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Knee of Scabra

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

Knee of Scabra

Rousay: The Wirk The remains of a tower, thought to date from the 12th century, part of a larger rectangular building extending uphill. The building was perhaps a grand hall, and the Wirk itself may have been a bell tower, perhaps associated with the adjacent St. Mary's church. As is the way with these things, there are a lot of maybes. See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716737">HY3730 : Rousay: The Wirk from the east</a> for a view from the back, better showing the curious upright stones, and <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://rousayremembered.moonfruit.com/st-marys-kirk-the-wirk/4590661954" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://rousayremembered.moonfruit.com/st-marys-kirk-the-wirk/4590661954">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> for pictures in better light and with less vegetation.
Rousay: The Wirk Credit: Chris Downer

Knee of Scabra is a prominent coastal feature located on the western coast of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. It is a headland that juts out into the North Atlantic Ocean, forming a distinctive point along the rugged coastline. The name "Knee of Scabra" is derived from its unique shape, resembling the bent knee of a person.

This headland is composed of a mix of sedimentary and volcanic rocks, offering a diverse geological landscape. The cliffs that surround Knee of Scabra are characterized by their dramatic height, reaching up to 150 feet (46 meters) in some places. These cliffs provide nesting grounds for various seabirds, including puffins, fulmars, and razorbills.

The area surrounding Knee of Scabra is also known for its rich marine life. The strong currents and nutrient-rich waters attract a variety of fish species, making it a popular spot for anglers. Additionally, the rocky shores and shallow waters are home to a diverse range of marine organisms, such as crabs, starfish, and seaweed.

Visitors to Knee of Scabra can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline and the open sea. The headland offers several walking trails that lead to different vantage points, allowing visitors to appreciate the natural beauty of this coastal feature. It is also a popular destination for birdwatching enthusiasts, who can observe the numerous seabird colonies that inhabit the cliffs.

Overall, Knee of Scabra is a stunning and ecologically diverse headland, offering a unique experience for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts visiting the Orkney Islands.

