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Castle Skerry

Island in Orkney

Scotland

Castle Skerry

Eastward House, A961 near Barswick, South Ronaldsay Built in 1873 by local residents for the Church of Scotland, it is now (2014) a home offering B & B.
Eastward House, A961 near Barswick, South Ronaldsay Credit: Jo and Steve Turner

Castle Skerry is a small uninhabited island located in the Orkney archipelago, off the northeastern coast of mainland Scotland. Situated in the North Sea, it lies approximately 3 kilometers northwest of the larger island of Sanday. The island covers an area of about 4 hectares and is made up of mainly flat, grassy terrain.

The island gets its name from the prominent feature on its landscape, a 15th-century tower house known as Castle Skerry. The castle is now in ruins, with only a few walls remaining, serving as a reminder of its historical significance. It is believed to have been constructed as a defensive structure during the medieval period, potentially serving as a lookout post or a fortification against invading forces.

Castle Skerry is known for its diverse bird population, making it a popular spot for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. The island is home to various seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and fulmars. Additionally, seals can often be spotted lounging on the rocky shores surrounding the island.

While Castle Skerry itself is uninhabited, the nearby island of Sanday offers amenities such as accommodation, shops, and restaurants for visitors to enjoy. Boat trips and guided tours are available for those interested in exploring the island and its historical ruins, as well as experiencing the rich natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Overall, Castle Skerry is a captivating destination that combines historical significance with stunning natural landscapes, offering visitors a unique and enriching experience.

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Castle Skerry Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.741773/-2.9796198 or Grid Reference ND4384. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Eastward House, A961 near Barswick, South Ronaldsay Built in 1873 by local residents for the Church of Scotland, it is now (2014) a home offering B & B.
Eastward House, A961 near Barswick, South Ronaldsay
Built in 1873 by local residents for the Church of Scotland, it is now (2014) a home offering B & B.
Skerry light south of Bur Wick, South Ronaldsay Viewed from the Orkney ferry
Skerry light south of Bur Wick, South Ronaldsay
Viewed from the Orkney ferry
Skerry light off Burwick, Orkney Passing by on the Pentland Venture ferry on its way to Bur Wick
Skerry light off Burwick, Orkney
Passing by on the Pentland Venture ferry on its way to Bur Wick
Brough Ness Southern tip of South Ronaldsay overlooking the Pentland Firth.
Brough Ness
Southern tip of South Ronaldsay overlooking the Pentland Firth.
View west from the Pentland Venture ferry Just before entering the port at Burwick
View west from the Pentland Venture ferry
Just before entering the port at Burwick
St Mary's Church, Burwick Old St Mary’s is in the very south of the south parish at Burwick. It is on the site where the first Christian missionaries reputedly arrived in Orkney. The church is thought to have last been used for regular worship around 1959, then used for occasional services until around 1995. It is on the Churches at Risk register, especially since it was struck by lightning in 2013.
St Mary's Church, Burwick
Old St Mary’s is in the very south of the south parish at Burwick. It is on the site where the first Christian missionaries reputedly arrived in Orkney. The church is thought to have last been used for regular worship around 1959, then used for occasional services until around 1995. It is on the Churches at Risk register, especially since it was struck by lightning in 2013.
Pentland Venture ferry at Burwick
Pentland Venture ferry at Burwick
Tomison's Academy Founded under the will of William Tomison (1739-1829) of the Hudson's Bay Company. This former school is now empty and the adjacent buildings falling into dereliction
Tomison's Academy
Founded under the will of William Tomison (1739-1829) of the Hudson's Bay Company. This former school is now empty and the adjacent buildings falling into dereliction
Waiting for the ferry at Burwick Pier
Waiting for the ferry at Burwick Pier
St Mary's Church, Burwick A better view of the church than when we arrived earlier in the day <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7443070">ND4384 : St Mary's Church, Burwick</a>. Old St Mary’s is in the very south of the south parish at Burwick. It is on the site where the first Christian missionaries reputedly arrived in Orkney. The church is thought to have last been used for regular worship around 1959, then used for occasional services until around 1995. It is on the Churches at Risk register, especially since it was struck by lightning in 2013.
St Mary's Church, Burwick
A better view of the church than when we arrived earlier in the day ND4384 : St Mary's Church, Burwick. Old St Mary’s is in the very south of the south parish at Burwick. It is on the site where the first Christian missionaries reputedly arrived in Orkney. The church is thought to have last been used for regular worship around 1959, then used for occasional services until around 1995. It is on the Churches at Risk register, especially since it was struck by lightning in 2013.
Breakwater at Burwick Ferry Port
Breakwater at Burwick Ferry Port
Skerry light off Burwick, Orkney
Skerry light off Burwick, Orkney
John o' Groats ferry arrives at Burwick Summer sailings across the Pentland Firth
John o' Groats ferry arrives at Burwick
Summer sailings across the Pentland Firth
Coastguard lookout Brough Ness
Coastguard lookout Brough Ness
Aerial view of southern South Ronaldsay Taken from a flight to Shetland via Orkney this is the southern end of the southernmost of the main islands of Orkney, South Ronaldsay. Obviously aerial photos such as this cover many squares, so I have taken the subject reference as Barth Head, which is the little sticky-out point nearest the camera.
Aerial view of southern South Ronaldsay
Taken from a flight to Shetland via Orkney this is the southern end of the southernmost of the main islands of Orkney, South Ronaldsay. Obviously aerial photos such as this cover many squares, so I have taken the subject reference as Barth Head, which is the little sticky-out point nearest the camera.
Approaching the harbour at Burwick, Orkney Islands Taken from the John O'Groats ferry.
Approaching the harbour at Burwick, Orkney Islands
Taken from the John O'Groats ferry.
Bur Wick Pier The end of the pier at Bur Wick
Bur Wick Pier
The end of the pier at Bur Wick
A feather? A beautiful fold in the rocks of The Wing.
A feather?
A beautiful fold in the rocks of The Wing.
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Castle Skerry is located at Grid Ref: ND4384 (Lat: 58.741773, Lng: -2.9796198)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///encourage.spaces.goggles. Near St Margaret's Hope, Orkney Islands

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 58.741773,-2.9796198
Ferry Terminal
Lat/Long: 58.7397559/-2.9724355
OpenStreetMap
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Leisure: picnic_table
Lat/Long: 58.7400124/-2.9742423
OpenStreetMap
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Toilets
Fee: no
Male: yes
Lat/Long: 58.7396833/-2.9731587
OpenStreetMap
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Toilets
Fee: no
Female: yes
Lat/Long: 58.7397571/-2.9731023
OpenStreetMap
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Generator Method: wind_turbine
Generator Source: wind
Generator Type: horizontal_axis
Power: generator
Lat/Long: 58.7403619/-2.9745001
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Generator Method: wind_turbine
Generator Source: wind
Generator Type: horizontal_axis
Power: generator
Lat/Long: 58.7398942/-2.9750526
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.7417482/-2.9724509
OpenStreetMap
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.7422436/-2.9719627
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Burwick Pier
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 58.7398378/-2.972706
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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