Bay of Houton: High water is 4 hours before high water at Aberdeen
St. Mary's Bay, Scapa Flow: High water is 1 hours and 40 minutes before high water at Wick
Widewall Bay: High water is 1 hours and 55 minutes before high water at Wick
South coast of South Walls: The east north-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 25 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The west south-west going stream begins at 4 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Aberdeen. The east north-east going stream reaches a speed of 4.5 knots at springs. The west south-west going stream reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs. The early west-going flow is caused by an eddy that extends half to 3/4 mile offshore.
Eddy on south coast of South Walls: A west-going eddy forms here during the last of the east-going flow.
Cantick Sound: Cantick Sound is the passage between Cantick Head and Switha. The south south-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Aberdeen. The north north-west going stream begins at 2 hours and 20 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The flow reaches a speed of 3.5 knots at springs. The south-going flow builds slowly and is maximal between 20 minutes before to 1 hour 45 minutes after high water at Aberdeen, after which it weakens rapidly. The north-going flow build quickly reaching maximum rate around 3 hours, 15 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. This rate persists for a short time only. From 5 hours 5 minutes after high water Aberdeen, the rate is less than 2 knots. The southern entrance to the Sound can be turbulent when the south-going flow meets the south-west flow from the Sound of Hoxa. This turbulence occurs between 50 minutes before and 2 hours 20 minutes after high water at Aberdeen.
Switha Sound: The flows in Switha Sound, between Flotta and Switha, are complex, and the tidal stream atlas is well worth consulting. The stream runs west from 5 hours 20 minutes before high water at Aberdeen to 2 hours 40 minutes after high water at Aberdeen, reaching 3 knots. Eddies form in the early part of the westerly flow, especially on the Flotta side. From 2 hours 40 minutes after high water at Aberdeen to 5 hours 20 minutes before high water at Aberdeen, two large eddies fill the Sound, the eastern part of the Sound rotating anticlockwise, the western part rotating clockwise. As such, there is never an easterly flow through the Sound. The eddies are divided along a line between Cave of Banks on Flotta and Point of the Pool on Switha. The easterly eddy flow can reach 4 knots across the easterly entrance to the Sound.
Eddy West of Switha: An eddy forms west of Switha during the north-east going stream.
Off Harrabrough Head, South Ronaldsay: The tide flows south-east and north-west. The south-east going stream reaches a speed of 2.5 knots at springs. The north-west going stream reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs.
Stanger Head: The tidal stream here flows north north-east reaching a maximum speed of 4 knots at springs. This is significantly faster than across most of the Sound of Hoxa. A race forms off the Head.
Sound of Hoxa: The north going stream begins at 1 hours and 10 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The south going stream begins at 3 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Aberdeen. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. The flow is confused as it begins heading south, the full southerly flow only becoming established by 1 hour and 20 minutes before high water at Aberdeen. Complex eddies, which move around, both clockwise and anti-clockwise form in the Sound during the north-going stream. See tidal stream atlas.
Eddy circulation in the Sound of Hoxa: Starting 2 hours and 40 minutes after high water at Aberdeen, the flow on the west side of the Sound of Hoxa turns south, such that the tidal flow circulates within the Sound until the south-going stream begins. See tidal stream atlas.
Off Dam of Hoxa, South Ronaldsay: The east going stream begins at 1 hours and 40 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The west going stream begins at 3 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Aberdeen. The flow reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.
Water Sound: Flows in the Sound are weak.
Nevi Skerry: Tidal stream to the north of the Sound of Hoxa are generally weak and variable. East of Nevi Skerry the flow is eastwards almost continuously and weak.
West side of Hunda: An onshore wind can produce extensive clapotis on the west side of Hunda. It is possible to portage across the isthmus with Burray to avoid this.
Longhope narrows: Tidal streams within Longhope and North Bay are minimal except in the narrows between North Ness and South Ness. The east going stream begins at 4 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Aberdeen. The west going stream begins at 2 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The flow reaches a speed of 1.8 knots at springs.
(West) Weddel Sound: Changes in flow direction occur here often. The flow runs north-east from +5:35 to -4:50, -2:50 to -1:50 and +1:10 to +3:40 high water Aberdeen. The flow runs south west -4:50 to -2:50, -1:50 to +1:10 and +3:40 to +5:35 high water Aberdeen. At the narrowest point, the north-easterly flow reaches 1.5 knots, the south westerly flow reaching 2 knots. If all this was not complicated enough, the south going flow through Gutter Sound, which normally runs into Switha Sound, sometimes turns around the south tip of Fara and runs north-east into Weddel Sound instead, presumably altering these timings.
North side of Flotta: The tidal stream here flows east. The flow is continuous and weak.
Gutter Sound: The north going stream begins at 1 hours and 50 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The south going stream begins at 4 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The north going stream reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs. The south going stream reaches a speed of 0 knots at springs. The streams are strongest on the Fara side of the Sound, and are appreciably less elsewhere. Apparently, the south-going stream here does not always run into Switha Sound, sometimes (and unpredictably) running north-east through Weddel Sound instead!
North west coast of Fara: Off Peat Point and North Point: The tide flows north-east and south-west. The flow reaches a speed of 0.5 knots at springs.
