B9042

The B9042 serves the southern headland around Widewall Bay on the western side of South Ronaldsay, Orkney, running from the A961 (former B9040) to Herston.

The B9042 near Widewall

The route starts about a mile south of the ferry port of St Margaret's Hope and heads westwards, downhill, to the shore. Just before the shore, there's a sharp double bend, followed by another around Kirkhouse Farm. Having briefly touched the head of the beach, the route climbs away again and runs around the south side of Widewall Bay and its inlet of Oyce of Herston, where the road is closer to the shore again. Beyond the Oyce, the road turns northwards, climbing steadily into Herston, where it drops back to the shore, terminating just a few yards from the remains of a pier. This is odd, as most such roads terminate at the pier. An unclassified road continues a short distance further, past the houses, and then turns uphill to the last house at the end of the headland.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: Junction with B9040 near St Margaret's Hope - Herston