Westray, Orkney
Explore the remains of a remote Norse church in what was once a wealthy corner of the Orkney earldom.
Westside Church at Tuqouy is probably a Norse construction, dating to the 1100s. The Orkneyinga saga suggests that it was built by Haflidi Thorkelsson, whose farm was in the field next to the church.
Today the church stands as a roofless ruin, though its beautiful simplicity still shows through. It’s surrounded by a graveyard, which is maintained by the local community.
Due to restrictions in place as a precautionary measure while we undertake high level masonry inspections, there is currently no visitor access to the church and some headstones. Majority of graveyard is accessible.
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