Scara Taing

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

Scara Taing

Wyre: the pier The ferry berthing point is directly opposite the one for Rousay, which we see in the background. The ferries from Tingwall, on the Orkney mainland, serve Rousay and Wyre and also Egilsay, to the north.
Wyre: the pier Credit: Chris Downer

Scara Taing is a prominent coastal feature located on the Orkney Islands, an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland. It is known for its stunning and rugged landscape, characterized by steep cliffs, rocky outcrops, and crashing waves. Scara Taing is specifically identified as a headland or point, jutting out into the North Sea.

The headland offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding coastline and is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, photographers, and hikers. It is renowned for its rich biodiversity, with various seabirds nesting on the cliffs, including puffins, guillemots, and kittiwakes. The headland is also home to a variety of plant species adapted to the harsh coastal conditions.

Scara Taing is geologically fascinating, showcasing layers of sedimentary rocks that provide valuable insights into the area's geological history. Fossilized remains of ancient marine life can sometimes be found embedded within the rocks, offering a glimpse into the region's past.

The headland is easily accessible by foot, with well-maintained paths and trails for visitors to explore. It is advisable to exercise caution near the cliff edges due to the steep drops and unpredictable weather conditions. The headland is also a popular spot for fishing, with anglers often casting their lines from the rocky shoreline.

Overall, Scara Taing is a remarkable coastal feature on the Orkney Islands, offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the rugged beauty of the Scottish coastline and experience the rich natural heritage of the area.

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Scara Taing Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 59.116067/-3.0022643 or Grid Reference HY4225. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Wyre: the pier The ferry berthing point is directly opposite the one for Rousay, which we see in the background. The ferries from Tingwall, on the Orkney mainland, serve Rousay and Wyre and also Egilsay, to the north.
Wyre: the pier
The ferry berthing point is directly opposite the one for Rousay, which we see in the background. The ferries from Tingwall, on the Orkney mainland, serve Rousay and Wyre and also Egilsay, to the north.
Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, Cubbie Roo's Castle was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today.

The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm">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>
Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle
The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, Cubbie Roo's Castle was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today. The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: LinkExternal link
Wyre: arriving at Cubbie Roo’s Castle The visitor to the castle arrives from the southeast and is presented with this information board, although there is another, more modern and more in-depth, board nearby too. It is inscribed with the alternate spelling, Cobbie Row.

The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714482">HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle</a> was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today.

The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo.  It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm">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>

Rousay is in the background.
Wyre: arriving at Cubbie Roo’s Castle
The visitor to the castle arrives from the southeast and is presented with this information board, although there is another, more modern and more in-depth, board nearby too. It is inscribed with the alternate spelling, Cobbie Row. The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today. The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: LinkExternal link Rousay is in the background.
Wyre: looking into Cubbie Roo’s Castle The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714482">HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle</a> was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today.

The foot of the tower contained a water tank which we see below us. The castle entrance would have been on the first floor, probably accessed by a wooden staircase.

The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm">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>

Rousay is in the background.
Wyre: looking into Cubbie Roo’s Castle
The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today. The foot of the tower contained a water tank which we see below us. The castle entrance would have been on the first floor, probably accessed by a wooden staircase. The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: LinkExternal link Rousay is in the background.
Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle and part of its ditch The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714482">HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle</a> was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today.

The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm">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>

In the background, left of the castle we see the island of Egilasy, to the right Eday, and a tip of Rousay just sneaks into the left-hand edge of the picture.
Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle and part of its ditch
The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today. The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: LinkExternal link In the background, left of the castle we see the island of Egilasy, to the right Eday, and a tip of Rousay just sneaks into the left-hand edge of the picture.
Wyre: information board at Cubbie Roo’s Castle The information board in front of us is more detailed than the older one which the visitor first sees (<a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714485">HY4426 : Wyre: arriving at Cubbie Roo’s Castle</a>), and gives a good artist's impression of what the castle may have looked like. Its title gives the alternative spelling, Cobbie Row.

The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714482">HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle</a> was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today.

