Eday
Situated centrally among the North Isles of Orkney and 14 miles north east of Kirkwall, Eday is eight miles long and pinched at the waist. According to the novelist Eric Linklater, it offers a unique blend of heather - clad hilly moorland with panoramic views over sea and islands, sheer cliffs, sweeping beaches and sand dunes.
Most of the crofts and farms are located on the fertile coastal strip and the numerous derelict houses are clear indicators that Eday's population was once much greater.
There is a wealth of evidence of man's presence on this island over many thousands of years from the mysterious Standing Stone of Setter, often compared to a giant's hand and probably the finest stone of its type in Orkney, to 17th century Carrick House and the dwellings of today's farmers and crofters.
Carrick House - Standing on the shore, with superb views over Calf Sound, the house was built in the early 17th century. It became famous as the penultimate scene of a latter day pirate drama in 1725, when ‘Pirate Gow’ was captured by the owner of Carrick, James Fea, and surrendered to the authorities.
Cliffs of the Red Head - Red sandstone cliffs with panoramic views of the North Isles and Fair Isle. Puffins, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Shags can be seen nesting here.
Prehistoric House and Ancient Field Boundaries - Some of the best preserved field boundaries in Orkney sweeping round a large unexcavated prehistoric house containing a saddle-quern, a stone for grinding grain.
Watermill - Home-built water wheel used to drive a small croft mill.
Vinquoy Hill Chambered Cairn - This restored tomb consists of a central chamber with four small compartments.
Huntersquoy Chambered Tomb - This tomb has two chambers one above the other, reached by separate passages. The upper chamber is largely gone but the lower chamber is still intact, but is normally full of water. The only other example similar to this cairn is Taversoe Tuick on Rousay.
Braeside Chambered Tomb - The roof of this tomb has been removed and its centre dug out but the internal layout can be made out
Fold of Setter - A Bronze Age enclosure, possibly used for livestock.
Stone of Setter - Probably the finest prehistoric single standing stone in Orkney, still covered in a selection of lichens. The tallest monolith in Orkney at over 15 feet high and is sited between the Bay of Calf Sound and Mill Loch. It resembles a giant hand but local lore has it, that it was put there by the local laird.
Mill Loch - This loch supports numerous pairs of Red-Throated Divers, one of the densest concentrations of this species in the British Isles. Please use bird hide provided.
Estate Mill - Once used to grind corn for the island.
Chambered Tombs - Two well-preserved chambered tombs. Most interesting visible aspects are the horns or spur-walls which extend out from the corners.
Mussetter & Doomy Sands - Behind the dunes, you can find Birds Foot Trefoil. An excellent beach.
Burnt Mounds - Two large hillocks of burnt stones - possibly an ancient cooking station dating from the Bronze Age (1500-500 BC). These burnt mounds indicate a considerable population at that time.
Whitemaw and Flaughton Hill - This area is a sub-mountain heath supporting Orkney's only regular breeding Whimbrel.
Castle of Stackel Brae - A small Norse castle dating from the 12th or 13th centuries which may well be concealing a multiperiod settlement site. All that can be seen on the surface is a large green mound.
Muckle Green Holm - Also know in Norse as the island of Hellisey where Viking Sweyn Asleifsson hid in a cave to escape his pursuers, is best known for the large number of Grey Seals which pup here in autumn.
Faray - This small island between Eday and Westray was last inhabited in 1946. In common with other small uninhabited islands, there is a great feeling of space and peace. Faray has an interesting coast with geos, caves and a sandy beach at the south end.
Grey Head & Calf of Eday - The Calf of Eday supports 32 species of breeding birds.
Saltworks - The ruins of 17th century saltworks is one of the best surviving examples in the UK. These works are thought to have begun operating in the 1630s and this is an interesting early attempt at industrialisation of an ancient process.
Stalled Cairn - A long cairn containing two chambers of different periods.
Iron Age Houses - The main house was a large roundhouse with radial internal divisions and dates from the Early Iron Age. the last few centuries BC.
Chambered Tombs - Two chambered tombs of the Bookan type, the first built into the hillside. The second is complete except for the hole in the roof through which it was entered in 1855.
Cormorant Colony - An important Cormorant colony with over 100 nests.
Blett Studio - Hand spun yarn, knitwear and gift cards.
London Airport -Situated near the Bay of London, this airport isn’t quite so busy as Heathrow or Gatwick!
Sui Generis - Fine furniture designer and maker.
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Information Board -Ferry departs from here, also pier car park
Ferry timetable
Visit the Orkney Ferries website for a comprehensive list of the latest published island ferry timetables. Alternatively you can call the free Orkney Ferries travel hotline on +44 (0)800 011 3648 for up-to-date sailing information.
Flight timetable
Visit the Loganair website for the latest inter-island flight timetables. Alternatively you can call Loganair's local offices on +44 (0)1856 87 2494 or email orkneyres@loganair.co.uk.
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