Dennis Head

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

Dennis Head

North Ronaldsay: the lighthouse The lighthouse was built after a complicated history of lighthouse arrangements in Orkney. The first beacon here was the Old Beacon, which survives to the southeast, built in 1789. It was extinguished in 1809 after Start Point lighthouse (on Sanday) had begun operation as it was considered superfluous. However, this proved inauspicious and the present lighthouse was constructed in 1852.

Thanks to the low-lying nature of North Ronaldsay, the lighthouse is the tallest land-based one in Britain, standing 42m in height to reach the 43m elevation of the light above sea level.

The lighthouse was automated in 1998, since when the various outbuildings have been converted to holiday accommodation, a café/small museum, and a wool mill. — North Ronaldsay: the lighthouse Credit: Chris Downer

Dennis Head is a prominent coastal feature located on the eastern coast of Orkney, an archipelago in northern Scotland. It is a well-known headland that juts out into the North Sea, offering stunning views and a unique geological landscape.

Situated near the village of Deerness, Dennis Head is characterized by its towering cliffs that reach heights of up to 100 meters (328 feet). The cliffs are composed of layered sandstone and shale, displaying a variety of earth tones ranging from reddish-brown to gray. These geological formations have been shaped over centuries by the relentless force of the North Sea, resulting in dramatic and rugged scenery.

The headland is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers, as it is home to a wide array of bird species. Visitors can spot seabirds such as fulmars, kittiwakes, and guillemots nesting on the cliffs, while lucky observers might catch a glimpse of puffins during the breeding season.

In addition to its natural beauty, Dennis Head also holds historical significance. The remains of a World War II radar station can be found on the headland, serving as a reminder of the island's strategic importance during the war.

Accessible via a coastal path, Dennis Head offers a serene and tranquil setting for those seeking to immerse themselves in Orkney's rugged coastal landscape. Its towering cliffs, diverse birdlife, and historical remnants make it a must-visit location for both locals and tourists alike.

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Dennis Head Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 59.382701/-2.3720835 or Grid Reference HY7855. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

North Ronaldsay: the lighthouse The lighthouse was built after a complicated history of lighthouse arrangements in Orkney. The first beacon here was the Old Beacon, which survives to the southeast, built in 1789. It was extinguished in 1809 after Start Point lighthouse (on Sanday) had begun operation as it was considered superfluous. However, this proved inauspicious and the present lighthouse was constructed in 1852.

Thanks to the low-lying nature of North Ronaldsay, the lighthouse is the tallest land-based one in Britain, standing 42m in height to reach the 43m elevation of the light above sea level.

The lighthouse was automated in 1998, since when the various outbuildings have been converted to holiday accommodation, a café/small museum, and a wool mill.

North Ronaldsay: the lighthouse

The lighthouse was built after a complicated history of lighthouse arrangements in Orkney. The first beacon here was the Old Beacon, which survives to the southeast, built in 1789. It was extinguished in 1809 after Start Point lighthouse (on Sanday) had begun operation as it was considered superfluous. However, this proved inauspicious and the present lighthouse was constructed in 1852. Thanks to the low-lying nature of North Ronaldsay, the lighthouse is the tallest land-based one in Britain, standing 42m in height to reach the 43m elevation of the light above sea level. The lighthouse was automated in 1998, since when the various outbuildings have been converted to holiday accommodation, a café/small museum, and a wool mill.

North Ronaldsay: looking down from the lighthouse A vertical view from the balcony of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4705846">HY7855 : North Ronaldsay: the lighthouse</a>, on some of the associated buildings; those in the picture have been converted to holiday accommodation since the lighthouse&#039;s automation in 1998.

North Ronaldsay: looking down from the lighthouse

A vertical view from the balcony of HY7855 : North Ronaldsay: the lighthouse, on some of the associated buildings; those in the picture have been converted to holiday accommodation since the lighthouse's automation in 1998.

North Ronaldsay: the light in the lighthouse A closer look at the light and lenses at the top of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4705846">HY7855 : North Ronaldsay: the lighthouse</a>.

The light here is surrounded by lenses and the whole apparatus revolves at a speed such that the lenses are ten seconds apart from any given viewpoint. This gives the appearance of the light flashing every ten seconds, which is the distinctive &#039;character&#039; of this particular light, although the light itself does not physically flash.

