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The Rental Rocks

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

The Rental Rocks

Swona, Orkney, from the air
Swona, Orkney, from the air Credit: Mike Pennington

The Rental Rocks, located in Orkney, Scotland, is a prominent coastal feature that takes the form of a headland or point. Situated on the eastern coast of the Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney archipelago, it is a well-known landmark in the region. The Rental Rocks are characterized by their rugged and dramatic appearance, with sheer cliffs rising steeply from the sea.

This coastal feature is composed primarily of sandstone, giving it a distinctive reddish hue. Erosion over thousands of years has shaped the rocks into various formations, including sea stacks, caves, and rocky outcrops. These formations not only add to the visual appeal of the area but also provide habitats for a diverse range of marine and bird species.

The Rental Rocks offer breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline, with panoramic vistas of the North Sea stretching out to the horizon. This makes it a popular spot for nature enthusiasts, hikers, and photographers who are drawn to its natural beauty and unique geological formations.

Visitors to The Rental Rocks can explore the area on foot, following well-marked paths that wind their way along the clifftops. These paths often lead to viewpoints that offer unrivaled vistas of the surrounding landscape and opportunities to spot seabirds such as puffins, fulmars, and guillemots.

In conclusion, The Rental Rocks in Orkney is a striking coastal feature, renowned for its rugged cliffs, sandstone formations, and stunning views. Its accessibility, combined with its natural beauty, makes it a must-visit destination for those exploring the Scottish coastline.

