Papa Westray
Papa Westray, or 'Papay', as it is known locally, has one of Orkney's best-preserved Neolithic settlements, and a large nesting seabird population.
Just across Papa Sound from Westray in the north of the Orkney Islands. Papay was once a medieval pilgrimage centre, focused on a chapel dedicated to St Tredwell, which is now just a pile of rubble on a promontory on the loch of the same name just inland from the ferry terminal. Holland House, occupying the high central point of the island, was once seat of the local lairds, the Traill family, who ruled over Papay for three centuries. There is a small museum here, filled with bygone bits and bobs.
Papay's prime prehistoric site, the Knap of Howar, stands overlooking Westray. Dating from around 3500 BC, this Neolithic farm building makes a fair claim to being the oldest-standing house in Europe. Half a mile to the north is St Boniface Kirk, a pre-Reformation church that has recently been restored. In the surrounding graveyard there's a Viking hogback grave, decorated with carvings in imitation of the wooden shingles on the roof of a Viking longhouse.
The northern tip of the island around North Hill (157ft) is now an RSPB reserve, protecting one of the largest arctic tern colonies in Europe, and nesting arctic skuas, razorbills, guillemots, fulmar, kittiwakes and puffins. You can also view the rare Scottish primrose, which flowers in May and from July to late September.
