Where to see spectacular coastal scenery in Orkney

The Orkney Islands are packed with things to see and do, no matter what you are interested in. But if I had to choose my favourite thing to do in Orkney, it’s heading out for a walk and discovering somewhere new along the coastline.

Just south of the Bay of Skaill, and only a stone’s throw from the well-visited 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, lies a dramatic coastal feature that many people miss: the Hole o’ Rowe.

These islands are home to some truly spectacular scenery, and no two stretches of the coastline are quite the same. Around one corner you might find a quiet sandy bay, while around the next there are towering cliffs, sea stacks rising from the waves, natural arches carved through rock, or a deep geo sliced into the shoreline.

Whether you’re looking for a short stroll with a rewarding view or a longer adventure taking in some of Orkney’s wildest landscapes, here is a list of some of our favourite spots where you can see some spectacular coastal scenery around Orkney!

1. Yesnaby, West Mainland

We couldn’t start this list anywhere else than at one of my favourite spots in Orkney – the wild, windswept cliffs of Yesnaby. This magnificent stretch of coastline has been battered and carved by ferocious Atlantic waves and wind for thousands of years (I’ve even witnessed a waterfall here blow upwards in the fierce gales!) The result is a dramatic landscape of sea arches, stacks, headlands and geos.

Yesnaby is a 10-minute (6 mile) drive north of Stromness, where there is a generous parking area beside some the old wartime buildings. From here, you can wander north towards the mysterious Broch of Borwick – find out some fascinating facts about this Iron Age ruin here – or head south to experience a stretch of spectacular coastal scenery.

There are well-trodden footpaths that lead along the clifftop, and the first landmark you’ll reach is the Brough of Bigging – a small promontory connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. It’s a brilliant viewpoint, jutting further out than the surrounding coastline, and you can look down the coast towards Hoy and the even the Old Man of Hoy sea stack in the far distance.

Continue south, and you’ll see an arch at Qui Ayre where a sea stack still clings to the coastline by a thin, rocky bridge. A little further on, Yesnaby Castle comes into view. It’s a delicate, 35-metre sea stack with a natural arch standing precariously in its own little bay. Many walkers choose this as their turning point – it’s about 25 minutes from the car park – and the scenery here is just breathtaking with lots of nice viewpoints.

However, if you keep going, the rewards continue. Venture further south along the coast and you’ll eventually reach North Gaulton Castle – a slender sandstone tower rising 51 metres from the sea. It’s taller than Yesnaby Castle, more remote and often completely deserted, leaving you to enjoy the sight of waves crashing at its base in true solitude.

2. The Kilns of Brin Novan, Rousay

This next location is certainly a hidden gem found at the most northwesterly point of Rousay next to Sacquoy Head (Grid Ref: HY 38267 34985).

Getting there takes a bit of effort. We parked beside the cemetery and walked through a farm, carefully closing gates behind us, before heading out across open moorland. The terrain underneath was very uneven and boggy making it quite hard going, but the reward waiting at the coast more than makes up for the effort to get there.

When you finally reach the 30-metre cliff edge, you will be greeted by a trio of vast, deep chasms carved into the rock – these are the Kilns of Brin Novan.

The largest of these is the most striking of all. Standing at its edge, you can look down through two natural arches cut into the rock, each offering a window onto the crashing waves behind. The other two kilns are equally impressive. These sheer-sided shafts plunge deep into darkness, their walls revealing hundreds of thin, horizontal layers of sandstone.

On wilder days, waves crash into these open shafts and send spray shooting high in the air, rising like smoke from a kiln – hence the use of the term in its name. The surrounding stretch of coastline here is equally as wild and dramatic, with many arches found along this corner of the island.

3. The Gloup, Mull Head Local Nature Reserve, Deerness

Compared to other locations featured in this list, the Gloup at Mull Head is very accessible and easy to reach. From the Mull Head Nature Reserve car park, a less than a five-minute stroll along a narrow flat gravel path takes you to the Gloup.

This spectacular open chasm was once a 70-metre-long sea cave. Over time, the Atlantic waves repeatedly crashed through the cavern with such force causing the roof to partially collapse, leaving a 40-metre-wide and 30-metre-deep gap in its place. A wooden viewing platform at the landward end gives a fantastic perspective – you can look right along the length of the Gloup and through the remaining arch of the old cave to the sea.

The surrounding nature reserve is a lovely area for a longer walk. A circular 3.5-mile route loops over grassland and low cliffs where many seabirds soar above and nest on the cliff ridges.

If you have time, it’s well worth continuing to the Brough of Deerness – a small headland almost entirely separated from the mainland. To reach it, you descend by stairway into the bay to its west, walk through the narrow gap between the cliffs, then follow the path up to the top. A chain handrail has been installed along the path to help guide you safely.

The open grassy summit was once home to a Viking settlement and the only visible ruin left today is the walls of a chapel. Alongside its archaeology, the Brough offers excellent views of the surrounding cliffs, sea and across to the island of Auskerry.

