📌 Marwick, Orkney Mainland
★★★
In 1916, the HMS Hampshire hit a mine offshore from Marwick Head, on the western side of Orkney Mainland. Only 12 of the 600 crew survived, and today the Kitchener Memorial stands in memory on the clifftop. In summer the atmospheric location is also home to thousands of seabirds, painting the black rock white with guano. May and June are probably the best months to visit, starting from the attractive Marwick Bay.
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Marwick Bay, minor road end 1 mi west of Marwick, Orkney Mainland
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: HY 229242
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 59.096761,-3.346837
🚌 Infrequent bus stops on B9056 (1 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 90 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: 🏖️ Marwick Bay; 🌊 RSPB Marwick Head; ✞ Kitchener Memorial
⬤ Easy | Turf paths, sometimes steep and near cliff edges; minor road from Mid Comloquoy.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – Kitchener Memorial and Marwick Head via coast path – Mid Comloquoy – north end of Marwick Bay – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Airborne puffins; fulmars and chicks; various other seabirds in small numbers.
Weather: Mostly sunny, but a strong northerly wind with temperatures only just into double figures.
July 2015
