Westray (/ˈwɛstriː/, Scots: Westree) is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a usual resident population of just under 600 people.
Its main village is Pierowall, with a heritage centre, the 15th-century Lady Kirk church and pedestrian ferry service to nearby Papa Westray island.
The underlying geology is Rousay-type Middle Old Red Sandstone, the flagstones of which make excellent building materials.
Ongoing excavations have revealed over 30 buildings of Neolithic and Bronze Age date,[11] the earliest of which overlaps in use with the Knap of Howar on the neighbouring island of Papa Westray (known as Papay to the locals), the oldest standing structure in NW Europe.
[16] Several of the figurines and other artefacts from the site can be seen at Westray Heritage Centre and the excavation is open seasonally (free of charge).
[9] Largescale excavations of Norse period sites have been undertaken at Tuquoy, Quoygrew and Langskaill in recent years.
[23] The castle was commissioned in the 1560s by Gilbert Balfour, who probably played the leading role in the murder of Lord Darnley, consort of Mary, Queen of Scots.
It is notable for an unusually large spiral staircase, "second only to Fyvie Castle, while its triple tiers of gunloops are without parallel in Scotland, if not Europe".
[5] The cliffs along the western and northern coasts of the island, along with adjoining areas of grassland and maritime sedge-heath, have been designated as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by BirdLife International because they support breeding seabirds and waterbirds, while the sandy bays of the southern coast support wintering waders.
It marries well with the local range of Westray chutneys (all Fairtrade) and bakery goods (including oatcakes).