Papa Westray
Papa Westray is one of Scotland's Orkney Islands.
Understand
With only a few commercial facilities, Papa Westray is somewhere to get way from it all - especially for people interested in birdlife and archaeology. Locally, the island is known as "Papay", pronounced Papee. It has about 70 residents. It is a stunningly beautiful island at the north-western corner of the Orkney archipelago, with a very welcoming community - it makes for a delightful short visit, but the island has such depth and character that one could easily spend a quiet couple of weeks here - an experience which you will always remember.
Get in
By boat
Several passenger ferries a day link Papa Westray with Pierowall on Westray. Twice a week Orkney Ferries link Papa Westray island with Kirkwall.
By plane
Loganair provide at least two flights each weekday (one on Sundays) between Papa Westray and Kirkwall which also stop at Westray or North Ronaldsay. The flight between Papa Westray and Westray is the shortest (2 minutes) scheduled flight in the world!
Get around
Distances on the island are deceptive. One hour of fast walking along the island's (very quiet) main road will take you from the new pier in the south to the edge of the RSPB North Hill reserve in the north. However, a complete circuit of the island's coast will take a full and fascinating day because of the much greater distance involved and the distractions of archaeological sites, scenery and birds and seals on the white sandy beaches.
See
- 🌍
The Knap of Howar. is the oldest standing domestic structure in northern Europe, dating from about 3500 BC.
- Holland Farm. In the centre of the island, it has a set of attractive buildings and a small free museum.
- 🌍 St Boniface Church. It dates from the 12th century, and stands on an even older Pictish settlement eroding into the sea.
Do
- RSPB North Hill Reserve. Walk up and see Arctic terns and other birds from the small hide. The RSPB North Hill Reserve has a superb display of the beautiful Scottish Primrose (Primula scotica), which can be seen in flower for a few weeks from mid-May and again in July - however, this tiny plant can be hard to find and you must be careful to avoid disturbing sensitive breeding birds on the reserve, so contact the warden for information on exactly where to go. The twice-weekly guided walks are highly recommended!
- The Coffee Morning every Wednesday morning in the new kirk guarantees delicious refreshment and is a great way to meet local folk.
Sleep
- 🌍 Papa Westray Hostel (Beltane House), ☎ +44 1857 644224. Hostel and camping. Single room £25, double £40, dorm bed £17, camping £5.
- Peatwell. Cottage to rent, with two beds. from £30.
Eat, drink and buy
The Beltane Co-operative is the only amenity on the island - you can buy food and drink here to cook next door in the hostel.
Stay safe
This is probably one of the safest places on the planet with friendly natives and no crime, rabies, snakes, corrupt police, insane drivers, dodgy electrical systems, drug dealers, foreign exchange touts, air pollution, ozone holes or horrible tropical diseases.
Go next
You'll probably have to return to Kirkwall. But you can get to Westray, and on one day a week there's a ferry to North Ronaldsay.