Westray is one of the small North Isles that make up the Orkney archipelago, off the north coast of Scotland. So many people skip these islands or don’t have enough time to visit – but I absolutely recommend visiting, and staying the night here to maximize your time! If you’re planning a visit to Westray in Orkney, here’s my guide on the best things to see and do on the island.

How to Get to Westray

You have two options for getting to Westray: you can take the ferry, or fly. The main ferry that travels from Kirkwall arrives at Rapness, at the southern part of the island. There is also a foot passenger ferry service from Papa Westray to Pierowall on Westray. Your other option is to fly on an inter-isle Orkney flight with Loganair (more below!).

How to Get Around Westray

Westray is large enough that you’ll want some kind of transport to get around, especially if you’re trying to cover a lot of ground in just one day. You can contact Stewart, who arranges car hire on the island. Renting a car will give you a lot of freedom, even though there aren’t that many roads on the island. I rented a bike (from Stewart, who also does bike rental) for one day which cost £12. It meant I could see the top sights and go on a hike within a day, so I’m glad I did! Stewart also runs a taxi service – keep this in mind if you’re arriving by plane, as the airport is about 3 miles away from Pierowall.

What to Know About Visiting Westray

There are no ATMs on Westray, so if you need cash make sure you plan in advance and take it out beforehand. I believe the Post Office in Pierowall can issue cashback if you’re stuck, though. The main shop is W I Rendall in Pierowall, which is very well-stocked. They’re open 9am-6pm every day, besides Sundays. They also run a great café at the back of the shop. There are few options for eating during the day and in the evening, and these change most days – check with your accommodation for up-to-date information on what’s open and operating hours. The only pub/bar/place to get a drink in Pierowall is at the Pierowall Hotel. Stewart is the man to know on Westray – he can arrange car rental, bike rental, and taxi services. I think you can contact him through the shop’s Facebook page. Westraak Tours offer excellent tours of the island. If you’re visiting during puffin season, they run a sunset puffin trip which was a real highlight for me! If you’re wondering how much my entire trip cost, check out my Orkney budget breakdown.

What to Do on Westray

There’s more things to do and see on Westray than you might expect. If you’re biking around the island, keep in mind you’ll be spending more time inbetween distances than you would with a car! Here are the top things to see and do on Westray.

Take the Shortest Commercial Flight in the World

I arrived on Westray after taking the shortest commercial flight in the world from Papa Westray. This is a huge bucket list experience, and one that shouldn’t be missed! The entire reason I decided to visit Westray was because of this flight, and it really is incredible. You can book the flight with Loganair.

See the Westray Wife at the Westray Heritage Center in Pierowall

Interested in seeing the earliest human figure in the country? Well, stop by the Westray Heritage Center and you can see the little figurine dubbed the Westray Wife for yourself. The Neolithic figurine was found at the Links of Noltland on Westray – it is really small in real life! There are other exhibits in the museum too (I particularly enjoyed the one on the Queen’s Jubilee!). But you can’t miss seeing the Westray Wife. Admission costs £3 for adults.

Visit Noltland Castle

This castle was built in the 1500s, and is only a short distance from Pierowall. The owner, Gilbert Balfour, was the master of Mary Queen of Scots’ household, and involved in a lot of royal intrigue. There’s a lot of different parts of the castle you can explore now – you can’t miss the many gun holes dotted around the walls. The castle is run by Historic Environment Scotland but it’s free to visit.

Relax at Grobust Beach

Is this the best beach on Westray? I didn’t get further south so I can’t really give a true verdict. But Grobust Beach is pretty spectacular – I was blown away! This is a fine sandy beach, curving around the bay. A local who is part of the Coast Guard advised me against swimming here, so I wouldn’t say swimming here is an option. But it’s still a beautiful place for a picnic or wading. The Links of Noltland archeological site is right next to the beach.

Hike Around Noup Head and Spot Seabirds

Noup Head is an RSPB reserve at the very westernmost point of Westray. This was my favorite place on Westray – the coastal scenery was amazing! I did a short 4.5-mile hike around here, and had a fantastic time spotting seabirds. This is one of the biggest gannet colonies in the country, but I also saw puffins here – among other seabirds!

