Your Westraak ‘Mallymack’ Tour will start when you arrive, by boat, at Rapness; by plane at Westray Airfield, or, when we pick you up from your base on Westray in the Westraak minibus. Our ‘Mallymack’ Tour is designed to take in each of the following:
Noltland Castle: The home built by Gilbert Balfour in the early 1560’s,which has a very interesting history.
Noup Head RSPB: Second only to St. Kilda, Noup Head is an accessible and safe (with Guide) viewpoint for tens of thousands of nesting seabirds, during the Summer months.
Aikerness Craigs: Here there are some wonderful photo opportunities, where you can, safely, view some spectacular cliff scenery. The rare Scottish Primrose also appears here in May and July. One of only 7 sites in the World.
Rackwick Kelp Pits: This was the area of greatest harvesting of kelp from the early 1700’s. You will see old Kelp pits and more recent tangle steethes.
Quoygrew: Whilst in Rackwick, visit the 9th Century Viking settlement at Quoygrew. This site is now being consolidated and protected by a sea-dyke. This site is said, by Dr. James Barrett, to be the most significant early Viking site in Orkney.
Lady Kirk: The Lady Kirk, or St. Mary’s Kirk, Pierowall is not only very picturesque, but holds some very interesting facts.
Westside Cross Kirk: This is the 12th Century Kirk on the Westside of Westray, which can be reached across a farm track, with the kind permission of the Farmer. Next to this old Kirk, are the remains of an early Viking settlement of high status.
Bay of Grobust: This is a beautiful white sandy beach – normally deserted! Nearby are the remains of an Iron Age Broch and the site of a Stone Age settlement dating to 500 years before Skara Brae.
Knowe o’ Burristae Broch: This lies on the Westside and can be seen from the road, near to the ‘deserted village’ of Netherhouse.
Bay of Tuquoy: This is also on the Westside and a good place for wading sea birds and sometimes seals.
General Itinery: Tours of Westray can vary in content and timing and can be tailored to your wishes. At all of the places, above, there will be plenty of information given by Graham and, of course, in between each site, there are many other places of interest which you will learn about.
We will bring you to the Westraak Centre and after refreshments and a brief PowerPoint overview, we will commence your Tour.
At Westraak, we have binoculars, should you have left yours behind and we carry a limited amount of weatherproof over-clothing. We do advise, though, that you bring with you, suitable outdoor clothing and stout walking boots or shoes.
Don’t worry, we won’t be taking you anywhere hazardous and our walks are short and relatively easy for all ages. Your lunch, which will be cooked at our Centre, will be typical, good, wholesome Westray fare.
