North Galton Castle

North Galton Castle, Orkney Islands, Scotland is a sea stack that is found on the western mainland of the Orkney Islands of Scotland and is situated between the Yesnaby car park and Outer town in Stromness. The North Galton Castle is similar to the Yesnaby castle in dimensions, composition and they both have ‘an amphitheater of cliffs’ that make it almost impossible to approach and are described as a climber’s dream. The North Galton Castle is however twice as big as Yesnaby Castle.

North Galton Castle, Orkney Islands, Scotland was originally accessible via a Tyrolean traverse that was roped between the north and south headlands of the stack. Another modern and convenient route to the base of the North Galton Castle is via the Mousland Farm where one can walk through open fields to the cliffs near the stack base. The North Galton Castle, Orkney Islands, Scotland is also accessible boat and an abseil climb and swim.

North Galton Castle, Orkney Islands, Scotland can ascended via the original and only route that follows the prominent crack in sea stack on its right side on the southern side. The climb up is challenging and may be problematic for climbers where there are no good ledges and loose rocks. The descent is aided by a wee cairn found at the top of the stack, or by using the big rock fangs, that overhang the sea stack’s rock face, as anchors and then running abseils and abbing down the stack.