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The Rental Rocks Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.747094/-3.0564233 or Grid Reference ND3884. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Swona, Orkney, from the air
Swona, Orkney, from the air
Skerries at SW tip of Swona The navigation light visible in the background. Photo taken from "Pentalina" ferry between Gills Bay and St Margaret's Hope.
Skerries at SW tip of Swona
The navigation light visible in the background. Photo taken from "Pentalina" ferry between Gills Bay and St Margaret's Hope.
Buildings on Swona
Buildings on Swona
Tails of the Tarf The disturbed water shows some of the dangers of the Pentland Firth for small vessels. Only a small part of the tip of the island of Swona is in this square.
Tails of the Tarf
The disturbed water shows some of the dangers of the Pentland Firth for small vessels. Only a small part of the tip of the island of Swona is in this square.
The Tarf, Swona A navigation beacon at the southern end of the island.
The Tarf, Swona
A navigation beacon at the southern end of the island.
Tails of the Tarf Skerries on the southern tip of Swona, Pentland Firth.
Tails of the Tarf
Skerries on the southern tip of Swona, Pentland Firth.
Swona View from the Pentland Ferries boat passing to the west.
Swona
View from the Pentland Ferries boat passing to the west.
Swona The island is situated in the Pentland Firth where it creates an obstruction to the strong tides producing tidal races, over-falls and whirlpools. One of these whirlpools is known as the ‘Wells of Swona’, and legend has it is caused by a witch struggling to save herself. To quote directly from Westwood and Kingshill’s book “The Lore of Scotland: A guide to Scottish legends”: "A witch once took a fancy to a dark and handsome young man and wanted him for her lover. When she asked him to go to the beach with her, however, he refused, as his sweetheart was at that moment on her way to join him. Concealing her anger, the witch persuaded the young man and his girl to come out with her in her boat. As they approached Swona, she worked a spell on the boat and it overturned. The young man caught his girl’s hand in an attempt to save her, but at the same moment the witch caught hold of his to drag him under the waves and into her power. The three were so entangled that they could not be pulled apart. The young man and his sweetheart were drowned, but the witch is still struggling to get free, and it is her frantic churning of the waters that causes the Wells of Swona." Adapted from my daily photo diary <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.fhithich.uk/?p=25760" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.fhithich.uk/?p=25760">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>
Swona
The island is situated in the Pentland Firth where it creates an obstruction to the strong tides producing tidal races, over-falls and whirlpools. One of these whirlpools is known as the ‘Wells of Swona’, and legend has it is caused by a witch struggling to save herself. To quote directly from Westwood and Kingshill’s book “The Lore of Scotland: A guide to Scottish legends”: "A witch once took a fancy to a dark and handsome young man and wanted him for her lover. When she asked him to go to the beach with her, however, he refused, as his sweetheart was at that moment on her way to join him. Concealing her anger, the witch persuaded the young man and his girl to come out with her in her boat. As they approached Swona, she worked a spell on the boat and it overturned. The young man caught his girl’s hand in an attempt to save her, but at the same moment the witch caught hold of his to drag him under the waves and into her power. The three were so entangled that they could not be pulled apart. The young man and his sweetheart were drowned, but the witch is still struggling to get free, and it is her frantic churning of the waters that causes the Wells of Swona." Adapted from my daily photo diary LinkExternal link
Sooth Clett The island is situated in the Pentland Firth where it creates an obstruction to the strong tides producing tidal races, over-falls and whirlpools. One of these whirlpools is known as the ‘Wells of Swona’, and legend has it is caused by a witch struggling to save herself. To quote directly from Westwood and Kingshill’s book “The Lore of Scotland: A guide to Scottish legends”: "A witch once took a fancy to a dark and handsome young man and wanted him for her lover. When she asked him to go to the beach with her, however, he refused, as his sweetheart was at that moment on her way to join him. Concealing her anger, the witch persuaded the young man and his girl to come out with her in her boat. As they approached Swona, she worked a spell on the boat and it overturned. The young man caught his girl’s hand in an attempt to save her, but at the same moment the witch caught hold of his to drag him under the waves and into her power. The three were so entangled that they could not be pulled apart. The young man and his sweetheart were drowned, but the witch is still struggling to get free, and it is her frantic churning of the waters that causes the Wells of Swona." Adapted from my daily photo diary <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.fhithich.uk/?p=25760" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.fhithich.uk/?p=25760">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>
Sooth Clett
