North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands

North Ronaldsay (Orkney Islands) Seaside, Coast and Beaches

North Ronaldsay is the most remote and northernmost island in Orkney. It is known for its unique seaweed eating sheep. They are confined to the shoreline by a tall dry-stone dyke, which completely encircles the 19 km island, forcing the sheep to stay on the shoreline.


Why not check beaches nearby as we have 18 beaches in Orkney Islands. You can even take a look at our list of Orkney Islands dog friendly beaches or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.

North Ronaldsay Orkney Islands Coast Map

North Ronaldsay Orkney Islands Coast Search Bar

Where would you like to go? Use our search bar to search across all our local listings, ideal for finding that nearest spot to visit:

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Want some ideas on where to visit?

Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, and places to stay and eat:

Old-Beacon-Lighthouse

Old Beacon Lighthouse

The Old Beacon is a lighthouse located at Dennis Head, in the northeast of North Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands. The lighthouse was built in 1789 by Thomas Smith and he was helped by his stepson Robert Stevenson, the lighthouse is an unpainted stone cylindrical tower at a height of 21 metres (69 ft). In 1809 it was decided that the North Ronaldsay Read more…
The-Standing-Stone

The Standing Stone

The Standing Stone is over 13 feet high and three feet wide, the stone tapers from its base, narrowing slightly towards the top. It has been suggested that this solitary monolith was once an outlier for a stone circle. Read more…
North-Ronaldsay-Lighthouse

North Ronaldsay Lighthouse

North Ronaldsay Lighthouse was built in 1852 just 43 years after the Old Beacon was decommissioned. The lighthouse lies at the north of the island at Point of Sinsoss and is Britain’s tallest land-based lighthouse tower at 43 metres (141 ft). The lighthouse is a brick cylindrical tower that is unpainted with two white stripes. The lighthouse visitor centre includes a Read more…
Broch-of-Burrian

Broch of Burrian

Broch of Burrian is an Iron Age broch located on the southern tip of North Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands. The broch has solid walls and an external diameter of 18 metres with the entrance being a passage on the southeast side, there is a small room on the northeast side. The broch is surrounded by outer defences consisting of Read more…
South-Bay-beach

South Bay Beach

South Bay Beach is a large sandy bay with white sand. The semi-feral flock of North Ronaldsay or Orkney sheep have evolved to live almost entirely on seaweed. They are confined to the shoreline by a 1.8 m (6 ft) tall drystane dyke, which completely encircles the island, forcing the sheep to stay on the shoreline. Read more…
North-Ronaldsay-Bird-Observatory

North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory

The North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory (NRBO) was established in 1987 to study and record the migrant birds that pass through Orkney’s most northerly island each year. The number and variety of birds that arrive here on migration in Spring and Autumn can be spectacular, and North Ronaldsay is well-known as one of the best birdwatching sites in the UK. The Read more…
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