East side of Fara: The tidal stream here flows south-east. The flow is weak but continuous, continuing across the entrance to Weddel Sound.
Rysa Sound: Rysa Sound does not have regular tidal streams.
Between Green Head, Hoy and the south tip of Cava: The tide flows south-east and north-west. The flow reaches a speed of 0.5 knots at springs.
Bring Deeps, north of Cava: Between Holm of Houton and the Calf of Cava: The east going stream begins at 3 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The west going stream begins at 2 hours and 45 minutes before high water at Aberdeen. The flow reaches a speed of 0.5 knots at springs. There may be an area of choppy waves to the north of the Calf of Cava.
Houton Head: The tide flows south-east and north-west. The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
Scapa Flow: Within Scapa Flow, tidal streams are weak and irregular.
Flotta Oil Terminal: Entry into an area of radius 450m of the Oil Terminal jetty is prohibited.
South Walls Coast Path car park: (ND 292 893) g Small parking area at west end of the island, from which the sea to the north and south can be accessed.
Kirk Hope, South Walls: (ND 334 895) g Easy access to the sea from the road that runs along the shore. Parking may be possible at the Cemetery at the north end of the bay, on grass through a gate.
Longhope, South Walls: (ND 304 909) g Place to leave a few vehicles near the pier and slipway.
Rinnigill Pier, Hoy: (ND 318 938) g Space to leave one or two vehicles by the pier at the end of a track.
Lyness, Hoy: (ND 312 946) g Slipway. Plenty of space to park near ferry terminal and piers.
Houton: (HY 318 041) g Large car park next to ferry terminal, by the beach. Steep grassy back between the car park and the beach. It may be possible to find a way down, or alternatively carry to the slipway off the private road to the east of the ferry piers.
Waulkmill Bay: (HY 382 064) g Roadside parking by public toilet. 100m carry down to the bay down steep steps. May be no beach at high tide, leaving you to launch off the rocks at the bottom of the steps. Scapa Bay is likely an easier option.
Scapa Bay: (HY 443 086) g Various parking options along the road that runs along the beach, the best being at the east end of the beach.
Scapa Pier slipway: (HY 443 081) g Slipway on the north side of the pier. Possible to leave a car along the road. Better parking likely available at the east end of the beach.
St. Mary's Bay of Ayre: (HY 471 012) g Space to park a few vehicles just off the main road, access to foreshore.
St. Mary's Pier: (HY 476 013) g Small parking area (picnic site) just easy of the pier, and a pull in for one car just to the west. Easy access to foreshore.
North end of Churchill Barrier 1: (HY 484 013) g Small parking area, easy access to the sea on both sides of the barrier.
Lamb Holm north: (HY 485 007) g Parking space for one or two vehicles at the south end of Churchill Barrier number 1. More parking space by the Italian Chapel just to the east, but it may be easier to use the parking at the south side of the island.
Lamb Holm south: (HY 482 000) g Parking area at the north end of Churchill Barrier Number 2, from which the sea on the east side of the barrier can be easily accessed. Accessing the sea to the west may require a short walk up the road (or the use of a pull off near the pier to the north) to avoid a carry across large boulders.
Glimps Holm north: (ND 478 995) g Car park at the south end of Churchill Barrier Number 2, from which beaches on both sides of the barrier can be accessed.
Glimps Holm south: (ND 473 987) g Good sized layby close to the north end of Churchill Barrier Number 3 from which a path leads 50m down to a beach on the east side of the barrier. The sea to the west can be accessed through a gate leading to a small beach.
Burray barrier north: (ND 474 983) g Small layby at the south end of Churchill Barrier Number 3, from which beaches on either side of the Barrier may be accessed. There is more space to park at the north end of the Barrier.
Burray Echna Loch: (ND 472 967) g Small roadside parking area by the beach.
Burray Village: (ND 472 955) g Slipway and beach next to pier. It may be possible to park near the pier, but there is a larger parking area 300m north-north east close to the main road.
Burray Southern Barrier: (ND 480 954) g Small car park at the north end of the Churchill Barrier Number 4. Steps lead down to the sea to the west. 250m carry to the beach to the east.
St. Margaret's Hope: (ND 446 936) g The best launch point is likely the beach area at the west end of the town. Likely possible to park here whist boats are dropped off. Small car part on waterfront 100m east, but it may be best to use a larger car park to the south-east of the centre.
St. Margaret's Hope Ferry Pier: (ND 446 940) g Parking by roadside just outside ferry terminal area. Launch slightly further south on old seaweed covered slipway.
Sand of Wright: (ND 423 936) g Tarmac and grass parking area by the beach, further parking and toilets further south-east along the beach.
Sand Wick: (ND 434 893) g Very limited parking to the north west of the beach by the road (start of a marked walking trail). Likely a carry down to the beach.
Flotta Kirk Bay: (ND 365 931) g Likely possible to park on grass by a small picnic area close to the beach.
Flotta Sutherland Pier: (ND 345 947) g Space to park by the pier just before the road narrows. Shingle beach east of the pier. Beware exclusion zone around the Jetty at the Oil Terminal to the east.
Flotta Pan Pier: (ND 374 943) g Likely space to leave a car near end of road, short carry to the sea.