Shapinsay has a thriving population of around 350 people, and is commutable from mainland Orkney, being only 2km away. It has a varied landscape of rich farmland, rugged cliffs and sandy beaches. A prominent feature on the skyline, Balfour Castle is a baronial castle with landscaped grounds and woodland, unique to the island and North isles.
Balfour, the main settlement, is a planned Victorian village. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) both have reserves on the island, which you can visit to see breeding waders and wildfowl.
Find out more about Shapinsay.
