The island of Sanday is the largest of the North Isles of Orkney. As its name suggests, its most outstanding feature is the many sweeping bays with their white sandy beaches. The island, with over five hundred inhabitants, lies nearly twenty-five miles north-east of Kirkwall and is about sixteen miles long.
Tranquility
Sanday is a quiet place that rewards a little lingering. The weather can be volatile but the island takes on a different guise with each shift of the light; the dramatic cloudscapes, the turn of the tides – the view is ever-changing. It is not surprising that Sanday has a number of working artists resident on the island.
There may not be much entertainment of a commercial nature but you can fish for trout in lochs, or idly beachcomb along deserted beaches. You can visit archaeological sites, or watch seals basking on the rocks offshore. You might even spot the shy otter. You can watch fishing boats at Kettletoft, or farmers tending their fields in the long, light days of summer. You may come across tangles being gathered, or simply gather yourself in one of the bars among the island’s friendly locals.
The island has a swimming pool and Community Centre, adjoining the school, and a nine-hole golf course. In summer children and adults can participate in games and pastimes during the day at the Centre, or perhaps attend a dance in the evening.
If you visit us, Sanday has two hotels and several bed and breakfast and self-catering facilities. In all of them you will find a warm welcome and the chance to sample an island way of life that you will remember for a long time.
More information about activities, pastimes, and places to stay or visit can be found on our site.
