Things to do on Papa Westray
It is possible to walk virtually anywhere on Papay
- make sure you have your binoculars and camera with you as you never know
what interesting wildlife you may encounter.
and loch
nature reserve and Fowl Craig
The Water mill
This was
last used for milling oats about 100 years ago. Remains of the undershot
wheel and millstones can still be seen.
Holland Farm and Bothy museum
Formerly the home of the Traill family, owners of the isle for three centuries, it is perhaps the most extensive traditional steading in Orkney. It features a doo¹cot, mill tramp and corn drying kiln. Step back in time when you visit the Bothy.
The Old Pier
The steamer called here once a week before the New Pier was built in 1970. Years before it was used by local traders using sailing
such as the . Nowadays it is used by local lobster boats and for access to the Holm of Papay.
Walking and sports
Visit the sandy
beaches of Bothican or North and South Wick.
Anywhere along the shore you can see seals and a huge variety of birds. At Cott and Nouster you can
find excellent examples of boat nausts.
Recreation
Community Coffee Morning
A community coffee morning is held every Wednesday from 10.30-11.45am in St Ann's Community Room, providing a
great opportunity to enjoy fresh coffee, tea and homebakes for locals and visitors alike.
Saturday Pub
A weekly 'pub' is available at Beltane House on a Saturday night from 9pm offering locals and
visitors a chance to meet socially. Bar meals are generally available. Check the shop notice board for details.
Local Events
Events such as dances, games nights and film nights are held throughout the year and information
on local events can be found on the page, at the Papay Community Shop or by contacting Tim on (+44) 01857 644224,
e-mail tim@timdodman.co.uk. The Papay Fun Weekend is held during the third weekend in July and includes a
barbeque and ceilidh, family games and races, a traditional dance and a 'carty race' down the New Hooses Brae
(feel free to bring along your own homemade carty for the race!). With everything from sand sculpture competitions
to tug o' war it makes for a great weekend of fun.
See our page and the
for more
details.
Arts and Heritage
Papay Gyro Nights Art Festival is an international contemporary art festival taking place in Papay on the first full moon
in February and based on the ancient Papay tradition, The Night of The Gyros. In 2012, beside the Festival at home, Papay Gyro Nights
touring programme was presented in Iceland, Norway, Hong Kong and Serbia. See
for more details.
(Papay Arts Centre) is organising a programme of art exhibitions, concerts and talks in Papay and also artists'
residencies and commissions as a way of exploration and documentation of the island’s unique landscape and heritage.
Open by appointment, or when events advertised.
Play Areas, Bike Track and Golf
As well as great beaches and wide open spaces, Papay has a variety of other play opportunities for
families and children of all ages. The well-equipped play area next to the community school offers adventure play
for children from 1-14 years with swings, climbing frame, spiral slide, roundabout and playhouse.
For those visiting with bikes, the Cyclogym located in front of the school and kirk provides a
challenging bike course for cyclists of all ages including a pyramid, a rattle bridge and a see-saw ramp, to test
your cycling skills. Out of school hours, the football pitch is a popular choice for locals and there is always a
ball left by the goalposts for a spontaneous kick-around.
Papay also has a 9-hole golf course near the new pier at Moclett and you can either play using
your own clubs, teeing-off from the first hole by the club house (green wooden hut on the links) or contact
Alistair on tel: (+44) 01857 644238 to hire clubs.
Religious services
St Anne's Church -
St Anne's Kirk has the distinction of
being the first kirk in Scotland to be given by the proprietor to
the Free Church following the Disruption of 1843. The laird, George
Traill, funded the new kirk and it was handed over to the General Assembly
of the Free Church in 1844 by his daughter Anne. Thus the church,
unusually, was dedicated to Anne Traill, not Saint Anne.
In 1929 the congregations of St Boniface
and St Anne's joined, St Anne's becoming the Parish Kirk attended
by the minister for Westray and Papa Westray. Services are held weekly.
All welcome.
Gospel Hall - Holds weekly Sunday services. All
welcome.
