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The Stephen’s Gate Walk
This walk has a number of alternative routes and can be between 2.6km and 5km
long. The walk has two starting locations. Here we begin at the track adjacent to
the community shop. The route passes old peat cuttings on the Hill of Bomo to
your left. Peat was cut commercially here until the late 20th Century.
Go over the stile at the end of the track and head south east towards the coast.
To the right are the remains of the croft ‘Beggshouse’, notice the use of an old
boat to roof the outhouse.
On reaching the coast you will see a small sea stack. The path heads northward
via sheltered bays and many interesting geological formations.
Thrift, Scurvy Grass, Spring Squill and Sheeps Bit all grow along the grassy cliffs.
The vegetation changes to heath away from the coast so Ling, Bell Heather, Cross
Leaved heath, Tormentil and Lousewort are interspersed with the coastal flora.
Along this stretch of coast Fulmar and Shag breed in large numbers while further
north, Razorbill, Guillemot and Puffin are also seen.
The residue from old peat stacks can be seen along the walk, appearing as low
grassy mounds with exposed edges of crumbling peat. These long pre-date the
recent commercial endeavours at Bomo.
The remains of the croft Mugeo lie on the hillside above. Here you can see a
circular grain drying kiln with unusual corbelling at the base of the walls.
At this point there is an option to take the shorter, circular route over the heath
and back to the shop.
A little further north a spectacular display of Devil’s Bit Scabious grows on the edge
of the cliffs in late summer. The beautiful natural archway here marks the
location of Stephen’s Gate. Surprisingly this name does not refer to the archway
itself, but instead to a rather indistinct natural causeway in the small bay nearby.
The path forks again here. You can either continue along the coast or go inland.
The inland path leads over the heath where Short-eared Owl, Kestrel, Linnet and
Hen Harrier are among the many birds that can be seen. Finally, turn right
through a field to a farm track which leads westward back to the road .
The coastal route passes two sea stacks called the castles. In spring these are
covered with Scurvy Grass and Fulmars nest on top. Continue around the field
to Eday’s north coast and round to the field which joins the farm track to the road.
At the end of the track you can head South, back to the shop.
long. The walk has two starting locations. Here we begin at the track adjacent to
the community shop. The route passes old peat cuttings on the Hill of Bomo to
your left. Peat was cut commercially here until the late 20th Century.
Go over the stile at the end of the track and head south east towards the coast.
To the right are the remains of the croft ‘Beggshouse’, notice the use of an old
boat to roof the outhouse.
On reaching the coast you will see a small sea stack. The path heads northward
via sheltered bays and many interesting geological formations.
Thrift, Scurvy Grass, Spring Squill and Sheeps Bit all grow along the grassy cliffs.
The vegetation changes to heath away from the coast so Ling, Bell Heather, Cross
Leaved heath, Tormentil and Lousewort are interspersed with the coastal flora.
Along this stretch of coast Fulmar and Shag breed in large numbers while further
north, Razorbill, Guillemot and Puffin are also seen.
The residue from old peat stacks can be seen along the walk, appearing as low
grassy mounds with exposed edges of crumbling peat. These long pre-
recent commercial endeavours at Bomo.
The remains of the croft Mugeo lie on the hillside above. Here you can see a
circular grain drying kiln with unusual corbelling at the base of the walls.
At this point there is an option to take the shorter, circular route over the heath
and back to the shop.
A little further north a spectacular display of Devil’s Bit Scabious grows on the edge
of the cliffs in late summer. The beautiful natural archway here marks the
location of Stephen’s Gate. Surprisingly this name does not refer to the archway
itself, but instead to a rather indistinct natural causeway in the small bay nearby.
The path forks again here. You can either continue along the coast or go inland.
The inland path leads over the heath where Short-
Hen Harrier are among the many birds that can be seen. Finally, turn right
through a field to a farm track which leads westward back to the road .
The coastal route passes two sea stacks called the castles. In spring these are
covered with Scurvy Grass and Fulmars nest on top. Continue around the field
to Eday’s north coast and round to the field which joins the farm track to the road.
At the end of the track you can head South, back to the shop.