Orkney - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 351

Shapinsay Heritage Centre
The Smithy • May-Sept daily 2-5pm • Free • T 01856 711246
The old smithy, halfway along Balfour's main street, houses the Shapinsay Heritage
Centre , where you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about the island,
before availing yourself of its excellent café (see below).

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE SHAPINSAY

By ferry Less than 30min from Kirkwall by ferry (4-5
daily), Shapinsay is an easy day-trip.

By bus There's a Dial-a-Bus service around the island,
which must be booked in advance ( T 0791 575162).

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Hilton Farmhouse T 01856 711239, W hiltonorkney
farmhouse.co.uk. This whitewashed farmhouse, less than
a mile from Balfour, has just two sunny, south-facing
bedrooms (one of which is en suite), and a restaurant in
the conservatory ( boo king ahead essential) and offers
optional full board. £70
The Smithy T 01856 711269. Even if you're just coming

for the day, it's worth popping into the wonderfully cosy
licensed café below the heritage centre, which serves a
simple menu during the day, and delicious, fresh, locally
sourced fish and meat dishes in the evening (mains
around £15). Evening boat charter from Mainland also
available (£7 a head). May-Sept: Mon, Wed & Fri-Sun
9.30am-9pm, Tues & Thurs 9.30am-5pm.

7

Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre
Just over half a mile from the Mainland's northern shore, the hilly island of Rousay is
one of the more accessible northern isles as well as being home to a number of
intriguing prehistoric sites. The group of a dozen or so houses above the ferry terminal
is the only settlement of any size, but a single road runs around the edge of the island,

N Saviskaill

Head ROUSAY, EGILSAY AND WYRE

Sacquoy Head

The Knee
of Rousay

BRINGS

Loch of
Wasbister

Faraclett
Head

Saviskaill
Ba y Kili Holm

WASBISTER

Q UANDALE Kierfea Hill

(700ft)

Rousay

Scabra
Head

SOURIN

St Magnus
Church

Midhowe
Broch
& Cairn

Holm of
Scockness

Muckle
Water

Egilsay

Peerie
Water

Blotchnie Fiold
(821ft) Westness Farm

Knowe of
Yarso

Blackhammer
Cairn

Eynhallow

BRINIAN

Trumland
House

FR OTOFT

Point of
the Wart

Taversoe
Tuick

Point of
the Graand

St Mary's
Chapel

Cubbie Roo's
Castle

The Taing

Wyre

0 1

Mainland

mile

Tingwall