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Knee of Scabra Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 59.162386/-3.1151294 or Grid Reference HY3631. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Rousay: The Wirk The remains of a tower, thought to date from the 12th century, part of a larger rectangular building extending uphill. The building was perhaps a grand hall, and the Wirk itself may have been a bell tower, perhaps associated with the adjacent St. Mary's church. As is the way with these things, there are a lot of maybes. See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716737">HY3730 : Rousay: The Wirk from the east</a> for a view from the back, better showing the curious upright stones, and <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://rousayremembered.moonfruit.com/st-marys-kirk-the-wirk/4590661954" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://rousayremembered.moonfruit.com/st-marys-kirk-the-wirk/4590661954">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> for pictures in better light and with less vegetation.
Rousay: The Wirk
The remains of a tower, thought to date from the 12th century, part of a larger rectangular building extending uphill. The building was perhaps a grand hall, and the Wirk itself may have been a bell tower, perhaps associated with the adjacent St. Mary's church. As is the way with these things, there are a lot of maybes. See HY3730 : Rousay: The Wirk from the east for a view from the back, better showing the curious upright stones, and LinkExternal link for pictures in better light and with less vegetation.
Rousay: The Wirk from the east A view from the landward side of The Wirk, one of many very historic buildings along this short stretch of coast. This picture shows the four thin vertical stones which I have found no specific information on. See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716735">HY3730 : Rousay: The Wirk</a> for the 'front' view and more discussion (much of it quite speculative) on building, and <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://rousayremembered.moonfruit.com/st-marys-kirk-the-wirk/4590661954" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://rousayremembered.moonfruit.com/st-marys-kirk-the-wirk/4590661954">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> for pictures in better light and with less vegetation. Brough Head is in the background.
Rousay: The Wirk from the east
A view from the landward side of The Wirk, one of many very historic buildings along this short stretch of coast. This picture shows the four thin vertical stones which I have found no specific information on. See HY3730 : Rousay: The Wirk for the 'front' view and more discussion (much of it quite speculative) on building, and LinkExternal link for pictures in better light and with less vegetation. Brough Head is in the background.
Rousay: St. Mary’s church A sixteenth-century church which has been disused since 1815 when the new church was built at Brinian (near to the ferry pier).
Rousay: St. Mary’s church
A sixteenth-century church which has been disused since 1815 when the new church was built at Brinian (near to the ferry pier).
Rousay: the mossy walls of St. Mary’s church A close-up of part of the walls of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716739">HY3730 : Rousay: St. Mary’s church</a>, with a view of Brough Head for good measure.
Rousay: the mossy walls of St. Mary’s church
A close-up of part of the walls of HY3730 : Rousay: St. Mary’s church, with a view of Brough Head for good measure.
Rousay: west end of St. Mary’s church A close look at a buttress, added at the end of the 19th century, which is doing its best to hold up <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716739">HY3730 : Rousay: St. Mary’s church</a>.
Rousay: west end of St. Mary’s church
A close look at a buttress, added at the end of the 19th century, which is doing its best to hold up HY3730 : Rousay: St. Mary’s church.
Rousay: stile to St. Mary’s church Another view of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716739">HY3730 : Rousay: St. Mary’s church</a>, from the same angle but from outside rather than inside the churchyard.
Rousay: stile to St. Mary’s church
Another view of HY3730 : Rousay: St. Mary’s church, from the same angle but from outside rather than inside the churchyard.
Rousay: path to Midhowe The path runs steeply from the car park to the historic sites at the coastline, firstly zigzagging down this segment before going down the edge of the lower field.
Rousay: path to Midhowe
The path runs steeply from the car park to the historic sites at the coastline, firstly zigzagging down this segment before going down the edge of the lower field.
Rousay: signpost for the Midhowe antiquities An old-fashioned sign halfway down the path from the car park. The broch is visible below.
Rousay: signpost for the Midhowe antiquities
An old-fashioned sign halfway down the path from the car park. The broch is visible below.
Rousay: Midhowe chambered cairn This extraordinary, 32-metre-long burial chamber is well preserved and was built around 5,000 years ago. It consists of several chambers separated by vertical slabs, and the complete structure was filled in with stones at some unknown date between then and now, to prevent further use. The cairn was excavated by the landowner, Walter Grant, in 1932, and it was he who provided the building which now protects the cairn from the elements and allows it to be freely accessed.
Rousay: Midhowe chambered cairn
This extraordinary, 32-metre-long burial chamber is well preserved and was built around 5,000 years ago. It consists of several chambers separated by vertical slabs, and the complete structure was filled in with stones at some unknown date between then and now, to prevent further use. The cairn was excavated by the landowner, Walter Grant, in 1932, and it was he who provided the building which now protects the cairn from the elements and allows it to be freely accessed.
Rousay: the building housing Midhowe cairn This building was constructed in the 1930s to protect <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4717177">HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe chambered cairn</a> shortly after it was excavated.
Rousay: the building housing Midhowe cairn
This building was constructed in the 1930s to protect HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe chambered cairn shortly after it was excavated.
Rousay: looking down on Midhowe cairn The suspended walkways allow the visitor to closely inspect <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4717177">HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe chambered cairn</a> without interfering with the fabric of the structure. This view also gives a good impression of the size of the cairn.
Rousay: looking down on Midhowe cairn
The suspended walkways allow the visitor to closely inspect HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe chambered cairn without interfering with the fabric of the structure. This view also gives a good impression of the size of the cairn.
Rousay: Midhowe Broch Occupying a spectacular stretch of the Rousay coast, the broch was built some time around the first century BC, and its position very much points to defensive purpose - a ditch has been cut around the landward side of the broch, and it nestles between two small inlets on the seaward side. Brough Head is in the distance.
Rousay: Midhowe Broch
Occupying a spectacular stretch of the Rousay coast, the broch was built some time around the first century BC, and its position very much points to defensive purpose - a ditch has been cut around the landward side of the broch, and it nestles between two small inlets on the seaward side. Brough Head is in the distance.
Rousay: Midhowe Broch from the seaward side A view of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4717198">HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe Broch</a> from the rocks directly in front - a similar picture to Wayne Easton's 2008 photo <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3007031">HY3730 : Midhowe,Rousay, seaward view-point</a>, but in better weather.
Rousay: Midhowe Broch from the seaward side
A view of HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe Broch from the rocks directly in front - a similar picture to Wayne Easton's 2008 photo HY3730 : Midhowe,Rousay, seaward view-point, but in better weather.
Rousay: inside Midhowe Broch Some of the larger flagstones found when the broch was excavated in the 1930s have been positioned to recreate what the ground floor may have looked like when the area was partitioned. A stone hearth is in the centre here.
Rousay: inside Midhowe Broch
Some of the larger flagstones found when the broch was excavated in the 1930s have been positioned to recreate what the ground floor may have looked like when the area was partitioned. A stone hearth is in the centre here.
Rousay: Midhowe Broch from the northeast This picture of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4717198">HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe Broch</a> shows the landward ditch and wall which suggest a defensive purpose to the broch.
Rousay: Midhowe Broch from the northeast
This picture of HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe Broch shows the landward ditch and wall which suggest a defensive purpose to the broch.
Rousay: Stenchna Geo A very narrow sea inlet, at the immediate side of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4717198">HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe Broch</a> whose stonework just creeps into the right edge of the picture. Ahead of us is Brough Head.
Rousay: Stenchna Geo
A very narrow sea inlet, at the immediate side of HY3730 : Rousay: Midhowe Broch whose stonework just creeps into the right edge of the picture. Ahead of us is Brough Head.
Rousay: tiny sandy beach at Midhowe Surely a contender for the world's smallest sandy beach, it is literally a few feet wide. It is also possibly a contender for the smallest inlet to have a name - the name Sand Geo appears on the map in such a position that this is all it can really refer to.
Rousay: tiny sandy beach at Midhowe
Surely a contender for the world's smallest sandy beach, it is literally a few feet wide. It is also possibly a contender for the smallest inlet to have a name - the name Sand Geo appears on the map in such a position that this is all it can really refer to.
Rainbow over Scabra Head, Rousay Seen from Eynhallow.
Rainbow over Scabra Head, Rousay
Seen from Eynhallow.
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Knee of Scabra is located at Grid Ref: HY3631 (Lat: 59.162386, Lng: -3.1151294)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///cuter.grumble.curls. Near Evie, Orkney Islands

Nearby Locations

Knee of Scabra Hole of the Horses Sinians of Cutclaws Scabra Head Ha' of Scabra

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