Visiting and exploring Burray

contents: welcome | using this page | five things not to miss | archaeological sites | churches, chapels and churchyards | events | military sites | mills | museums | schools and halls | standing stones | viewpoints | walks

This page is currently in development

Welcome

Intro

To set the scene for your visit we have included a brief overview of the last 13,000 years of life on the island [see: A (very) brief history of Burray and South Ronaldsay].

Using this page

We have only given brief details about the various destinations, and have, thus, tried to include where you can find out more.

All the places mentioned here can be seen on the Open Street Map and you can click straight to them from this page.

For detailed directions to the places discussed here just right-click on your chosen destination on the map, then ‘directions to here’ and enter where you are. You can choose your mode of travel – car, bike or foot. If any are missing from the map please let us know and we will add them.

Five things not to miss in Burray

1. St Lawrence’s Church and Burial Ground

2. Brochs and Burray

3. Building the barriers

4. Fossils and heritage

5. Burray Walks

Archaeological sites

You can view an Ordnance Survey map which shows the position of excavations in Burray and South Ronaldsay on the Megalithic Portal – click here.

Each site listed here includes suggestions about what to look out for and a link to the Open Street Map to show how to reach them.

Churches and churchyards

There are a significant number of old chapels and churches dotted about Burray and South Ronaldsay. Some are in ruins, others converted to housing and various other uses, and several are just memories. From around 1440, the three main churches on the two islands were linked. St. Peter’s church in the north of St Ronaldsay was united to the church of Our Lady (St Mary’s in the south) and to St Lawrence (aka St. Laurence) in Burray.

Introduce Burray churches

St Lawrence’s Church, Ness Road, Southtown, Burray (KW17 2TA click for map). Also known as Old Burray Kirk, St Larence’s looks out to Kirk Tang and Holm Sound. A path from the car park takes you along the coast to Bu Sand. The church appears to have been on this site since the 11th century and was probably a small private church linked to the Earldom estate at The Bu. In the 12th century, it looks to have been upgraded to a parish church. It was rebuilt in 1621 by the Laird William Stewart of Mains. There were various problems with the building from around 1800. The roof was repaired in 1852, but problems with the building continued. The last service was held in 1874. The Church of Scotland had decided to build a new church near Echna Brock (see below). While the old parish church is roofless, it remains open to the public as a reflection space. Next to it is Burray’s war memorial and it is surrounded on three sides by a burial ground. For more information go to Canmore. There is an information board within the ruins.

St Lawrence’s Church II, Burray (KW17 2TA click for map). This building has now been replaced by an industrial shed. It was only in use for just over fifty years. It was built to the same measurements as the old Burray Kirk, so they could use the old church’s roof. The Manse, however, remains and has been recently renovated. Now known as Summerton, it is next door on Bu Road. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, St Lawrence’s was separated from St Peter’s.

Burray United Succession Church / Burray United Presbyterian Church / United Free Church of Scotland / Church of Scotland, Water Road, Burray (KW17 2SS click for map). The Manse was close by. The United Succession Church existed until 1847 It then merged with the Presbytery of Relief to form the United Presbyterian Church – which in turn joined the United Free Church of Scotland in 1900. In 1929 it united with the Church of Scotland and shortly the two Burray congregations joined together and the building overlooking Echna Brock was vacated. 

Burray Baptist Chapel, Bu Road, Bu, Burray (KW17 2SZ – click for map). The Chapel was established by Alexander Kennedy. He had moved to Burray from Stroma (an island south of South Ronaldsay) in 1802 and set up a Baptist meeting for worship in his home. In 1840 the meeting moved from the house to the local public schoolroom. In 1848 they gained their own Chapel opposite the schoolhouse and in 1862 a manse was built next door. With the decline of the fishing industry in Burray attendance dropped. The Chapel closed in 1966.

Events

South Ronaldsay and Burray Agricultural Show, a popular event for local farmers, communities and families – https://www.orkney.com/events/south-ronaldsay-and-burray-agricultural-show and https://www.facebook.com/SouthRonaldsayBurrayAgriculturalSociety. 

 

Military sites

 

 

Mills – water and wind

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_watermills_in_the_United_Kingdom

Mills of Britain

Museums   

Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre, Viewforth Road, Burray, (KW17 2SY). Open in the summer months, the Centre offers a fascinating collection of fossils plus a geological display that explores the formation of the islands. Click to see more.

Schools and halls

 

Standing stones

 

 

Viewpoints

 

Walks

Visit Walkhighlands for details of five walks on Burray and South Ronaldsay

 

Hunda Island from Burray village – this is an interesting walk that leads to what is sometimes called the Fifth Barrier. Built during the Second World War, it is a causeway between Burray and Hunda, which was constructed to stop enemy surface craft from slipping further into Scapa Flow. Hunda is old Norse for ‘dog island’ and is used for sheep and goats. The walk takes around 4 hours and is listed as a round trip of approximately 13km. [Walkhighlands – circular walk]

 

updated: February 22, 2025