4. The Alter at Harrabrough Head, South Ronaldsay

South Ronaldsay’s coastline is home to some truly spectacular walking routes – from the cliffs at Burwick to the sweeping views at Windwick Bay – but there’s a lesser‑known area tucked away on a small headland below Hoxa Head that’s well worth seeking out. Along its southern coast you’ll find one of the most unusual coastal formations in Orkney: the Alter at Harrabrough Head (Grid Ref: ND 41582 90378).

Here, the relentless power of the sea has carved not one, but three arches right through this rocky outcrop, leaving behind a striking shape that has been compared to the likes of a giant lion’s paw or even a tarantula!

A clifftop path leads out towards Harrabrough Head, offering lovely open views across the sea as you walk. Parts of the route are narrow and exposed, so care is needed, especially in windy weather or if you’re walking with children.

5. The Standard, Evie

Similar to the Gloup at Mull Head which we covered earlier, this next suggestion is also very each to reach if you know how!

The Standard is a sea stack is tucked away in Evie, hidden behind a dark hill and the quiet waters of Swannay Loch. Parking beside the loch, follow the road west towards Birsay for about half a mile. At the sharp bend where the road drops steeply towards Swannay Brewery, we left the road and took the farm track heading in the opposite direction.

The track is straight and easy underfoot leading you across open fields, and after passing a couple of gates, the land suddenly falls away, and you find yourself standing at the towering Costa Cliffs – 100‑metre sandstone walls with seabirds swooping around them. Just offshore is the Standard: a striking 50‑metre sea stack whose long, narrow and pointed shape closely resembles a large dorsal fin slicing through the waves.

6. The Vat of Kirbister, Stronsay

If you’re visiting Orkney, be sure to make time to venture off the mainland and explore some of the smaller, outer islands. For those planning a trip to Stronsay, chances are the Vat of Kirbister will be high on your list of things to see – and for good reason!

This dramatic gloup – formed when the roof of a huge sea cave collapsed – is spanned by a spectacular natural rock arch, often described as the finest in all of Orkney.

It’s an easy walk from the small designated lay‑by for parking at the end of the public road towards Kirbister Farm. From here, turn left and follow the fenced, surfaced path towards the coast. The route passes through a gate before reaching the clifftops, where you then turn right and continue along the low cliffs. You first pass a long deep geo before the Vat of Kirbister comes into view.

The gloup itself is impressive from any angle. The collapsed cave has left a near‑circular amphitheatre, with the original cave mouth still providing access beneath the remaining arch.

The walk to the Vat is around 1 km, but you can easily extend your route along Odin’s Bay and onwards to Burgh Hill and Lamb Head for a full 12 km circuit. The jagged coastline here – with geos, cliffs and rocky beaches – makes a lovely backdrop for a walk.

7. The Hole o’Rowe, Sandwick

Our next recommendation sits just around the corner from one of Orkney’s most popular and loved attractions – the fascinating 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, which sits along the shoreline of the Bay of Skaill. Despite being so close to such a well-visited site, a headland to the south of Bay hides a dramatic coastal feature that many people miss: the Hole o’Rowe.

This is an enormous natural worn hole that has been carved straight through the cliffs, and on a wild winter’s day puts on quite a show. When powerful Atlantic waves roll into the coast here, the sea thunders through the opening with explosive force sending spray high into the air. Even in calm conditions the Hole o’Rowe is an impressive sight.

You can walk all the way from Yesnaby to the Bay of Skaill – it’s a stunning route if you have the time – but if you are looking for a shorter outing, you can simply park at the Skaill Beach car park. The beach itself is a lovely wide curve of sand and sea-smoothed pebbles, and from here you can already spot the Hole o’Rowe in the distance! Head south along the beach, scramble up onto the headland using the metal handrail set into the rock, and continue towards the arch. It’s a straightforward, rewarding walk with beautiful views all around.

8. Rose Ness, East Mainland

If you’re looking for a quieter corner of Orkney’s coastline, Rose Ness is a wonderful place to visit. This low‑lying headland on the East Mainland is a nice spot for a walk, whether you visit on a long summer evening with wildflowers blanketing the grass or on a bracing autumn day with the wind in your face.

The route begins near the end of the Upper Cornquoy road in Holm, where a small parking area sits beside the fields. A signposted gate leads you onto a short path between farmland before you emerge above low cliffs. Turn right and follow the coast south where you’ll eventually come to a dramatic gloup – a collapsed sea cave now fenced off for safety.

Continuing south along the coastline, you’ll soon see a 12-metre-tall stone tower begin to dominate the headland. Built in 1867, this large geometric beacon was thought to have been a navigation aid before it was succeeded by a small modern lighthouse. Together, these two structures mark Rose Ness, the most southerly point of the Orkney Mainland.

This area has beautiful views over to Burray, South Ronaldsay and the Churchill Barriers. It’s a place that feels wonderfully off the beaten track, and perfect for anyone seeking a quieter walk along the coastline.

By Amy Leith
Born and raised in Aberdeen with an admiration for Orkney and Shetland, loves to travel and visit new places, enjoys cooking, always listening to music, spends a little too much time on TikTok.

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