I spent 2.5 hours in total hiking here, but a lot of that was just sitting happily watching the birds soaring around the cliffs. Start at Backarass Farm, where there is parking space for 2-3 cars – I left my bike here for the walk. Head down to the coast and follow it up to Noup Head Lighthouse. Then follow the road down and back around to Backarass Farm.

See Puffins at Castle O’Burrian

Calling all puffin fans! Seeing puffins at Castle O’Burrian on a sunset tour was one of my top experiences from my entire trip to Orkney. This is the biggest colony of puffins in the UK – the sea stack is home to thousands of puffins during breeding season. Going to see them at sunset, when they were returning to their burrows after a long day at sea, was so special.

I went on a sunset puffin tour with Andy and Karen from Westraak Tours – their tour costs £15 per person (I got a bit of a discount and it was only £10!). They picked me up at my hostel in Pierowall around 9:30pm, and drove us to see the puffins! It’s a short walk along the cliffs to the best viewing points – if you’re coming here on your own, there is parking for several cars at the farm building. I got back to the hostel around 11pm – after snapping pics of puffins all night to my heart’s content!

If you enjoy wildlife, this should be the number one thing you do on Westray.

Marvel at the Sea Arch

One place that no guidebook had mentioned was the stunning coastline around the very northern part of Westray. A Google Maps geotag led me to bike ~20 minutes to Windywalls, where it was a short 10-minute walk to the coast. On OS Maps, it’s marked as “natural arches” “scaun” and “caves.” The waves were huge crashing against the rocks and spraying up the cliffs! I was rapidly running out of time, so I didn’t have the chance to explore more of the coastline – further east is the Taing and Bow Head, which is also meant to have dramatic scenery.

If you’re headed this way, make a stop at the Wheeling Steen Gallery. This is a small art gallery (between Pierowall and the airport), and is typically open in the afternoons.

Explore the Southern and Southwestern Parts of Westray

With such a short amount of time and my only transport being two wheels, I did miss out on quite a few spots around Westray. This is why a day-long tour with Westraak Tours is such a good idea! Rapness is where the main ferry from Kirkwall arrives. I would have also liked to see Letto Sands (a beautiful beach) and the historic ruins of Cross Kirk, a medieval church in Tuquoy.

Where I Stayed

I stayed at Chalmersquoy in their hostel accommodation. They also offer camping and B&B accommodation, too! This was a fantastic base for my short trip to this Orcadian island – it’s at the southern end of Pierowall, so easy to walk to the museum or store (even shorter to bike!). I had a single room with shared bathroom, and also had access to the large kitchen and upstairs lounge. The lounge has a terrific view over the seafront in Pierowall. For £35, this was an absolute bargain! I think this would be a great spot to work on a project while relaxing and enjoying island life. I met a guy who was finishing his courses for his masters program online – Westray makes for a peaceful spot!

Planning Your Trip

There are a few other accommodation options around Pierowall on Westray. The other main place to stay is the Pierowall Hotel. If you’re visiting Orkney, I really recommend this Orkney guidebook! I also recommend bringing a pair of binoculars, since there are so many opportunities to spot wildlife. You can read my full packing guide for Orkney here.

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

I loved my visit to Westray. This was such a fantastic destination to visit as part of my Orkney trip, and I’m so glad I got to go. If you’re headed to Orkney, I can’t recommend a stay on Westray enough! I hope this post helps planning your next trip to Westray.

Have you visited Westray before? What were your favorite things to do?

You might also like my posts:

The Complete Orkney Guide: An 8-Day Itinerary for the Orkney Islands

Orkney: What You Need to Know Before You Go

A Travel Guide For Papa Westray, Orkney

The World’s Shortest Commerical Flight: Papa Westray to Westray With Loganair

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Orkney on a Budget?

What to Pack For a Trip to Orkney, Scotland

Hoy, Orkney: Visiting the Old Man of Hoy and Rackwick Bay

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