The island is situated in the Pentland Firth where it creates an obstruction to the strong tides producing tidal races, over-falls and whirlpools. One of these whirlpools is known as the ‘Wells of Swona’, and legend has it is caused by a witch struggling to save herself. To quote directly from Westwood and Kingshill’s book “The Lore of Scotland: A guide to Scottish legends”: "A witch once took a fancy to a dark and handsome young man and wanted him for her lover. When she asked him to go to the beach with her, however, he refused, as his sweetheart was at that moment on her way to join him. Concealing her anger, the witch persuaded the young man and his girl to come out with her in her boat. As they approached Swona, she worked a spell on the boat and it overturned. The young man caught his girl’s hand in an attempt to save her, but at the same moment the witch caught hold of his to drag him under the waves and into her power. The three were so entangled that they could not be pulled apart. The young man and his sweetheart were drowned, but the witch is still struggling to get free, and it is her frantic churning of the waters that causes the Wells of Swona." Adapted from my daily photo diary LinkExternal link
Warbister Hill Site of a possible building, an enclosure, a quarry, and a modern triangulation pillar; see “Swona, Warbister Hill | Canmore.” 2021. Canmore.org.uk <<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://canmore.org.uk/site/347495/swona-warbister-hill" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://canmore.org.uk/site/347495/swona-warbister-hill">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> > [accessed 7 June 2021]
Warbister Hill
Site of a possible building, an enclosure, a quarry, and a modern triangulation pillar; see “Swona, Warbister Hill | Canmore.” 2021. Canmore.org.uk <LinkExternal link > [accessed 7 June 2021]
The Haven Seems to be the main access onto the now un-inhabited island. See “Swona, the Haven | Canmore.” 2021. Canmore.org.uk &amp;lt;&lt;span class=&quot;nowrap&quot;&gt;&lt;a title=&quot;https://canmore.org.uk/site/347498/swona-the-haven&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow ugc noopener&quot; href=&quot;https://canmore.org.uk/site/347498/swona-the-haven&quot;&gt;Link&lt;/a&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;margin-left:2px;&quot; alt=&quot;External link&quot; title=&quot;External link - shift click to open in new window&quot; src=&quot;https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png&quot; width=&quot;10&quot; height=&quot;10&quot;/&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &amp;gt; [accessed 7 June 2021] ‌For the farmstead behind see “Swona, Norhead | Canmore.” 2021. Canmore.org.uk &amp;lt;&lt;span class=&quot;nowrap&quot;&gt;&lt;a title=&quot;https://canmore.org.uk/site/345421/swona-norhead&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow ugc noopener&quot; href=&quot;https://canmore.org.uk/site/345421/swona-norhead&quot;&gt;Link&lt;/a&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;margin-left:2px;&quot; alt=&quot;External link&quot; title=&quot;External link - shift click to open in new window&quot; src=&quot;https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png&quot; width=&quot;10&quot; height=&quot;10&quot;/&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &amp;gt; [accessed 7 June 2021]
The Haven
Seems to be the main access onto the now un-inhabited island. See “Swona, the Haven | Canmore.” 2021. Canmore.org.uk <LinkExternal link > [accessed 7 June 2021] ‌For the farmstead behind see “Swona, Norhead | Canmore.” 2021. Canmore.org.uk <LinkExternal link > [accessed 7 June 2021]
Sooth Clett, Swona A close view of this rock feature on the SE shoreline of Swona island. The Pentland Ferries ship &amp;#039;Alfred&amp;#039; took a very different course on this occasion to that taken two weeks previously, the ship hugging the coastlines of both Swona and Stroma. A fellow passenger and regular user of the ferry said that this route close to the islands is often taken depending on the state of tides and currents. On this occasion it appeared to be near full tide, but the eddies, whirlpools and sudden currents around the islands were impressive to see, even on a rare calm day on the Pentland Firth.
Sooth Clett, Swona
A close view of this rock feature on the SE shoreline of Swona island. The Pentland Ferries ship 'Alfred' took a very different course on this occasion to that taken two weeks previously, the ship hugging the coastlines of both Swona and Stroma. A fellow passenger and regular user of the ferry said that this route close to the islands is often taken depending on the state of tides and currents. On this occasion it appeared to be near full tide, but the eddies, whirlpools and sudden currents around the islands were impressive to see, even on a rare calm day on the Pentland Firth.
The Clump o' The Ness, Swona Swona is the more northerly of two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. It lies in the southern approach to Scapa Flow, west of South Ronaldsay. It is administered as part of the Orkney Islands, while Stroma, to the south, is part of the Highland Region (although traditionally part of Caithness). There is no regular access to the island, however, the Pentland Ferries sailing between Gills Bay, near John o&amp;#039; Groats, and St Margaret&amp;#039;s Hope usually passes close to the island, dependent on the tidal direction at the time. Swona is about 1¼ miles long by about ½ mile wide. It is made up of Old Red Sandstone with cliffs on the east coast. There are prehistoric, pre-Norse and Norse remains on the island but it has been uninhabited since 1975. The island is part of the Pentland Firth Islands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to thousands of breeding seabirds, including a colony of Arctic tern on the northern part of the island, and Atlantic puffin which burrow into the hillside.
The Clump o' The Ness, Swona
Swona is the more northerly of two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. It lies in the southern approach to Scapa Flow, west of South Ronaldsay. It is administered as part of the Orkney Islands, while Stroma, to the south, is part of the Highland Region (although traditionally part of Caithness). There is no regular access to the island, however, the Pentland Ferries sailing between Gills Bay, near John o' Groats, and St Margaret's Hope usually passes close to the island, dependent on the tidal direction at the time. Swona is about 1¼ miles long by about ½ mile wide. It is made up of Old Red Sandstone with cliffs on the east coast. There are prehistoric, pre-Norse and Norse remains on the island but it has been uninhabited since 1975. The island is part of the Pentland Firth Islands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to thousands of breeding seabirds, including a colony of Arctic tern on the northern part of the island, and Atlantic puffin which burrow into the hillside.
