Westray

Overview

Westray is a fairly large island in the far north-west of Orkney with a population of around 600.

Westray is an hour and a half on the ferry from Kirkwall. The boat docks at Rapness at the far south of the island, while the main settlement, Pierowall, is in the north. You can learn all about the island at the Westray Heritage Centre in Pierowall, or you can actually get out and about and visit the ruins of Noltland Castle. Over 100,000 seabird nest on the high cliffs at Noup Head.

The exquisite workmanship and artistic talent of Orkney's ancient peoples is illustrated by the Westray Stone, a rock carving found in a tomb at Pierowall. The spiral and lozenge design is the finest of its kind in Scotland and is permanently on display at Tankerness House Museum in Kirkwall. Of the earliest Christian settlers the best evidence is found in the lonely rock-stack or island hermitages such as at the Castle o' Burrian (also a marvellous place to see puffins) and on the Holms of Aikerness.