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Home , Burray, Egilsay, Gairsay, Kirkwall, Knap of Howar, North Ronaldsay

YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY FOR | | No visit to is complete without experiencing life on one or more

of our smaller islands, each with its distinctively authentic sense of place. AN ISLAND ADVENTURE Our Island Adventure itinerary gives you the opportunity to discover three islands – Westray, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay in a three-day trip. You’ll encounter famous archaeological discoveries, see some of our special wildlife, take the world’s shortest scheduled flight and meet seaweed-eating sheep. Three days in other worlds at a slower, gentler pace. Travel light but don’t forget to bring your camera, comfortable footwear and clothing suited to our changeable weather.

Follow this inspiring travel itinerary to guide you on your three-day island adventure

Italian Chapel Westray interior Papa Westray North Ronaldsay

FIND OUT MORE AT ORKNEY.COM/ALLSEASONS NORTH PAPA RONALDSAY ITINERARY OVERVIEW WESTRAY Your journey begins on a Friday, in , where you’ll board one of ’ fleet of inter-island ferries for the scenic journey toWestray , travelling a sea-route our Viking ancestors knew well. You can choose between a local hire car or bicycle to get around and spend the day sightseeing, before enjoying a relaxing evening in your choice of accommodation. WESTRAY On the second day, Saturday, you’ll make a record-breaking hop on the world’s shortest scheduled flight toPapa Westray. Papay, as it is known SANDAY affectionately, is small enough to explore easily on foot or locally-hired

bicycle. You’ll stay overnight in Papay after a day getting to know the island AN ISLAND ADVENTURE and its inhabitants – wild and human alike! On Sunday, you’ll fly toNorth Ronaldsay, Orkney’s most northerly island. Here, you can hire a car or bicycle or just enjoy the small island on foot. Then, at the end of the day, you’ll fly back to Kirkwall with three islands’ worth of memories: a unique Orkney island adventure.

EGILSAY YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY

DAY ONE 0720 Depart Orkney Ferries Kirkwall to Westray WYRE Friday 0845 Arrive Westray Overnight Westray WEST MAINLAND DAY TWO 0851 Depart Westray to Papa Westray Saturday 0853 Arrive Papa Westray Overnight Papa Westray AIRPORT WESTRAY FERRY ROUTE DAY THREE 1051 Depart Loganair Papa Westray to North Ronaldsay OTHER FERRY ROUTES Sunday 1059 Arrive North Ronaldsay LOGANAIR ROUTES A ROADS 1753 Depart Loganair North Ronaldsay to Kirkwall Kirkwall B ROADS 1827 Arrive Kirkwall

Based on Loganair Inter-Isles Feb-Oct 2018 Timetable EAST MAINLAND We strongly recommend booking your travel arrangements well in advance with Orkney Ferries and Loganair. Loganair’s inter-island service uses a Britten Norman Islander aircraft with only eight seats, so capacity is limited and the flights are very popular. Loganair’s Islander Aircraft

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SOUTH LONGHOPE RONALDSAY DAY ONE | FRIDAY YOUR ITINERARY 6 The ferry leaves Kirkwall at 0720, an early start helping you make the most of your day. It arrives at in Westray at 0845. 5 3 Whether your interests are history, wildlife, crafts or just enjoying the friendliness of a 7 4 welcoming community, there is lots to see and do in Westray. To help you plan your visit, 2 here are 7 things you may not want to miss.

