Churchill Barrier No 3 and No 4 provide Burray Village with two distinct connections, while Core Path B6 and B5 offer different ways to choose a route. At No 4 Barrier, dunes and a beach add natural attractions. History and crafts round out the picture, from 19th-century herring fishing to individually made mirrors. Burray brings together built, natural and economic themes, each offering a different perspective on the place.
Understanding the Churchill Barriers
The numbers help distinguish the connections: Churchill Barrier No 3 connects Glim Holm with Burray, while No 4 connects Burray with South Ronaldsay. No 4 was built between 1940 and 1944 as part of the wartime causeways constructed to protect the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow. Four barriers belonged to this group in total. At No 4, you can trace both the connection to South Ronaldsay and the protective role of the group of barriers during wartime. The local connections and historical purpose complement each other, though the two barriers do not share the same story.
Paths with different points of reference
Core Path B6 is a walk of about 0.8 miles in Burray Village, while Core Path B5 leads from the village to the west of the island. When comparing them, an approximate distance is set against a directional description. If you want to choose a path by its length, B6 provides a guide; if direction matters to you, B5 heads west. This lets you choose a path based on the feature that is more useful for your plans.
Nature at No 4 Barrier
The dunes at No 4 Barrier are among the few places where the Dark Green Fritillary may be seen; sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed. The beach at No 4 Barrier is home to Orkney’s only breeding colony of the rare Little Tern, although its breeding status may change over time. The dunes and beach therefore represent two different aspects of nature: a possible butterfly sighting and the breeding colony of a rare tern. Both natural features are at No 4 Barrier, but they concern different places and species.
History and crafts
Until the mid-19th century, herring fishing was a very important industry in Burray. This adds another perspective to the history of the Churchill Barriers: here the focus is on economic life, while the barriers protected the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow. The different themes can thus be distinguished by both their period and subject matter.
The mirrors made by Leo Kerr Mirrors are crafted individually from Scottish woods selected from sustainably managed timber sources. As a craft, this bespoke production shifts the focus from major structures to material selection and craftsmanship. Scale and production methods therefore sit alongside the historical themes of the place.
Visitor information
The Orkney Fossil & Heritage Centre is wheelchair accessible via the Heritage Tearoom; an accessible toilet is located beside the main entrance. There are public toilets at Burray Pier. Check this visitor information before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Finstown, Tingwall, Westray, Orkney, Orphir, Hackness, Stromness, Kirkwall
For the broader travel overview: Orkney Islands.
