Castle o’ Burrian is actually a grassy sea stack off Westray’s southern coast, lovely and squat rather than towering, marked by hundreds of puffin burrows dug into its gentle slopes. Over two hundred puffins gather here between May and July, making the surrounding low cliffs and sea stack one of the easiest and most rewarding puffin spots in Orkney.

The site is reached from Rapness ferry port via a minor road. You can leave your car at a small parking area near an old stone mill ruin. From there, a short coastal walk of around 1.2 km takes you along grassy paths and occasional wooden boards to the cliffs and sea stack.

The geology here is sandstone and ancient sedimentary rock, eroded over millennia into cliffs, stacks, and hollows where seabirds nest. The low, gently sloping stack contrasts with sharper sea stacks elsewhere and allows observers to approach within just a few metres of puffin burrows. Nearby cliffs also host fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, and shags, creating a lively seabird tableau in summer months.

Whether you’re watching puffins diving and returning with fish or admiring the archaeological curiosity of the stack (its shape and position suggest a possible early chapel), the spot is compact and accessible. For those with time, the walk can continue on to Stanger Head and beyond, offering more scenic coastline with fewer people.