Yesnaby Cliffs
Yesnaby Cliffs
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5.0
346 reviews
Excellent
288
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49
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7
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m_burford
Preston, UK11 contributions
Sep 2020
Brisk 20 min walk one way to Yesnaby Castle sea stack,can be breezy. Can walk further to see other sea stack as well.Totally stunning views. Free car park.
Written September 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scottish-Hidden-Gems🏴💎
Ayrshire, UK9,159 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
We only stopped for a photo, on route to skara brae. It is the only place you can view the old man of hoy from land, we did see it from a distance but didn't have time to walk the pathway to get a closer look.
The carpark is tiny and full of potholes, it gets very busy, very quickly so I would suggest going very early or later on in the day but definitely worth stopping by.
The carpark is tiny and full of potholes, it gets very busy, very quickly so I would suggest going very early or later on in the day but definitely worth stopping by.
Written May 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike_Howroyd75
Leeds, UK54 contributions
Apr 2022
It was the windiest day ever when we went but once you get used to it, it was a lovely site to visit. Some good interpretation and clear paths (a bit muddy in places, so wear suitable footwear). Walks can be as short or long as you like, and the Orkney weather can change in a heartbeat, so don't forget a coat!
Written April 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
epemberton
North Yorkshire, UK385 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
My favourite walk from our whole week in Orkney. Parking free at the literal end of the road! Fantastic cliff top scenery. Worth detouring up the headland after you set off from the car park for views over to Hoy and the Old Man. Some cracking sea stacks off the coast, sadly we had to turn around after Yesnaby Castle as it was getting too hot for the dogs, but would've loved to continue down to North Gaulton like we originally planned.
Written September 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie R
London, UK135 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
We enjoyed a blustery hike across the cliffs. At one point something drew us to the edge of the cliff and found there was a way down to a huge flat rock surface with impressive cliff face on either side, and a view down to the sea below. The rock strata is amazing. So many layers.
We hiked all the way to the remains of a broch, and then back in the opposite direction to see the stacks.
We hiked all the way to the remains of a broch, and then back in the opposite direction to see the stacks.
Written September 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amci
Aberdeenshire, UK509 contributions
Sep 2022
Visited on a beautiful day and the sea was very calm. Walked to North Gaulton Castle and back which was a lovely walk. Car park isn't huge but there was enough spaces on rough ground.
Written September 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul B
Chirnside Park, Australia1,051 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Take the time to walk to the first major cliff. There are some strangely stacked rocks (remnants of a broch?). Listening to the sea and watching its power was amazing.
In June and July you can see Puffins on the north side of the first cliff section.
If you have time and energy continue to the sea stack.
In June and July you can see Puffins on the north side of the first cliff section.
If you have time and energy continue to the sea stack.
Written June 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel159549
Atlanta, GA182 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
Nice cliffs overlooking a wide expanse of water; the famous stack is not immediately accessible by the car park; it requires a 1+ hour walk. The wind coming off the water is quite cold in April but it’s worth a stop if on the Orkney mainland as it’s under 30 minutes from Kirkwall.
Written April 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Foxymerlin
Banff, Canada297 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
We spent around an hour walking along the various pathways to see the cliffs and rough sea below. It isn't too strenuous, but good walking shoes are recommended. Stay well clear of the edges - it's easy to get quite literally blown away.
Written December 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rantin rover
Biggar, UK9,047 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
We visited here as part of a private tour of Mainland with Kinlay Francis of Orkney Uncovered - it’s on the west coast off the B9056 down a single track surfaced road with passing places. At the end of the road just park up at the World War II gun emplacement and head along the grass path to your left as you look out to the North Atlantic. (Don’t drive beyond the emplacement foundations or you may scrape the bottom of your vehicle on the concrete). There are no facilities at this remote location.
The track is well worn and fairly straight forward terrain. En route you may see a large number of rocks scattered across the hillside which were apparently thrown there from the beach below during a particularly wild storm which hit the area!
Weather permitting the cliff views along from here are quite spectacular - or scary if you haven’t got a head for heights! There are no fences to restrain visitors so caution is advised about straying too close to the edges especially in windy or wet conditions. You need also to be aware that this is a popular climbing area and there are some bolts in the ground near the cliff edges which provide anchor points for abseiling down them - they’re also easy to trip on if not looking! Sadly during our visit we didn’t see any climbers which would have been an added interest.
There are a couple of rock formations which are particularly eye-catching - the False Stack, almost a sea stack but just clinging to the land by a narrow bridge of rock and Yesnaby Castle - not a castle of the fortification type but a sea stack, in the shape of a boot when viewed from a side angle. As our guide mentioned the “heel” of the boot will eventually get eroded and may then topple this giant natural wonder - hopefully nobody will be ascending it at the time! It’s apparently used as a practice run for The Old Man of Hoy climb although at around 115 feet it‘s a toddler by comparison (The Old Man is 450 feet high) but having said that it’s safe to say I won’t be attempting either any time soon! Nerves of steel would be required.