North Ronaldsay: the light in the lighthouse

A closer look at the light and lenses at the top of HY7855 : North Ronaldsay: the lighthouse. The light here is surrounded by lenses and the whole apparatus revolves at a speed such that the lenses are ten seconds apart from any given viewpoint. This gives the appearance of the light flashing every ten seconds, which is the distinctive 'character' of this particular light, although the light itself does not physically flash.

North Ronaldsay: towards Dennis Head from the lighthouse Looking across the eastern edge of the island from the top of the lighthouse, towards its predecessor, the Old Beacon, on Dennis Head.

North Ronaldsay: towards Dennis Head from the lighthouse

Looking across the eastern edge of the island from the top of the lighthouse, towards its predecessor, the Old Beacon, on Dennis Head.

North Ronaldsay: across Dennis Loch Looking along a dry-stone enclosure wall and across Dennis Loch, with a distant view beyond Linklet Bay of some of the buildings in the more populated southwest of the island.

North Ronaldsay: across Dennis Loch

Looking along a dry-stone enclosure wall and across Dennis Loch, with a distant view beyond Linklet Bay of some of the buildings in the more populated southwest of the island.

North Ronalsday: crues on Dennis Head The coast along this eastern edge of Dennis Head is peppered with crues, mainly circular. A crue is a dry-stone enclosure used for the gathering of sheep. There are many sheep in this area - a large group of them can be seen in the background, towards the lighthouse.

I notice that the large-scale OS map marks them as planticrues. A web search for planticrue suggests that this is an alternate word for &#039;planticrub&#039;, which appears to be based in Shetland and is a similar structure for growing crops (hence the &#039;plant&#039; bit, I guess).

North Ronalsday: crues on Dennis Head

The coast along this eastern edge of Dennis Head is peppered with crues, mainly circular. A crue is a dry-stone enclosure used for the gathering of sheep. There are many sheep in this area - a large group of them can be seen in the background, towards the lighthouse. I notice that the large-scale OS map marks them as planticrues. A web search for planticrue suggests that this is an alternate word for 'planticrub', which appears to be based in Shetland and is a similar structure for growing crops (hence the 'plant' bit, I guess).

North Ronaldsay: fog horn and some crues Looking down from the lighthouse towards the fog horn and, to the right, some crues both square and circular.

For more information on the word crue, see <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4705941">HY7855 : North Ronalsday: crues on Dennis Head</a>.

North Ronaldsay: fog horn and some crues

Looking down from the lighthouse towards the fog horn and, to the right, some crues both square and circular. For more information on the word crue, see HY7855 : North Ronalsday: crues on Dennis Head.

North Ronaldsay: sheep on the rocks of Bay of Sjaivar North Ronaldsay is known for its seaweed-eating sheep, which graze at will around this eastern coast. Four of them here scarper as I approach; another followed later and, being further out in the midst of the rocks, was quite well camouflaged.

North Ronaldsay: sheep on the rocks of Bay of Sjaivar

North Ronaldsay is known for its seaweed-eating sheep, which graze at will around this eastern coast. Four of them here scarper as I approach; another followed later and, being further out in the midst of the rocks, was quite well camouflaged.

North Ronaldsay: a sheepâs skull on a crue at Dennis Head An ornament, presumably placed there by hand, on the wall of one of the crues on the coast of Dennis Head. The Old Beacon, clad in scaffolding, is in the background.

See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4705941">HY7855 : North Ronalsday: crues on Dennis Head</a> for more information on the crues.

North Ronaldsay: a sheepâs skull on a crue at Dennis Head

An ornament, presumably placed there by hand, on the wall of one of the crues on the coast of Dennis Head. The Old Beacon, clad in scaffolding, is in the background. See HY7855 : North Ronalsday: crues on Dennis Head for more information on the crues.

North Ronaldsay: the Old Beacon The Old Beacon was the island&#039;s first lighthouse, established in 1789, and stands almost perfectly on the eastern gridline of this square.

Its period of operation was rather short - it was extinguished in 1809 when the Start Point lighthouse (on Sanday) was built. However, this was a short-sighted decision and just over 40 years later the lighthouse behind us was built as a replacement for the Old Beacon.

North Ronaldsay: the Old Beacon

The Old Beacon was the island's first lighthouse, established in 1789, and stands almost perfectly on the eastern gridline of this square. Its period of operation was rather short - it was extinguished in 1809 when the Start Point lighthouse (on Sanday) was built. However, this was a short-sighted decision and just over 40 years later the lighthouse behind us was built as a replacement for the Old Beacon.

