201. Doun Helzie

My day on Sanday cannot have gone any better. Well, perhaps I could do with a few more hours as there are beaches I haven’t visited (Otterswick, Sandquoy, Saville), but I am so pleased to have come here on what is forecast to be the only nice day of the week. It was miserable when I arrived on Orkney the day before and an impending 48-hour storm has led me to cancel the next two days of my trip (including visits to North Ronaldsay and Stronsay), so to get this beautiful sunny day on this island of beaches has been magical. There is one last beach I know I have to visit and it is the very remote Doun Helzie (known locally as Doon Helly). Parking near the settlement of Stove, a track leads towards the cliffs, from where I pick up a meandering overgrown path along the top of the cliff to this stunning hidden beach. At first sight, a route down to the sand seems unlikely but a way soon becomes apparent. When the tide is out you can explore the caves below the high cliffs here but my choice is limited on this occasion. It’s a great place to enjoy the evening sunshine. Once back at the car, it’s a short walk down to Bay of Stove, but the tide has almost covered the beach here and I decide not to include it in the project until next time. And that’s it, an unforgettable day on a wonderful island.