2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

Herma Ness Circuit, Unst

This is the furthest north walk in the British Isles.
Distance: 7km/4.4miles Duration: 4 hours Height Gain: 240 metres/792 feet

Fetlar Circular

Red-necked phalarope, waders and wild flowers may be seen on this walk.
Distance: 5.1km/3.2miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet

Clickimin Broch & Ness Sound

A heritage and coastal walk from Clickimin Broch round the Ness of Sound.
Distance: 5.6km/3.5miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Bu to Breck Circular

This circular walk is a must for wildlife enthusiasts and students of Norse occupation.
Distance: 3.2km/2miles Duration: 1 hour Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Birsay to Marwick via Marwick Head

A linear walk along the cliffs of Marwick Head on Orkney's west coast.
Distance: 4.5km/2.8miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 100 metres/330 feet

Binscarth Wood

A short stretch of the old drovers road, leading to Binscarth Wood.
Distance: 2.8km/1.75miles Duration: 3/4 hour Height Gain: 20 metres/66 feet

Dale of Walls

A short walk down the Burn of Dale to the sea.
Distance: 1.5km/0.9miles Duration: 3/4 hour Height Gain: 20 metres/66 feet

Marwick Head Circular

Circular coastal walk of Marwick Head and RSPB reserve.
Distance: 4km/2.5miles Duration: 1 1/2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

Point of Ness, Orkney

This walk takes you through the historical town of Stromness.
Distance: 3km/1.9miles Duration: 1 hour Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet

Papa Stour - North Ness Circular

A short historical and wildlife walk round the North Ness.
Distance: 4km/2.5miles Duration: 1 1/2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Faraclett Head Walk

A circular coastal footpath.
Distance: 3.5km/2.2miles Duration: 1 1/2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

Westray, Tuquoy circular

A short circular walk which takes in both the coastal and inland beauty of Orkney.
Distance: 6km/3.75miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 20 metres/66 feet

Hillswick Circular

A magnificent circular walk round the Ness of Hillswick.
Distance: 8km/5miles Duration: 3 hours Height Gain: 80 metres/264 feet

Backaskaill Bay - Sanday

A circular trail of one of the most beautiful bays in the North Isles.
Distance: 5.5km/3.4miles Duration: 2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

Wideford Burn

The walk is signposted all the way and there are wooden walkways through wet areas.
Distance: 5.6km/3.5 miles Duration: 2 1/2 hours Height Gain: 75 metres/248 feet

Odin Bay Footpath - Stronsay

Breathtaking coastal walk taking in archaelogical sites, and cliff scenery.
Distance: 6.7km/4.2miles Duration: 2 1/2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

Wideford Farm

Variety is the keynote on this walk through woodland and coastline.
Distance: 5.6km/3.5miles Duration: 2 1/2 hours Height Gain: 40 metres/132 feet

Longer Walks

Shetland and Orkney offer outstanding opportunities for keen walkers with wild hills to climb and exciting coastal walks, which can even include complete circuits of smaller islands. Their northerly location gives them such long hours of daylight during summer that it barely grows dark at night. Shetland's islands are sparsely populated and most have lochan-studded moors in their interiors. By contrast, Orkney has many fertile islands with rolling, green landscapes. Both are windswept and largely treeless, but have big populations of moorland and seabirds - as well as seals, otters, dolphins and whales around the coasts.

While walking in these northern isles make time to explore the wealth of archaeological sites - which reflect six thousand years of human habitation - and be prepared for unforgettable encounters with the abundant wildlife. The smaller islands of Orkney have other attractions, such as vast beaches on the appropriately named Sanday, wild moorland on Rousay and seaweed eating sheep on North Ronaldsay, where a good day's walk will take you round the whole island.

West Westray Walk

Coastal walk by vast seabird colony.
Distance: 9.3km/5.8miles Duration: 3 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Lunna Ness Circular

Delightful walk along the coastline and returning by road.
Distance: 9km/5.6miles Duration: 3 hours Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet

Fair Isle Circular

A circular walk exploring the island of Fair Isle.
Distance: 13km/8.1miles Duration: 6 hours Height Gain: 150 metres/495 feet

Muckle Roe Circular

Classic Shetland walk to the precipitous red cliffs round South and North Ham.
Distance: 10KM/6 miles. Approx time: 4.5 hours. Height gain: 50m/165ft.

North Hoy and the Old Man of Hoy

A route along an old road and round the cliff tops to the Old Man of Hoy.
Distance: 9km/5.6miles Duration: 3 hours Height Gain: 350 metres/1155 feet

Mull Head Circular

Cliff walk with views of heath nesting birds and spectacular sea features.
Distance: 6km/3.75miles Duration: 1 1/2 hours Height Gain: 30 metres/99 feet

Foula - The Sneug - The Kame

A walk up Foula's highest hill, to the second highest cliff in Great Britain.
Distance: 8km/5miles Duration: 3 hours Height Gain: 200 metres/660 feet

Eday Heritage Walk

A circular walk encompassing the historical and ecological character of the island of Eday.
Distance: 9.5km/5.9miles Duration: 4 1/2 hours Height Gain: 50 metres/165 feet