B9056

The B9056 serves Orkney's western coast.

Quoyloo

The route starts at a T junction a few miles north of Stromness on the A967 at Voy and heads north west, slowly curving to the north as it climbs. After crossing the low hill at Clumly, it descends towards the Loch off Skaill where, after about two miles, first the B9055 and then the B9057 turn off in quick succession. Both routes head east across the Mainland. The B9056 then skirts the northern shore of Loch Skaill and passes the entrance to Skara Brae. For anyone who doesn't know, Skara Brae is one of the Neolithic wonders on Orkney, a well-preserved village that was hidden under the dunes for millennia. Each house still retains its original stone furniture, including beds and dressers.

There's then a short run along the coast around the Bay of Skaill, before the route veers inland once more, climbing steadily as it does. It TOTSOs left at a crossroads in Quoyloo village before climbing around the back of a low hill marked on the map as Vestra Fiold. The views from this piece of the road are expansive, across much of the lower lying western Mainland. After reaching a summit of around 95m, there is a steep, straight descent before the gradient eases as the road kinks sharp right. A series of short straights then lead through the scattered settlement of Marwick, with the coast often in view. After the last crest, Birsay Bay comes into full view ahead and almost at the last minute, the B9056 turns sharp right to rejoin the A967, although a rough track does turn off by the cemetery to head northwards to meet the end of the A966 in Birsay Village.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: Voy - Aith - Birsay School