Vinquoy Hill and Noup Hill Loop

This easy loop on Eday in Orkney covers about 9.4 km / 5.8 miles with only around 100 m / 330 ft of ascent, but it feels far richer than the numbers suggest. The route mixes quiet single-track road, grassy paths, rough pasture, heath, peat-cut ground, and a breezy coastal section, linking some of the island’s most memorable archaeology with wide views over Calf Sound, the Calf of Eday, Sanday, Faray, and Westray. Although the climbing is gentle, the terrain can be wet and uneven, so it is best thought of as an easy walk for fit walkers who are comfortable on open ground and can cope with boggy patches and faint paths in poor visibility. (orkney.com)

The walk starts near the Eday Community Shop, Millbounds, Eday, Orkney, which is the route’s signed starting point on Orkney’s published heritage walk. From there, the first stretch follows the public road northeast past Mill Loch bird hide, then turns onto a grassy path toward the Stone of Setter, one of Orkney’s tallest standing stones at over 15 feet high. This opening section is straightforward and gives a gentle introduction before the route leaves the road and begins crossing open ground. (orkney.com)

Terrain and route character

After the standing stone, the route heads across short heath and rough grazing, with waymarkers leading past the remains of Braeside Chambered Cairn and Huntersquoy Chambered Cairn before climbing onto Vinquoy Hill. The ascent is modest rather than strenuous, and because the high point is only around 74–76 m / 243–249 ft, the hill never feels mountainous, but the exposure to wind can make it feel more serious than the elevation suggests. Expect soft ground after rain, especially on the section between Vinquoy Hill and Noup Hill, where peat and boggy patches are specifically noted. Waterproof footwear is a very good idea even in settled weather. (orkney.com)

Navigation is usually uncomplicated in clear conditions because there are gates, posts, dykes, a peat track, and obvious coastal reference points, but this is still open hill ground. In mist, the broad ridges and peat-cut areas can become less distinct, so carrying the route in HiiKER is sensible. The coastal section also needs care: the recommended line stays on the landward side of the fence because the seaward side is tussocky, can hide old wire, and the cliffs are described as unstable. (orkney.com)

Landmarks, views, and historical interest

The standout historical feature is Vinquoy Chambered Cairn, a Neolithic tomb just below the summit area of Vinquoy Hill. It was first opened in 1857 and later cleared and recorded again in 1985. The cairn has an entrance passage leading to a central chamber with four side cells, and it is built from Eday’s distinctive red sandstone. Its hilltop position is part of its appeal: the site commands remarkable views across the northern isles, which helps explain why it feels so prominent in the landscape. (archaeologyorkney.com)

The route then continues over the ridge and toward the low ground between Vinquoy Hill and Noup Hill, before swinging northwest on a peat track to the coast and then northeast to Red Head, where there is a trig point. This is one of the best scenic moments on the loop. From here, the outlook across to the Grey Head on the Calf of Eday is especially striking, with sea cliffs, open water, and the sense of being on the edge of Orkney’s outer islands. (orkney.com)

On the return leg, the route drops back toward Carrick House. This area carries one of Eday’s best-known stories: John Gow, the so-called pirate Gow, was captured here, held at Carrick House, and later taken to London, where he was hanged in 1725. His story later appeared in writing by Daniel Defoe and inspired Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Pirate. That gives the final part of the walk an added layer of atmosphere, especially after the prehistoric cairns earlier in the route.