The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/giants/cubbierow.htm">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>

Rousay is in the background.
Wyre: information board at Cubbie Roo’s Castle
The information board in front of us is more detailed than the older one which the visitor first sees (HY4426 : Wyre: arriving at Cubbie Roo’s Castle), and gives a good artist's impression of what the castle may have looked like. Its title gives the alternative spelling, Cobbie Row. The earliest documented stone-built castle in Scotland, HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle was built around 1145 by a Norwegian named Kolbein Hrúga. It is thought to have consisted of a square tower in the centre of this large mound, with various banks and ditches which are clearly in evidence today. The castle is actually named after an Orkney giant, Cobbie Row or Cubbie Roo, who abounds in folklore hereabouts - for example, some standing and horizontal stones were said to have been thrown by Cubbie Roo. It is easy to see the similarity between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cobbie Row (or Cubbie Roo) - it is thought, but by no means with universal agreement, that the name of the real-life Kolbein Hrúga somehow morphed into that of a folklore giant over the 500 years following Kolbein's lifetime. (Hrúga is Norse for 'heap', so he was probably a big man.) For those interested, the following article is a piece disputing the link between the names Kolbein Hrúga and Cubbie Roo, despite the lexical similarity: LinkExternal link Rousay is in the background.
Wyre: St. Mary’s chapel A 12th-century chapel close to <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714482">HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle</a>, with surrounding burial ground. We are standing in the modern-day burial ground, which is of a similar size to the enclosed churchyard.
Wyre: St. Mary’s chapel
A 12th-century chapel close to HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle, with surrounding burial ground. We are standing in the modern-day burial ground, which is of a similar size to the enclosed churchyard.
Wyre: stile between St. Mary’s chapel and Cubbie Roo’s Castle I am not sure whether this quite fits the definition of 'stile' but it is the crossing point of the churchyard wall on the route from <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714498">HY4426 : Wyre: St. Mary’s chapel</a> to <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714482">HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle</a>.
Wyre: stile between St. Mary’s chapel and Cubbie Roo’s Castle
I am not sure whether this quite fits the definition of 'stile' but it is the crossing point of the churchyard wall on the route from HY4426 : Wyre: St. Mary’s chapel to HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle.
Wyre: St. Mary’s chapel from Cubbie Roo’s Castle Looking back at <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714498">HY4426 : Wyre: St. Mary’s chapel</a> from <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4714482">HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle</a>.

In the distance, the face of Rothiesholm Head on Stronsay is recognisable - there are plenty of closer islands but the line of sight happens to go between them.
Wyre: St. Mary’s chapel from Cubbie Roo’s Castle
Looking back at HY4426 : Wyre: St. Mary’s chapel from HY4426 : Wyre: Cubbie Roo’s Castle. In the distance, the face of Rothiesholm Head on Stronsay is recognisable - there are plenty of closer islands but the line of sight happens to go between them.
Rousay: ferry marshalling area The nearest four cars in the picture (plus there's a fifth vacant lane) are waiting for the arrival of the ferry, whose slipway is directly behind them. The drivers will need to reverse on. The car park extends either side of the marshalling area, so any motorists behind us wishing to move off will have to do so carefully if it coincides with the ferry's arrival.
Rousay: ferry marshalling area
The nearest four cars in the picture (plus there's a fifth vacant lane) are waiting for the arrival of the ferry, whose slipway is directly behind them. The drivers will need to reverse on. The car park extends either side of the marshalling area, so any motorists behind us wishing to move off will have to do so carefully if it coincides with the ferry's arrival.
Rousay: telephone box at Brinian The K8 design of phone box came in in the late 1960s and became a prominent sight up to the late 80s. However, they have diminished to such an extent that there are thought to be only around a dozen still in use today. Orkney has two of them, one being this one in the main village on Rousay, close to the pier.
Rousay: telephone box at Brinian
The K8 design of phone box came in in the late 1960s and became a prominent sight up to the late 80s. However, they have diminished to such an extent that there are thought to be only around a dozen still in use today. Orkney has two of them, one being this one in the main village on Rousay, close to the pier.
Rousay: postbox № KW17 121, Brinian This postbox is of a modern design, constructed of pressed steel and designed to be more robust, rustproof and theft-proof than the traditional cast iron box that it will have replaced in the last couple of years.