1 The Castle of Burrian, at Stanger Head, 4 Not far from is Noltland Castle, a WE near the ferry terminal at Rapness, is Z-plan castle with a turbulent history dating STR AY the best place in Westray to see puffins back to the 16th century. Built by Gilbert between May and August when they come Balfour, who was also constable of Kirkwall AN ISLAND ADVENTURE ashore to breed. Please be careful on the Castle, Noltland provided defence as well as cliffs and don’t try to climb the sea . It comfort. The castle is in the care of Historic was an early Christian hermitage but is not Environment and access is free. safely accessible now. 5 Close by the castle are the Links of 1 2 The main settlement in Westray is the Noltland and Grobust beach. Amongst village of Pierowall. This charming the dunes here, archaeologists discovered shoreside village is pleasant to wander an extensive and Bronze Age TRAVEL TIPS through in its own right, but it is also the settlement to rival . This is where Westray is too big to explore on foot location of the Westray Heritage Centre, the Westray Wife was discovered, and in a day, so you should pre-arrange an ideal starting point for exploring the each new season’s excavations reveal more car or bicycle hire from ’s Shop island. Among the treasures there is the so- about this important prehistoric village. in Pierowall Village contact called Westray Wife, the oldest Neolithic A little further along the coast is Quoygrew, carving of a human form to have been 6 01857 677389 [email protected]. an evocative archaeological site probably found in Scotland. occupied from about 900 until the 1930s. Also in Pierowall is the Lady Kirk, a 3 The cliffs of theNoup Head RSPB Reserve picturesque ruin of a church built in 1674, 7 WESTRAY are a spectacular seabird city, with a on the foundations of its 13th century population of thousands of birds in the predecessor. While you are here – and in summer breeding season. Species include Westray is one of Orkney’s largest islands, with fact while you are anywhere on Westray’s gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes and puffins a resident population of 600. It is a prosperous, coast – look out for inquisitive seals among others. industrious, friendly community, proud of its long watching you. history stretching all the way back to Stone Age times. The recognised the fertility of the If you’d just like to relax and let a knowledgeable local guide show you their favourite places, island’s farmlands and it became an important you can book a tour with Westraak. family estate featuring in the , detailing the history of the earls of Orkney. A more recent, though hardly modern, monument TRAVEL TIPS to Westray’s history is Noltland Castle. It was built It is also advisable to book in the 16th century by Gilbert Balfour, who was accommodation in advance. implicated in the murder of Mary Queen of Scots’ Visit orkney.com to see the range of consort, Lord Darnley. No wonder he felt the need comfortable places to rest your head to build such an impressive castle. after a day discovering Westray. Noltland Castle Noup Head

FIND OUT MORE AT ORKNEY.COM/ALLSEASONS DAY TWO | SATURDAY YOUR ITINERARY 6 Today, you will leave Westray on the record-breaking hop to Papa Westray, a distance shorter than the main runway at Heathrow and a flight time so short you can miss it in the time it takes to get your camera ready. The Loganair flight is scheduled for departure at 0851 with arrival in Papay at 0853. Papay packs a lot of things to see and do into a small space. Here are 6 things you may not want to miss, in addition to the island’s beautiful beaches.

The Papay Store Craft and Heritage Situated on a small peninsula beside the 5 1 4 Centre is the perfect place to get your healing waters of St. Tredwell’s Loch, lie Y A bearings and learn about the island’s the ruins of St Tredwell’s Chapel, an early AN ISLAND ADVENTURE R T history. The recently refurbished building Christian site and place of pilgrimage. S 1 dates from the 1700s and was used as E St Boniface Kirk is Papay’s other important 3 part of the island’s once thriving kelp- 5 2W early Christian site, in use since at least the burning industry. A 7th century. The restored building dates

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A The traditional farm steading of Holland back to the 12th century when it was in 4 2 P Farm, formerly home of the Traill lairds use by our Viking ancestors. A distinctive who once owned the whole of Papay, gives hogback tombstone of the same period lies an insight into the farming heritage of the in the kirkyard. island community. You are welcome to look TRAVEL TIPS North Hill , one of the round this working farm; don’t miss the 6 You can explore on foot or hire a largest areas of maritime heath in the UK bicycle. Contact the Papay Ranger on fascinating bothy museum. and a haven for thousands of breeding birds, 07931 235213 or email papayranger The two houses known as the Knap of is managed jointly by the RSPB, Scottish @gmail.com to book in advance. 3 Howar are older than Skara Brae and were Natural Heritage and the people of Papay. home to Neolithic farmers. These are the Please keep to the coastline and avoid oldest standing houses in Northern , disturbing the nesting tern colonies. PAPA WESTRAY an archaeological treasure that is free to visit. Stand in the remains of the houses You’ll stay overnight in Papay, enjoying the and be transported back to 3800 BC. island’s hospitality and reflecting on an Just four miles long and one mile wide, Papay may experience-filled day. be small in size but it is big in heart; the welcome you’ll receive from the vibrant community will be genuine and warm. It is a tradition of hospitality TRAVEL TIPS that stretches right back to the Stone Age, because If you’d like to make the most of your time, or perhaps take a boat trip to the tiny island called the Papay boasts the oldest house in Northern Europe Holm of Papay, the Papay Ranger can be hired for tours. Contact the Ranger on 07931 235213 or email [email protected] to book in advance. at the . For bird lovers, Papay is a special experience. Its North Hill nature reserve, a maritime heathland carpeted with wildflowers beside low cliffs, is TRAVEL TIPS home to colonies of breeding seabirds, the noisiest It is also advisable to book accommodation of natural neighbours. Looking seaward, too, you in advance. Visit orkney.com for may be fortunate to see passing seals, dolphins or information about the community even whales. owned hostel. Gannets Knap of Howar

