Marwick Head rises as a dramatic headland on Orkney’s west coast, crowned by the striking Kitchener Memorial, a 48‑ft stone tower. The monument stands in tribute to Lord Kitchener and the crew of HMS Hampshire, lost when their ship struck a mine off Marwick in June 1916. A curved memorial wall beside it bears the names of those lost, creating a poignant focal point above the spectacular sea cliffs.

Visitors can park either at Marwick Bay or at a small parking area near Cumlaquoy, from which a steep but accessible footpath winds up to the clifftop. Alternatively, a longer but gentler walk begins from Marwick Bay, passing along coastal turf paths that offer panoramic views of the Atlantic and Orkney’s layered sandstone geology.

At the top, the sheer 90 m cliffs are home to a bustling cliff‑nesting seabird colony. From April through to July, you’ll see fulmars performing graceful aerobatics just metres above the edge, alongside guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and the occasional puffin bobbing near ledge burrows. On clear days, the distant silhouette of Hoy’s Old Man can be seen beyond the swirling seabirds and crashing waves.