Abandoned Croft on Swona Swona is the more northerly of two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. It lies in the southern approach to Scapa Flow, west of South Ronaldsay. It is administered as part of the Orkney Islands, while Stroma, to the south, is part of the Highland Region (although traditionally part of Caithness). There is no regular access to the island, however, the Pentland Ferries sailing between Gills Bay, near John o&amp;#039; Groats, and St Margaret&amp;#039;s Hope usually passes close to the island, dependent on the tidal direction at the time. Swona is about 1¼ miles long by about ½ mile wide. It is made up of Old Red Sandstone with cliffs on the east coast. There are prehistoric, pre-Norse and Norse remains on the island but it has been uninhabited since 1975. The island is part of the Pentland Firth Islands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to thousands of breeding seabirds, including a colony of Arctic tern on the northern part of the island, and Atlantic puffin which burrow into the hillside.
Abandoned Croft on Swona
Swona is the more northerly of two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. It lies in the southern approach to Scapa Flow, west of South Ronaldsay. It is administered as part of the Orkney Islands, while Stroma, to the south, is part of the Highland Region (although traditionally part of Caithness). There is no regular access to the island, however, the Pentland Ferries sailing between Gills Bay, near John o' Groats, and St Margaret's Hope usually passes close to the island, dependent on the tidal direction at the time. Swona is about 1¼ miles long by about ½ mile wide. It is made up of Old Red Sandstone with cliffs on the east coast. There are prehistoric, pre-Norse and Norse remains on the island but it has been uninhabited since 1975. The island is part of the Pentland Firth Islands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to thousands of breeding seabirds, including a colony of Arctic tern on the northern part of the island, and Atlantic puffin which burrow into the hillside.
Ruined Building on Swona Swona is the more northerly of two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. It lies in the southern approach to Scapa Flow, west of South Ronaldsay. It is administered as part of the Orkney Islands, while Stroma, to the south, is part of the Highland Region (although traditionally part of Caithness). There is no regular access to the island, however, the Pentland Ferries sailing between Gills Bay, near John o&amp;#039; Groats, and St Margaret&amp;#039;s Hope usually passes close to the island, dependent on the tidal direction at the time. Swona is about 1¼ miles long by about ½ mile wide. It is made up of Old Red Sandstone with cliffs on the east coast. There are prehistoric, pre-Norse and Norse remains on the island but it has been uninhabited since 1975. The island is part of the Pentland Firth Islands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to thousands of breeding seabirds, including a colony of Arctic tern on the northern part of the island, and Atlantic puffin which burrow into the hillside.
Ruined Building on Swona
Swona is the more northerly of two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. It lies in the southern approach to Scapa Flow, west of South Ronaldsay. It is administered as part of the Orkney Islands, while Stroma, to the south, is part of the Highland Region (although traditionally part of Caithness). There is no regular access to the island, however, the Pentland Ferries sailing between Gills Bay, near John o' Groats, and St Margaret's Hope usually passes close to the island, dependent on the tidal direction at the time. Swona is about 1¼ miles long by about ½ mile wide. It is made up of Old Red Sandstone with cliffs on the east coast. There are prehistoric, pre-Norse and Norse remains on the island but it has been uninhabited since 1975. The island is part of the Pentland Firth Islands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to thousands of breeding seabirds, including a colony of Arctic tern on the northern part of the island, and Atlantic puffin which burrow into the hillside.
Swona Lighthouse Swona lighthouse was established on the southwest tip of Swona in 1906 as a minor automatic light. It was originally a cast iron tower but was replaced in 1983 by this white concrete square tower 6 m high.
Swona Lighthouse
Swona lighthouse was established on the southwest tip of Swona in 1906 as a minor automatic light. It was originally a cast iron tower but was replaced in 1983 by this white concrete square tower 6 m high.
Tails of the Tarf Skerries on the southern tip of Swona, Pentland Firth.
Tails of the Tarf
Skerries on the southern tip of Swona, Pentland Firth.
Navigation Beacon on Swona Swona lighthouse was established on the southwest tip of Swona in 1906 as a minor automatic light. It was originally a cast iron tower but was replaced in 1983 by this white concrete square tower 6 m high
Navigation Beacon on Swona
Swona lighthouse was established on the southwest tip of Swona in 1906 as a minor automatic light. It was originally a cast iron tower but was replaced in 1983 by this white concrete square tower 6 m high
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The Rental Rocks is located at Grid Ref: ND3884 (Lat: 58.747094, Lng: -3.0564233)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///friends.thinnest.flattery. Near St Margaret's Hope, Orkney Islands

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