B9064

Passing place on the B9064

The B9064 runs around three sides of the Rousay Island Loop road, although it is odd that the classification didn't extend to connect the two ends. There is no discernible change in quality, or signage to mark the change - and both ends are in seemingly arbitrary places, apparently unchanged since 1922. The road is single-track throughout and meets the B9065, a short spur to the Rousay Ferry, roughly halfway along the road.

Most visitors will arrive on the island at the ferry pier, and therefore have to chose which way around the island to travel. As most intend to visit the various ancient monuments along the south coast, the southern leg of the route, from the B9065 junction westwards, is of great historic importance. After passing the farm at Trumland, the chambered cairns of Taversoe Tuick, Blackhammer and Know of Yarso are passed in quick succession. There are also two ruined brochs on the shore, and numerous other archaeological sites lying in the long grass of the hillsides. The route then drops down the hill, through the small settlement of Frotoft and almost reaches the shore before a sharp double bend sees the road start to climb again. The B9064 ends about a mile later at the turning for Westness House: a farm and maybe half a dozen houses.

Another mile up the now-unclassified road is Rousay's greatest treasure, Mid Howe: a vast chambered cairn and complex broch structure sitting side by side on the shore, nearly 100m down the steep hill from the road! Most visitors will then drive around the 'back' of the island, to get back to the ferry. This sees the route climb past the 100m contour before levelling out and starting to descend once more. A long straight drops the road down to Wasbister, a scattered community set around a square of roads which enclose the Loch of Wasbister. The main route turns right at the south west corner and runs across the southern side of this square, to reach Langskaill a short distance beyond, where the B9064 resumes.

The northern section of the road climbs steadily up the steep northern slopes of Kierfea Hill as it heads east, offering stunning views across the other Orkney Isles. The summit of around 135m is reached after the gradient of the slope eases and the road starts to turn south. Faraclett Head lies away to the north east, but the B9064 cuts off this corner of the island, as it begins to drop back to the shore. A long straight drops the road back down to nearly sea level, but a sharp double bend at Banks lifts it up past the island school, from where long straights take it south, climbing again before it sweeps round the hillside to head west and get back to the junction with the B9065. There are many other archaeological sites along the route, but none so famous as those along the south coast.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: Westside - Brinyan - Langskaill