Latest news from the Noltland Dig

A new small figurine (pictured right) has been found at the Links of Noltland dig. Read about it on the Historic Scotland web site here.

Follow the dig blog here.

Watch Australian video journalist Nick Lazaredes's TV report on Orkney's disappearing coastal heritage sites, including an interview with Notland site archaeologist Graeme Wilson. Click HERE.

Westray's shoreline produces wonderful fossils

Our thanks to an observant John Fordyce for his photographs.

The Westray Wife comes home to a huge welcome

Some of our younger residents

The Westray Wife (The Orkney Venus) was found at the Links of Noltland dig last year.  Historic Scotland produced a wonderful exhibition centred on this totally unique figurine, with its first venue being Edinburgh Castle. We are proud to have it now displayed in the Heritage Centre for all this summer and we look forward to welcoming you here.

The photographs show the island residents taking their first look at her on the opening day of the exhibition, Friday May 14th.

The diggers are back on the island now and they always welcome visitors to the site and will exlain to you what they are doing. This is an opportunity to experience Historic Scotland at its best, working to uncover our island's (and Nation's) heritage.

New signs marking out directions to the site have been erected (see pictured below). Please follow them, they direct you to the car park. Thank you.

Coming from the village, pass the school on the right, keep going and turn right at the top of the road, follow the road a short way and the road turns sharp left. The first sign you see (above right) indicates 1 mile. Proceed past Noltland Castle and the second sign is at the next turn of the road indicating 500 yards (above left). Take the track following the direction of the arrow, heading towards the sea and Grobust beach. The car park is at the end of the track.

Click to go directly to the dig blog.

More photographs appear below.

Some of our older islanders resident at Kalisgarth, our island care home.

The picture is bigger than the real thing!

These are our models of peedie Westray bairns

Our treasurer and family (thinks ...I wonder what it's really worth!!!)

This solid silver “Westray Wife” was created in Caithness by Patricia Niemann and given to Westray Heritage Trust by Frank Bradford. In a silent auction the top bid was made by Stella Harcus, seen here receiving the jewellery from Angela Muir.

SUMMER OPENING

The Heritage Centre is now open for the summer season.

The Tuquoy Whale

Two years ago a whale was washed up on the shores of Tuquoy Bay. Thanks to Neil Geddes-Ward who was on hand to take a short video, we can now see what the whale looked like. After it beached and died on the sands, the weather and wildlife stripped the carcase clean and now we have the bones on view in the garden of the Heritage Centre for all to see. Go to the Tuquoy Whale section in the navigation pane on the left, or click HERE to go to the page.

 The UF Kirk in Westray has now closed and to commemorate the history of the building and its congregation, the Westray Heritage Trust has commissioned a book. Sized B5 ( a little larger than A5) and 120 pages including 8 pages in colour, it is on sale now. If you would like to purchase a copy, please email us: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The price is £12 plus £2 postage and packing.

Thank you for visiting our web site, we hope you enjoy the experience. There is lots of information here, and we are continually updating the site in order to keep everybody informed.

Use the menu bar to the left to navigate your way around.

We are extremely grateful for the generosity, help and advice given to us by the Team at Historic Scotland and we look forward to working with them in the coming years.

Please email us if you have any questions about Westray's heritage and we will answer you as accurately as we can.

We are open from May to September

Sunday 1:30 –5:30pm,

Monday 11:30 – 5:00pm

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 - 1200 and 2:00 – 5:00pm.

Admission charges: Adults –  £2.50, Concessions – £2.00, Children and students – 50p