North Ronaldsay: rocky coastline along Linklet Bay The fine sandy beach just off to our right gives way to this stretch of low rocks, as we look towards the Old Beacon at the distant Dennis Head.

North Ronaldsay: rocky coastline along Linklet Bay

The fine sandy beach just off to our right gives way to this stretch of low rocks, as we look towards the Old Beacon at the distant Dennis Head.

North Ronaldsay: workings in the wool mill The small yarn industry has been a reality on the island since the mid 1990s, and has been based here in one of the former lighthouse buildings since 2003. The visitor is guided around all the workings for a small additional charge to the lighthouse tour.

More information will be found on their website: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.northronaldsayyarn.co.uk/about.asp" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.northronaldsayyarn.co.uk/about.asp">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Such is the multi-tasking way of these island communities, I would see the same young lady who showed us round later in the day, donning a high-vis jacket marshalling at the airfield when the plane home came in.

North Ronaldsay: workings in the wool mill

The small yarn industry has been a reality on the island since the mid 1990s, and has been based here in one of the former lighthouse buildings since 2003. The visitor is guided around all the workings for a small additional charge to the lighthouse tour. More information will be found on their website: Link

Such is the multi-tasking way of these island communities, I would see the same young lady who showed us round later in the day, donning a high-vis jacket marshalling at the airfield when the plane home came in.

North Ronaldsay: Point of Sinsoss and Seal Skerry Looking north from the top of the lighthouse, across the headland at Point of Sinsoss. Seal Skerry is just an offshore rock but, from the map, it is clear that at higher tides it is larger and almost meets the island itself. The loch in front of the shore is the curiously named Trolla Vatn.

North Ronaldsay: Point of Sinsoss and Seal Skerry

Looking north from the top of the lighthouse, across the headland at Point of Sinsoss. Seal Skerry is just an offshore rock but, from the map, it is clear that at higher tides it is larger and almost meets the island itself. The loch in front of the shore is the curiously named Trolla Vatn.

North Ronaldsay: a view over the island Looking southwest across the whole island from the top of the lighthouse.

North Ronaldsay: a view over the island

Looking southwest across the whole island from the top of the lighthouse.

North Ronaldsay: a typical island croft house Many of the croft houses of North Ronaldsay have these flagstone roofs; it seems to be a particular feature of this island.

North Ronaldsay: a typical island croft house

Many of the croft houses of North Ronaldsay have these flagstone roofs; it seems to be a particular feature of this island.

North Ronaldsay: rocks, sand and a lighthouse view Looking across the northwest edge of Linklet Bay, the distant lighthouse faintly reflected in the sand between outcrops of rock.

North Ronaldsay: rocks, sand and a lighthouse view

Looking across the northwest edge of Linklet Bay, the distant lighthouse faintly reflected in the sand between outcrops of rock.

North Ronaldsay: different coloured sheep Three sheep, each a different colour, on the large expanse of grass to the south of the lighthouse.

North Ronaldsay: different coloured sheep

Three sheep, each a different colour, on the large expanse of grass to the south of the lighthouse.

The old beacon, North Ronaldsay One of the oldest lighthouses in Britain; the modern lighthouse can be seen in the background.

The old beacon, North Ronaldsay

One of the oldest lighthouses in Britain; the modern lighthouse can be seen in the background.

Mike Pennington

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Dennis Head is located at Grid Ref: HY7855 (Lat: 59.382701, Lng: -2.3720835)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///loss.flooding.imperious. Near Hollandstoun, Orkney Islands

Nearby Locations

Saythe Geo Dennis Loch Head of the Clett Iron Geo Scottigar Taing Dennis Head

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 59.382701,-2.3720835

Dennis Head

Place: locality

Lat/Long: 59.3838732/-2.3710685

Bay of Tween Taings

Natural: bay

Lat/Long: 59.3826521/-2.369739

Geo of Bewan

Natural: bay

Lat/Long: 59.3835825/-2.3767664

Saythe Geo

Natural: bay

Lat/Long: 59.3852586/-2.3719759

Bay of Skivar

Natural: bay

Lat/Long: 59.3863869/-2.3724273

Point of Skivar

Place: locality

Lat/Long: 59.3869715/-2.3722449

Geo of Rue

Natural: bay

Lat/Long: 59.3841788/-2.3803712

Fron Geo

Natural: bay

Lat/Long: 59.3819372/-2.374157

Muller Geo

Natural: bay

Lat/Long: 59.3813416/-2.3732451

The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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