Birsay Beach & Seal Pool
Nature Reserves, Country Parks & Beaches · Orkney Mainland, Hebrides, Orkney & Shetland
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🌳 Outdoor1–33–55–88–1212–16🆓 Free entry🏖 Beach🐐 AnimalsEducational
What’s there
- Free parking
- Picnic area
- Dogs welcome
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Birsay Beach sits on the north-west coast of Orkney Mainland, adjacent to the Brough of Birsay tidal island. The area features a sandy beach with extensive rock pools that are home to a thriving grey and common seal colony. At low tide, visitors can walk across the natural causeway to the Brough of Birsay, an uninhabited tidal island with remains of Pictish and Norse settlements and a modern lighthouse. The beach is known for its seal pool where seals can be spotted basking on the rocks. Rock pools revealed at low tide are perfect for curious kids to explore. The beach is free to access and open 24/7. Tide times should be checked before visiting as the causeway to the Brough is only accessible for around 2 hours either side of low tide.
Best visited at low tide when the causeway to the Brough of Birsay is accessible and rock pools are visible. Check tide times before visiting. The causeway is passable for approximately 2 hours either side of low tide. The Brough of Birsay archaeological site (Historic Environment Scotland) has seasonal opening hours.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
- Wellies
- Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
- Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
- Wet wipes
- Umbrella
- Small first aid kitPlasters solve more days out than anything else here.
- Spare carrier bagFor the wet things. There are always wet things.
- Car window sunshade
- Travel sickness bands
- Torch
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