TAKE IT SLOW IN SANDAY
Known for its stunning beaches, it is not difficult to guess where the island of Sanday gets its name from. With a thriving offering for both locals and visitors in terms of sightseeing, eating, and accommodation, the community there has taken an interesting — and award-winning — tack when attracting folk to these beautiful shores.
A quick search online will bring up a startling statement: “Sanday, where there’s nothing to do.”
That’s right — nothing to do but relax, reset and rejuvenate, as you take in the irresistibly tranquil landscape of one of Orkney’s most northerly isles.
Why not build a sandcastle on gleaming sands; discover a shipwreck at Lopness Bay; or enjoy a fish supper on the end of the pier with a takeout from one of the island’s hotels?
A fisherman’s paradise awaits, as Sanday’s Bea Loch, North Loch and Roos Loch boast plentiful freshwater trout.
Take full advantage of Orkney’s distinctive climate by flying a kite in fair winds, dipping your toes in refreshingly cool waves, and going for a midnight stroll in the height of summer.
Away from the hussle and bustle, but complete with all the amenities you need for a quiet break away, Sanday is the ideal place to take it slow. Who needs Domino’s and Netflix when you can put your feet up with a slice of the UK’S most northerly wood-fired pizza, and gaze out the window to a stunning panorama of sand, sloping hills, sea and sky? If you fancy a taste of something distinctively Orcadian, fresh seafood is usually available during a stay in Sanday.
In the summer, enjoy the delights of a Sanday Soulka — a weekend of live music and merriment. In the winter, witness the glory of the Northern Lights dancing through the dark night sky. All year round, the island is a uniquely Orcadian experience.
Sandy is known as the “Jewel of the Isles” because of the richness of its archaeology — crawl into the high central chamber of a megalithic tomb dating back 5,000 years at Quoyness Chambered Cairn, to take an adventure back in time.
Stroll along Sanday’s unspoilt beaches, remark at the abundance of birds, seals and other wildlife, the glittering seas, the clear air and the spectacular skies, by day and night.
As winter beckons, you can watch the resident grey seals pup from the comfort of your armchair, via the Sanday sealcam. There are also plenty of otters in Sanday (try glimpsing them at Otterswick Bay), although you do have to be patient to find them.
There are extensive prehistoric landscapes, such as Tofts Ness and Spurness, with their mounds and treb dykes, as well as individual farm mounds where layers of occupation and sand have built up over millennia; there are traditional stonebuilt croft houses, which dot the landscape, and grander buildings, such as the 1860s Stove farm building complex, which is an early example of industrialised farming, with its large ruined byre and red-brick chimney, which served a steamdriven threshing mill.
Off the northeast coast of the island are two small, uninhabited isles called the Holms of Ire. Adventure to a “desert island” at low tide — but make sure to check the tide times so as not to get stranded!
A stroll into Lady Village brings another chance to delve into the island’s history, at the Sanday Heritage Centre. You can also pick up any supplies you might need for a cosy night in, or for your next ramble round the island, at the community shop.
In Kettletoft, you’ll find the Sanday Community Craft Hub, chock full of handmade treasures — something hand-knitted with love will always make an excellent gift, or a much-loved keepsake that could well come in handy if the wind gets up. Grab a warm bite to eat at one of the island’s two hotels.
Sanday is accessible by plane and by ferry, and a community-owned bus service can pick you up from the ferry and drop you at your destination.