Orkney Islands Accommodation

Sanday Isle Best Beaches Birdwatching Ancient History Orkney Islands

Sanday is the most northerly of the Orkney Islands. It is a mostly a flat agricultual landscape bare 20 metres above sea level. It is renowned for having some of the best beaches in the Orkneys where you can see seals, otters and whales offshore. As a key stopping off point on the migratory routes for geese, swans, waders and passerines Sanday is an excellent birdwatching island.

Sanday is also popular with walkers. There are several leaflets available from Tourist Offices with suggested walks and details of the wildlife of the island. A downloadable leaflet is also available from the Sanday Tourist Association weblink right.

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Sanday Tourist Information Orkney Islands

Sanday Isle is the furthest north within the Orkney Isles. It is something of a haven for wildlife and for those wanting to get away to relax. It is a farming island that has the reputation for having Orkney's finest sandy beaches and plenty of opportunities for walking.

Sanday has a choice of B&B, hotel and self-catering accommodation as well as camping and a hostel. There are two pubs on the island that have restaurants for home-cooked meals, a tearoom and takeaways. Check the Sanday information weblinks right for more detailed information and locations.

Being a small community the islanders are used to making their own entertainment which they do by a full calendar of events usually centering around music. Sanday has its own Fiddle Club who often play live venues and Sanday Jazz Quartet who make regular appearances at the Kettletoft Hotel on Sundays. There's never any shortage of traditional or folk music on Sanday.

Sanday is a lively community with a busy events schedule throughout the year. The annual Sanday Agricultural and Industrial Show is held on the first Friday in August to coincide with the Orkney County Show so that as the Sanday Show ends the Orkney Show begins and ferry excursions take islanders over to Mainland for that.

Orkney Ferries Inter-Island Ferries Kirkwall to Sanday

Orkney Ferries run services from Kirkwall to Sanday. The ferry leaves from Kirkwall pier and arrives in Loth on Sanday at the south western end of the island. The journey takes one hour and twenty minutes.

Ferry crossings to Sanday vary during the week so consult the most up-to-date timetables for timings. Sailings may not serve the islands every day of the week. Again space is limited so it is best to book journeys well in advance. Check the Orkney Ferries website for up-to-date information.

Scottish Island Hopping - Cheap Flights to Sanday

You can also fly to Sanday from Kirkwall. The flight takes just 11 minutes and there are usually two flights per day.

The planes used only have limited seating so flights can get booked up quickly so you'll need to plan your journey well in advance. Contact Loganair on tel: 01856 872494.

Sanday Archaeological Heritage

Sanday has a rich legacy of historic sites including Pool's Neolithic settlement, the Styes of Brough, the 4 metre high Quoyness chambered cairn, and the Viking boat burial that was only discovered in the 20th century. The links right give you more information and tehre is a leaflet available from the Tourist Office on Sanday's archaeological sites.

Sanday was also used in World War II when a camp had to be built to house the hundreds of soldiers. A radar station was built at Lettan in 1941 and in the north of the island you can still see the remains of many bunkers around North Loch.

Sanday Walking & Wildlife

Between May and August the Sanday Ranger organises a programme of events. These include guided walks and talks on the wildlife of the island, World War II history, ancient history and archaeological sites. Every fortnight on Thursday evenings he'll give an informal, illustrated "Welcome to Sanday" talk in the Community School. Roderick Thorne, Sanday Ranger, Nearhouse, Sanday, Orkney, KW17 2BW. Tel: 01857 600341

The low sandy shorelines attract a huge array of wading birds including purple sandpipers, bar-tailed godwits, dunlin and sanderling in the winter, Ringed plover, lapwing, skylark, stil thrive here as do oystercatchers, redshank, curlew, arctic tern, gulls and this is one of the few places where you still might hear a corncrake.

The freshwater lochs near the sea are favourites with otters and you'll easily see grey and harbour seals. During the spring and summer coastal walks take you through flower-rich grassland dotted with marsh marigold, buttercup, bird's-foot trefoil, tormentil, marsh orchids, ragged robin, hearts-ease, spring squill, campion; grass of parnassus, eyebright and daisy.

The Sanday Walking Guide, available from Tourist Offices, post offices and guest houses, includes eight themed walks aimed at showing you the different aspects of Sanday. There are discreetly waymarked and cover the vast majority of the island.

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