This particular style of box is becoming quite commonplace in these remote, exposed parts.
Rousay: postbox № KW17 121, Brinian
This postbox is of a modern design, constructed of pressed steel and designed to be more robust, rustproof and theft-proof than the traditional cast iron box that it will have replaced in the last couple of years. This particular style of box is becoming quite commonplace in these remote, exposed parts.
Rousay: rope art on the pier railing Thin rope has been colourfully wrapped around part of the pier railing; I am not sure whether the upward pointing bit is part of the metalwork; if it is, I can't imagine why it is shaped like that.

Meanwhile, we await the ferry back to Tingwall on the Orkney mainland. It will be here in a few minutes: we can see it docked at Wyre opposite (it has come from Egilsay).
Rousay: rope art on the pier railing
Thin rope has been colourfully wrapped around part of the pier railing; I am not sure whether the upward pointing bit is part of the metalwork; if it is, I can't imagine why it is shaped like that. Meanwhile, we await the ferry back to Tingwall on the Orkney mainland. It will be here in a few minutes: we can see it docked at Wyre opposite (it has come from Egilsay).
Rousay: Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn One of several visitable chambered cairns along the south coast of Rousay, this one is unusual in being a 'double-decker', so to speak. This was a burial chamber some 5,000 years ago, and the two chambers were accessed separately - the upper one from the visible entrance here and the lower one from the opposite side.

Today's visitor can access both chambers from the pictured entrance, as one of the floor slabs has been taken out and a ladder provided.

See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716767">HY4227 : Rousay: inside Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn</a> and <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716768">HY4227 : Rousay: the lower chamber at Taversöe Tuick</a> for interior views.

The island of Wyre is almost wholly spread out in the background.
Rousay: Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn
One of several visitable chambered cairns along the south coast of Rousay, this one is unusual in being a 'double-decker', so to speak. This was a burial chamber some 5,000 years ago, and the two chambers were accessed separately - the upper one from the visible entrance here and the lower one from the opposite side. Today's visitor can access both chambers from the pictured entrance, as one of the floor slabs has been taken out and a ladder provided. See HY4227 : Rousay: inside Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn and HY4227 : Rousay: the lower chamber at Taversöe Tuick for interior views. The island of Wyre is almost wholly spread out in the background.
Rousay: inside Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn Inside the upper chamber of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716761">HY4227 : Rousay: Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn</a>, showing the modern access to the lower chamber - originally it had a separate entrance on the opposite side.
Rousay: inside Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn
Inside the upper chamber of HY4227 : Rousay: Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn, showing the modern access to the lower chamber - originally it had a separate entrance on the opposite side.
Rousay: the lower chamber at Taversöe Tuick Another interior view of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716761">HY4227 : Rousay: Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn</a> after <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4716767">HY4227 : Rousay: inside Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn</a> - this time we are in the lower chamber.
Rousay: the lower chamber at Taversöe Tuick
Another interior view of HY4227 : Rousay: Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn after HY4227 : Rousay: inside Taversöe Tuick chambered cairn - this time we are in the lower chamber.
War Memorial on Rousay The memorial was unveiled on Sunday July 3rd 1921. Many people came to this event as fallen soldiers from both World Wars were honoured and remembered this day. The Orkney Herald, Wednesday July 6th 1921, reported on the event and the following site contains further information about the Memorial and the fallen soldiers.

<span class="nowrap"><a title="http://rousayremembered.com/war-memorial-unveiling/4594227453" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://rousayremembered.com/war-memorial-unveiling/4594227453">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>
War Memorial on Rousay
The memorial was unveiled on Sunday July 3rd 1921. Many people came to this event as fallen soldiers from both World Wars were honoured and remembered this day. The Orkney Herald, Wednesday July 6th 1921, reported on the event and the following site contains further information about the Memorial and the fallen soldiers. LinkExternal link
Approaching Wyre
Approaching Wyre
Show me another place!

Scara Taing is located at Grid Ref: HY4225 (Lat: 59.116067, Lng: -3.0022643)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///jumbled.downcast.runways. Near Brinian, Orkney Islands

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