Often overlooked compared to the famous archeological sites of Mainland Orkney, the Yesnaby cliffs are well worth a visit.
A beautiful coastal walk including the Yesnaby Castle Sea Stack.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit with map, tips and pictures.
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Why visit the cliffs of Yesnaby, Orkney?
The Orkney islands are not all about ancient sites.
The cliffs on most of the islands are spectacular. And on Mainland Orkney, one of the best areas is the Yesnaby cliffs.
The layers of rocks sculpted by the erosion are already fascinating, but, on top of that, many birds settle in the holes.
Yesnaby is an area on the West coast of Mainland Orkney Island famous for its sandstone cliffs, birdlife and sea stack.
Yesnaby coastal walk
Below is a short video to give you an idea of what to expect from the Yesnaby coastal walk and its cliffs - get a virtual tour!
More photos after the planning tips.
PLANNING TIPS & Map - Yesnaby Cliffs, Orkney, Scotland
How to get to Yesnaby Orkney - Map and location
- On the West coast of Mainland Orkney
- Stromness to Yesnaby = 12min drive
- Kirkwall to Yesnaby = 30min drive
- On the road to the famous Neolithic village of Skara Brae, just 10 min drive South of it (West coast of Mainland Orkney).
- Below is a map to help you get oriented and locate Yesnaby:
Map - Yesnaby cliffs coastal walk location
The GPS coordinates and location on a practical map are available in my Travel Guide (which facilitates the planning of your itinerary):
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Visit Tips
- You can park near what remains of the old Gun battery
- There are no facilities
- Most bus tours just stop quickly so people can only see the first cliffs
- Plan 1h30 to walk at a slow pace to the Yesnaby castle sea stack and stop several times to observe birds and enjoy the scenery - the walk is easy but can be slippery when wet
- Don't forget to bring binoculars to make the most of those views!!!! - Check out my guide to find the best travel binoculars for your needs.
- Wear windproof jackets - it is very very windy
- It is possible to walk further in both directions
Where to stay on Mainland Orkney
Most Orkney accommodations are in the main towns:
- Stromness is small, close to the ferry and charming - Check out the accommodations in Stromness
- Kirkwall is bigger and more lively - Check out the accommodations in Kirkwall
- But you can also find accommodation more isolated in guesthouses and farms if you want a more peaceful experience - check out the best rated accommodations on the Orkney islands
Yesnaby Cliff walk - Map and starting point
The road to the cliffs does not look like much but after a while you see the remains of the Gun Battery in the distance.
This is where the carpark is.
Next to the buildings are a few signs with explanations on:
- the geology of the place,
- the flora
- and the fauna.
You can also see a map of the Yesnaby Coastal Walk with the different points of interest - here is a picture:
Yesnaby Coastal Walk Map
As you can see below, there is no difficulty to walk. Just small sections may be watery. Pay attention to your children.
Apparently in season, a rare flower grows in that area: the Primula Scotica (Scottish Primrose) . I might have seen it, but I must admit it does not look that special...
The beautiful Orkney cliffs in pictures
At first, you can approach the first cliffs and see the layer of red sandstones.
They create perfect areas for birds to nest. I was hoping to spot puffins but did not. It is not they favorite ground, but they are sometimes spotted.
Yesnaby cliffs
If you are limited in time and cannot walk all the way to the Yesnaby Castle, you should still walk to the other side of the first cove as the views are even more impressive. See below:
Brough of Bigging
The first stop is the Brough of Bigging. The site is not fascinating but from the promontory you can see great views.
In the picture below (coming back to the carpark you can see the small brough on the left
Once there you can see the high cliffs of the Isle of Hoy and even notice the Old Man of Hoy.
Qui Ayre
Next on the map is Qui Ayre.
I am not sure exactly what it is.
Maybe the area that slipped into the water or maybe the small arches. Anyway, below are pictures around it.
Yesnaby Castle Sea Stack
But the highlight of the area is the Yesnaby Castle Sea Stack.
Its height is of 115ft (35 meters) (although it might change with erosion...).
It is now standing on 2 legs. It might give up in the years to come, who knows...
If you are a climber, check out the Orkney seastacks website for information on how to climb the Yesnaby Castle.
Yesnaby Castle - sea stack
As you can see from the side, the light was great for photography but the shape of the Yesnaby Castle sea stack from this angle was unfortunate...
Yesnaby Castle sea stack
Ramna Geo
I did not go in the other direction to walk along the cliffs.
The map indicates another point of interest called Ramna Geo. Check out here, a photo by another photographer, to help you decide if you want to continue walking.
Want to see more? Here are other amazing things to do in Orkney:
- The fascinating Ring of Brodgar - read article
- The impressive Standing Stones of Stenness - read article
- The pink St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall - read article
- The Broch of Gurness by the sea - read article
- The ancient village of Skara Brae - read article
- Or enjoy my complete article about the best things to do in Orkney
Planning a trip to Scotland? Check out my travel guide to help you plan it:
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- 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 170+ selected locations so you don't miss the most beautiful places
- GPS + info to make the most of your time
- 170+ original photos to get inspired
And keep track of your own trip!
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