Skara to Stromness via Brough of Bigging Fort, Black Craig and Point of Ness

This easy-going coastal walk links the prehistoric shoreline around Skara Brae / Bay of Skaill with the harbour town of Stromness, following Orkney’s west coast past cliff-top headlands, old defensive sites and broad sea views for most of the day. Expect roughly 20 km / 12.5 miles with about 200 m / 656 ft of ascent overall, spread in gentle rises rather than one sustained climb. The route is generally straightforward in dry, calm weather, but it still feels exposed in places because much of it runs close to open cliff edges, rough pasture and wave-battered coastline. Sources describing this west coast walk note the dramatic coastal scenery, the section past the Brough of Bigging, and the descent from Black Craig before the final approach into Stromness. (orkney.com)

The start is best understood as being near Skara Brae and Skaill House, Bay of Skaill, Sandwick, Orkney, rather than an unnamed trailhead. That is the most recognizable access point for the Skara end of the walk and the nearest major landmark for planning transport, parking and meeting points. The finish is in Stromness, on Orkney Mainland’s southwest coast. Skara Brae lies about 12 km / 7.4 miles from Stromness by road, which helps if you are arranging a car shuttle or taxi. (visitscotland.com)

The terrain is a mix of grassy coastal paths, faint trods through pasture, short road links, and uneven cliff-top walking. Underfoot, hikers should be ready for wet grass, muddy patches after rain, livestock fields, and occasional rough or eroded sections. This is not a mountain hike, so the low elevation gain keeps the effort moderate, but the route can feel longer than the numbers suggest if there is strong Atlantic wind. On Orkney’s west coast, weather exposure is often the main challenge rather than steepness. The route is usually most comfortable with waterproof layers, windproof clothing and footwear that can handle boggy ground and slick grass. For navigation, it is sensible to check the line carefully on HiiKER, especially where the path becomes faint across open ground or where multiple field-edge tracks appear. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

What the route feels like

From the Skara end, the walk begins with a strong sense of Orkney’s deep time. Skara Brae is one of Europe’s best-known Neolithic settlements, part of the wider archaeological landscape of Orkney’s west mainland. The site is internationally important for its preservation and for what it reveals about life here around 5,000 years ago. Walking away from it toward Stromness, the route feels like a journey through layers of history: Neolithic settlement, later coastal farming landscapes, Iron Age-style defensive headlands, and finally the seafaring character of Stromness itself. (visitscotland.com)

Soon after leaving the Bay of Skaill area, the coast becomes more rugged and open. The sea is almost always in view, and the line of travel alternates between broad grassy margins and more dramatic cliff-backed sections. The Brough of Bigging Fort is one of the standout landmarks. It sits on a striking promontory, and the surviving traces are subtle rather than monumental, so it helps to know in advance that you are looking at the remains of an ancient defended site shaped as much by the natural cliff edges as by human construction. It is an atmospheric place rather than a heavily interpreted one, and it gives the route one of its strongest historical moments. (themodernantiquarian.com)

Farther on, the route trends toward Black Craig, where the coastline feels bolder and more elevated. This is one of the more memorable stretches for views back along the coast and southward toward Stromness and Hoy. The descent from Black Craig is one of the points where extra care is worthwhile, particularly in wet or windy conditions, because the path can be uneven and the slope draws you down toward the road and lower coastal ground. (orkney.com)

Approaching Point of Ness, the walk gradually shifts from wild coastal scenery to the outskirts of Stromness. This section gives wide views over the water toward Hoy and introduces the maritime setting that defines the town. From there, the final stretch into Stromness is easier going and more settled in character, with roads and paths replacing the more remote feel of the earlier coast. Stromness itself is known for its winding streets and maritime history, so the finish has a very different atmosphere from the exposed shoreline where the day began. (walkhighlands.co.uk)