Cycling
Find yourself cycling in Orkney, perhaps cresting a hill to find another wonderful panorama of aquamarine sea and rolling green and gold fields spread out before you, or picnicking by a hill loch to the sound of calling red-throated divers.
Orkney is excellent cycling territory, with gentle rolling countryside, easy terrain, and quiet roads. Off the main routes, a network of small roads links one parish to another, often connecting to the most fascinating ancient sites.
Using a bike is an ideal way to see the real Orkney. Cycle hire is available
from Cycle Orkney e. cycleorkney@btconnect.com t. (01856) 87 5777 and from
Orkney Cycle Hire e. orkney.cycle.hire@talk21.com t. (01856) 850255
Here's a sample route, showing the wealth of opportunities for cyclists:
Stromness to Birsay - Difficulty: moderate. Distance: 19 miles Description:
'A cycle through time, history and the culture of settlers in Orkney'
Leaving Stromness, head north past the swimming pool follow the main road
to Kirkwall (A965) towards the Bridge of Waithe. On the left just past
the bridge is the Unstan Chambered Cairn. The cairn gives its name to
a class of Neolithic pottery - Unstan Ware.
Head back to the main road and turn left towards Kirkwall as far as Tormiston
Mill, about half a mile on your right. From here you can walk across the
road to Maeshowe, a magnificent 5000 year-old burial chamber with Viking
runic graffitti. Head back towards Stromness and turn right at signs for
'Ring of Brodgar' (B9055)
On your right are the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Barnhouse Neolithic
settlement. Another mile along the loch side on the left is the Ring of
Brodgar. Follow this road uphill towards the main road. Go across the main
road following signs for 'Skara Brae'. Follow these signs to the Bay of
Skaill (B9056) where you can park and visit Skara Brae, the visitor centre
and Skaill House.
From here, carry on north towards Birsay through the undulating hills of
Marwick. Into the village in Birsay there are local amenities and St Magnus
Kirk, and the Earl's Palace to visit. Along a single track road beyond
the village is the Brough of Birsay a tidal island with a Pictish and Norse
settlement, which can be visited across the causeway at low tide (suitable
crossing times are available in the tourist information centres).
Here are a few more suggested routes to get you started:
Birsay – Marwick bay, Sands geo Fisherman’s huts, Earls palace, Skipi Geo – 13 miles
Sandwick – Copland’s Corner, Skaill House and Skara Brae, Bay of Skaill, Quoyloo Village – 7 miles
Evie – Evie Village, Broch of Gurness, Click Mill, Durkadale, Kirbuster Farm Museum, Swannay Loch, Burgar Hill Windmills and RSPB reserve – 14.5 miles
Rendall – Woodwick, Hackland Kirk, Gorseness, Puldrite, Rendall
Dovecot, Tingwall – 10.5 miles
West Mainland Archaeological Sites – Stromness, Skara brae, Ring
of Brodgar, Maeshowe – 18 ¾ miles
Kirkwall/ Finstown – Kirkwall, Old Finstown Road, Wideford Hill, Finstown, Rennibister – 15 miles
Kirkwall/Scapa – Kirkwall, Berstane Road, The Black Building, Catty Maggie’s Quarry, Scapa – 7 miles
South Ronaldsay – Burray, 4th Barrier, Newark Bay, Herston, St Margarets Hope – 16 miles
Westray (Noup/Tuquoy) – Pieroall, Noup Head, Loch of Burness, Tuquoy - 18 miles
Rousay – Rousay Pier, Trumland, Midhowe, Quandale, Wasbister, Kierfea Hill, Scockness – 16 miles
If you would like to find out more information about these routes and
many others in Orkney you can buy the book ‘Orkney
by Bike’ – 24
cycle routes round the Mainland and Islands of Orkney. You can request
this from our shopping page or call our Visitor Centre on (01856) 87 2001.
Back
to previous page 