Bay of Sandgarth

Bay in Orkney

Scotland

Bay of Sandgarth

Standing Stone in Shapinsay Credit: fabio sassi

The Bay of Sandgarth is a picturesque coastal area located in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. Situated on the eastern coast of the Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney archipelago, the bay offers stunning views of the North Sea and the surrounding rugged landscape.

The bay is renowned for its sandy beach, which stretches for approximately one kilometer along the coastline. With its golden sands and crystal-clear waters, it is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, especially during the summer months. The beach is ideal for sunbathing, picnicking, and leisurely walks, offering a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

The Bay of Sandgarth is also known for its rich biodiversity. The surrounding waters are home to a diverse array of marine life, including seals, dolphins, and a variety of seabirds. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy birdwatching and spotting various species such as puffins, guillemots, and kittiwakes that frequent the cliffs and shoreline.

The bay's location makes it an excellent starting point for exploring the nearby attractions and landmarks of Orkney. Visitors can easily access the historic sites of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, and the Standing Stones of Stenness, all within a short distance from the bay.

Overall, the Bay of Sandgarth offers a beautiful coastal retreat, combining natural beauty, tranquility, and opportunities for exploration, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts in Orkney.

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Bay of Sandgarth Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 59.023061/-2.8404613 or Grid Reference HY5115. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Standing Stone in Shapinsay

fabio sassi

Nr Putaquoy Looking toward Newlot

Peter Amsden

Holm of Burghlee Shapinsay

Peter Amsden

General View of area

Looking toward Holm of Burghlee. A remote area frequented by birds more than man.

Peter Amsden

Haco's Ness, Shapinsay

From the Shetland-Orkney ferry at dusk.

Mike Pennington

Haco's Ness and Bay of Sandgarth, Shapinsay

Taken from the Shetland-Orkney ferry at dusk.

Mike Pennington

Aerogenerator on Shapinsay

Taken from the Shetland-Orkney ferry at dusk. Exact position to be ascertained.

Mike Pennington

Shapinsay: South Church

The ruined church has an unusually positioned bell, in the little enclosure ahead of us, which makes me think that it was originally a small tower.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: inside the South Church

A sad sight, it is clearly many years since HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church last hosted a congregation.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the South Church from the southeast

Another view of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church. The picture was cunningly taken in the briefest of moments when a child, the son of a man mowing the grass, was hidden behind one of the gravestones.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: old toilet (?) at South Church

Situated in a small brick/stone compound at the east end of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church, the thing on the wall is clearly a cistern but below it seems to be some kind of small furnace - definitely not something to go on!

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the South Church from the east

This view of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church takes in the Balfour family's burial compound, a separate building on the east side of the churchyard.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the Balfour burial compound

Looking rather like a little ruined church itself, the Balfours' burial place is this building in the churchyard of the South Church - see HY5016 : Shapinsay: the South Church from the east.

Chris Downer

Water infrastructure, Shapinsay, Orkney

The building appears to be disused and I assume that the borehole became redundant when a mains water pipe was laid between Orkney Mainland and Shapinsay in 2012.

Claire Pegrum

Former rubbish tip, Shapinsay, Orkney

I'm guessing that this style of waste disposal doesn't comply with modern legislation.

Claire Pegrum

Mor Stein

The information board says that it is known locally as the Moora Stone. It has lost some of its height since the Reverend George Barry described it as the Standing Stone of Shapinsay in the Statistical Account of Shapinsay Link

in 1796. It now stands 2.9 metres tall, 0.95 metres wide and 0.45 metres thick, and is still covered with lichen as it was over 200 years ago. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, but the citation Link

is unusually devoid of information.

Anne Burgess

Haco's Ness

This is the most southerly point of Shapinsay, and one of the few accessible places in Orkney with exposed rocks that are not Old Red Sandstone. These black rocks belong to the Deerness Volcanic Member, basaltic rocks intruded about 385 million years ago.

Anne Burgess