FIND OUT MORE AT ORKNEY.COM/ALLSEASONS email [email protected]. Visitor Centreon07809770082or Bikes canbebooked viatheLighthouse Ronaldsay isonfootorbybicycle. The bestwaytoexploreNorth TRAVEL TIPS 4 1 RONALDSAY NORTH round theisland, aremanagedcommunally. sheep, kept ontheforeshorebya13-milewall the island’suniquerarebreedof seaweed-eating draw birdwatchersfromround the world.And are regularlyseenfromtheshore. Migratingbirds all roundyou.Whales,porpoises, dolphinsandseals consciousofthesea exploration, andyou’llbevery North Ronaldsayislow-lying,idealforrelaxed its owncultureandtraditions. tell youproudly,with that isbecauseitISdifferent, and asmembersofthesmalllocalcommunitywill smallerislands.Itfeelsdistinctlydifferent Orkney’s Norway, Situated furthernorththanthesoutherntipof NORTH RONALDSAY 5 North Ronaldsay isthemostremoteof 3 2 3 2 1 DAY THREE|SUNDAY YOUR ITINERARY The information included in this itinerary is correct as at December 2018. iscorrectasatDecember 2018. The information includedinthisitinerary islands. further exploreOrkney’s We hopethatyourIslandAdventurewillinspireyoutocomebackforalongerstayand North Ronaldsayhastwolighthouses. around theworld. into attractiveyarn,whichisexported communally andthefleecesareturned flavour. Therare-breedsheeparefarmed of seaweedgivesthemeatadistinctive for mostoftheyear, wheretheirdiet keeps thenative sheep ontheshore A stone-builtdyke surroundingtheisland Destination Orkney Ltdisnotliableforany errors oromissionsinthisitinerary. Please checkall arrivalanddeparturetimes whenmakingbookings. high-quality yarn. fleeces beingprocessedintonatural you’ll beabletoseethelocalsheep spectacular view. AttheWool Mill tower areavailable,wellworthitforthe and woolmill.Tours ofthelighthouse houses acafé,giftshop,exhibitions A while itsyoungercousinwasbuiltin1854. The OldBeacon datesfromthe1780s may notwanttomissduringyourshortvisit. Despite itssmallsize thereisplentytoseeanddoinNorthRonaldsay. Hereare5thingsyou is scheduledto departat1051today, arriving inNorthRonaldsay at1059. Your inter-island flightfrom Papa Westray to North Ronaldsay, operated by Loganair visitor centre atthenewlighthouse are daily flights to Kirkwall. are dailyflights toKirkwall. is available.Seeorkney.com andthere Ronaldsay, overnightaccommodation If youwanttostaylongerinNorth TRAVEL TIPS hirewellin advance. cycle travel, accommodation,tours,carhire/ we stronglyadviseyoutobookall To fully enjoyyourIslandAdventure, TRAVEL TIPS

5 4 FIND OUT MOREAT ORKNEY.COM/ALLSEASONS slower paceofislandlife! after threedaysspentadjustingtothe surprised athowbigandbusyKirkwallfeels adventure.of your island You maybe at1827,markingtheend in Kirkwall in Sanday andStronsay, arriving back leaves at1753andstops onrequest North Ronaldsay. Your Loganair flight All too soonitwillbetimeto leave Pictishpast. Orkney’s The atmosphericruinsareareminderof the islandisanIronAgetoweranddefences. The stopping offontheirlongjourneys. year andalargenumberofmigrantspecies are breedingbirdsdependingonthetimeof island’s populationofresidentbirds,there wellasthe is ameccaforbirdwatchers.As The NorthRonaldsay Bird Observatory on the southern tip of ofBurrian onthesoutherntipof North Ronaldsay Lighthouse

AN ISLAND ADVENTURE