About 3km further south along the coast at North Gaulton there is another sea stack which is 165 feet high, accessed on foot via the coastal route or alternatively the single track Mousland Farm road and then hiking a mile or so across fields. We didn‘t visit North Gaulton Castle however it would be worth considering another time. The coastal route just follows the contours of the coastline and may be unmarked so care would be required.
Had we not been planning to visit a number of places on the day we’d possibly have spent more time at Yesnaby and the surrounds than we actually did. It’s probably about 15 minutes walk each way from the parking area and although not as huge as The Old Man of Hoy the logistics of getting here are considerably easier.
The track is well worn and fairly straight forward terrain. En route you may see a large number of rocks scattered across the hillside which were apparently thrown there from the beach below during a particularly wild storm which hit the area!
Weather permitting the cliff views along from here are quite spectacular - or scary if you haven’t got a head for heights! There are no fences to restrain visitors so caution is advised about straying too close to the edges especially in windy or wet conditions. You need also to be aware that this is a popular climbing area and there are some bolts in the ground near the cliff edges which provide anchor points for abseiling down them - they’re also easy to trip on if not looking! Sadly during our visit we didn’t see any climbers which would have been an added interest.
There are a couple of rock formations which are particularly eye-catching - the False Stack, almost a sea stack but just clinging to the land by a narrow bridge of rock and Yesnaby Castle - not a castle of the fortification type but a sea stack, in the shape of a boot when viewed from a side angle. As our guide mentioned the “heel” of the boot will eventually get eroded and may then topple this giant natural wonder - hopefully nobody will be ascending it at the time! It’s apparently used as a practice run for The Old Man of Hoy climb although at around 115 feet it‘s a toddler by comparison (The Old Man is 450 feet high) but having said that it’s safe to say I won’t be attempting either any time soon! Nerves of steel would be required.
About 3km further south along the coast at North Gaulton there is another sea stack which is 165 feet high, accessed on foot via the coastal route or alternatively the single track Mousland Farm road and then hiking a mile or so across fields. We didn‘t visit North Gaulton Castle however it would be worth considering another time. The coastal route just follows the contours of the coastline and may be unmarked so care would be required.
Had we not been planning to visit a number of places on the day we’d possibly have spent more time at Yesnaby and the surrounds than we actually did. It’s probably about 15 minutes walk each way from the parking area and although not as huge as The Old Man of Hoy the logistics of getting here are considerably easier.
Written June 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’m assuming I can get a taxi from Kirkwall to the cliffs but does anyone know how to get back? Are taxis in the area or can I call one?
Written July 8, 2024
Hi All, Google maps is showing Yesnaby Cliffs (near a car park) but also Yesnaby Castle Sea Stack. Could you please advise what I should use in the google navigation in order to see the amazing cliffs Planning April 2021
Written May 4, 2020
We are going to Ornkey this September.
How difficult is the Yesaby walk? Can people in 70's with no the t greaestt mobility cope with any part of it?
Would love to see the castle!
Thanks.
Wendy
Written March 22, 2019
I think you should be fine. Just take your time. I think it wasn’t that close to the edge, but of course be careful on windy days. Hope you have a clean day so that you can see Hoy and The Old Man
Written March 24, 2019
Yasmin A
Boston, Massachusetts
Hi, yasminali1108. What would you like to know about this attraction? I am on a cruise and have some free time from 8 am to 12 noon and want to see the cliffs. I want a tour so they bring us to the cliff and back to the boat within 4 hours.
What tour do you suggest
Written May 15, 2018
Has anyone used WAZE to navigate around Stromness and the island?
Written March 22, 2018
Hi - we are going to be in Stromness for a day end of this month and I really want to visit Yesnaby. we don't have a car , so does anyone know how we can get around? has anyone taken a public transport or tour we can join to this place?
Any tips would be helpful!! Thanks !
Written June 19, 2016
There is no public transport to Yesnaby cliffs. A taxi from Stromness would be an option or alternative is a day hire of local tour guides e.g. See Orkney. Stromness is a lovely quaint town with a variety of shops & the museum. There is a tour around the WW2 gun battery at the end of the town & a lovely walk along the side of the golf course, enough to fill a day. Ask at the tourist information at the bus station for maps etc
Written June 19, 2016
I can't really tell where the car park is for viewing the cliffs. Any suggestions on how to get there? Google maps is NO help!
Written June 8, 2016
Yesnaby is 6.1 miles & 11 mins driving north-westwards from Stromness.
Follow these directions:-
From Stromness, follow the A965 northwards for 0.8 mile
After approx. 6 miles, turn left onto A967
Continue straight onto B9056
Then, after 0.3 mile, Turn left onto Yesnaby Rd (road sign to 'Yesnaby').
Follow for 1.8 miles
Yesnaby Road, Stromness KW16 3LP
Written June 9, 2016
Saher H
Brampton, Canada
Are the Yesnaby cliffs free to roam around or they have an entry ticket policy?
Written May 14, 2016
Absolutely free. A great place to cycle to, then walk as far as you like.
Turn south for Yesnaby Castle. North will eventually take you to Skara Brae.
Written May 26, 2016
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