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Slates of the Altar

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

Slates of the Altar

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

Slates of the Altar is a prominent coastal feature located on the headland of Orkney, a group of islands situated off the northeastern coast of Scotland. This unique geological formation is characterized by a series of jagged cliffs, jutting out into the North Sea, creating a dramatic and awe-inspiring sight.

The name "Slates of the Altar" derives from the distinctive layered appearance of the cliffs, resembling the stacked slates of a religious altar. These layers are composed of sedimentary rocks, primarily sandstone and shale, which have been shaped by millions of years of geological processes.

The cliffs of Slates of the Altar stand tall, reaching heights of up to 50 meters (164 feet), and are known for their striking vertical striations. These patterns are a result of the alternating layers of differently colored rocks, ranging from shades of gray to reddish-brown, which have been exposed through erosion.

The site is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding coastline and sea. It is also home to a diverse array of seabirds, including fulmars, kittiwakes, and guillemots, which nest on the cliff faces during the breeding season.

Access to Slates of the Altar is relatively easy, with a well-maintained footpath leading visitors to the headland. However, caution is advised when exploring the area, as the cliffs can be unstable and subject to erosion. It is recommended to stay on designated paths and avoid venturing too close to the edge for safety reasons.

Overall, Slates of the Altar is a natural wonder of Orkney, captivating visitors with its striking beauty and geological significance.

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Slates of the Altar Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.740607/-3.0523565 or Grid Reference ND3984. 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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Slates of the Altar is located at Grid Ref: ND3984 (Lat: 58.740607, Lng: -3.0523565)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///ponies.agents.alongside. Near St Margaret's Hope, Orkney Islands

Nearby Locations

Hillsberry Slates of the Altar The Bishop The Hole of the Altar Birbinks Hykoch

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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.
The Hole of the Altar Orkney
Haas of the Stack Orkney

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