In Westray
- General provisions including fresh Westray bread and biscuits can be bought at the two shops in Pierowall village and at Skelwick in the south east of the island
- These shops are open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m (Tullochs to 9:00 p.m) and Sunday (Summer only) from 2.00 pm. to 4.30 pm.
- Buy fresh fish from Pierowall Fish, crabmeat from Westray Processors or approach the creel boats for fresh crabs as they arrive home in the evening at Gill Pier.
- Take-away fish and chips and various specials are available from JACKS at Broughton in Pierowall on Wednesday and Saturday evenings 5PM – 9PM.
- Take-away meals from the Pierowall Hotel
- Cups of tea and coffee can be purchased throughout the day at both hotels, the Haff Yok Cafe, and the Wheeling Steen Gallery during opening hours
- Wine & Spirits can be bought from the Pierowall Hotel, Cleaton House Hotel and Hume Sweet Hume.
- The Bottle bank is across the road from the graveyard and behind the Fire Station.
- Petrol and diesel can be bought from WI Rendall in Pierowall.
- The Post office is located in JC Tulloch’s shop in Pierowall. Opening times are 9:00 – 1:00pm and 2:00 – 5.30pm Mon, Wed – Fri and 9:00 – 1:00pm on Tues and Sat.
- The Sub Post Office is at Peter Miller’s shop in the south east of the island. Opening times: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9:00 – 1:00pm and Wed 9:00 – 11:00am. Closed Saturday.
- Puffins are a special visitor attraction on Westray. They arrive to nest in late April and usually leave at the end of July. Greatest numbers can be seen mid-afternoon and evening at Noup Head Lighthouse and the Castle o’ Burrian.
- Bike / Car hire from Sand O’Gill (tel: 01857 677374) and bike hire from Twiness (tel. 01857 677319). Bike hire is also available from Westraak (tel: 01857 677 777)
- Rubbish collection is on Tuesdays. One week is for black bags and the next week is for recycled glass, paper, plastic bottles and cans (separate coloured bags are provided).
- Sunday morning Kirk services usually start at 11:30am. See notices in shop windows to check worship times. United services on 3 Sundays each month.
- Westray and Papa Westray Quaker Meeting: Meetings in Friends homes, children welcome. Contact Sandy 01857 677 482
- The swimming pool at the school can be hired for £15/hour with a life guard, excellent for wet days.
The pool is also open for pre-school swimming on Saturday mornings for £1.20 for parent and toddler. - Mobile phone users should note that reception can be quite poor in Westray, with only Vodafone and O2 providing coverage.
- There is a Doctors Surgery at Gill Pier, Pierowall, serving both Westray & Papa Westray. See the Westray Surgery website for details of services and surgery times.
In Papa Westray
The shop at Beltane House can provide most food, wines and spirits and necessary household provisions that you might require. Locally produced fruit and vegetables are also available in season. Fresh fruit and other food supplies come by boat on Tuesdays and Fridays. Fresh bread is sent over by boat from Westray on Wednesdays.
- Come by plane with Loganair or by boat with Orkney Ferries.
- The Papay Community Cooperative Shop at Beltane House provides most food, drink and household provisions, including fresh milk, fruit, bread and other supplies. Petrol and diesel can be bought from the shop, and binoculars can be hired. The shop is open from 10am – 12pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 3 – 5pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 6 – 7pm on Saturday. (Phone 644 321)
- The Papa Westray Hostel at Beltane House provides quality hostel accommodation with en-suite private rooms, kitchens, sun lounge and dining / function room. Self-service tea/coffee and snacks / homebakes are available and there is a weekly pub night on Saturday evenings from 9pm. Look out for local events usually held at Beltane including dances and cinema screenings on the Papay Facebook page. (Phone 644 321)
- Self-catering is available at Holm View (phone 644 211) and Peatwell (phone 644 353).
- The Post Office at Daybreak is open from 2.00 to 4.00 pm on weekdays. The island Craft Shop is also at Daybreak and is nearly always open. (Phone 644 275)
- Papay’s Peedie Tours provide a guided tour around the island’s many attractions on Wednesdays and Saturdays; lunch and tea/coffee are included. (Phone 644 321)
- Errival Tours provide guided tours of Papay (Phone 644 378)
- Access is free to all historical sites, including the Knap of Howar, St Boniface Kirk and St Tredwell’s Chapel.
- The island is rich in birdlife; listen out for calling corncrakes. The North Hill has puffins, skuas, arctic terns and other birds and is famous for Scottish primrose; guided tours by the RSPB Warden are on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. (Phone 644 240)
- There is a coastal walk all round the island, with stiles.
- The Bothy Museum, located at Holland Farm, is always open.
- Holm of Papay trips may be arranged. (Phone 0776 4569790)
- Recycling centre at the new pier; rubbish collected on Thursdays.
- There are Sunday services at St Ann’s Kirk (Church of Scotland) at 2.00 pm and at the Gospel Hall at 6.00 pm; summer evening services at St Boniface Kirk are on Wednesdays at 7.30 pm.
- Coffee Mornings are held in the community room, St Ann’s Kirk, from 10.30 to 11.45 on Wednesdays. All are welcome.
- Recycled by Designtm Workshop & Gallery. Unique & handmade designs in recycled, fellted, woollen knitwear. Find us at the far north end of the island next to the RSPB reserve. Open Mon – Sat (Phone644245) Online store www.recycled bydesign.com
- Mobile phone users should note that reception can be quite poor in Papa Westray, with only Vodafone and O2 providing coverage.
- Saturday Pub, the bar cupboard is opened at Papa Westray Hostel, Beltane House on Saturday nights from 9pm. Friendly atmosphere, often with live local music.
- Papay Co-op Shop also sells locally produced prints and cards by ‘The Waterline’, ’Tidal Treasures’ jewellery, Holmie wool, knitted scarves and crafts, Papa Westray books & publications.
- Papay Gyro Nights Art Festival takes place around the first full moon of February, an international contemporary art festival based around the ancient Papay tradition of the ‘Night of the Gyros’, featuring experimental film, video and visual art, performance, music and architecture. www.papaygyronights.papawestray.org
- Papey Listskjul (Papay Arts Centre) is a not-for-profit art project developing exhibitions, concerts and art events in unique island settings. Events advertised or open by appointment. www.landart.papawestray.org
