St John's Geo

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

St John's Geo

Eastward House, A961 near Barswick, South Ronaldsay Built in 1873 by local residents for the Church of Scotland, it is now (2014) a home offering B & B.
Eastward House, A961 near Barswick, South Ronaldsay Credit: Jo and Steve Turner

St John's Geo is a prominent coastal feature located on the island of Orkney in Scotland. It is classified as a headland, also commonly referred to as a point, due to its distinct and protruding landform into the sea.

Situated on the northeastern coast of Orkney, St John's Geo offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding ocean and rugged cliffs. The headland is characterized by its towering cliffs that reach heights of up to 50 meters, providing a dramatic backdrop to the wild and untamed coastline.

The geology of St John's Geo is predominantly composed of sandstone and shale, which have been shaped over thousands of years by the relentless pounding of the waves. This natural erosion has created fascinating geological formations, including sea caves, arches, and stacks, adding to the allure and uniqueness of the headland.

St John's Geo is also home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, making it an important ecological site. The cliffs provide nesting grounds for various seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, and puffins, while seals can often be seen basking on the rocks below.

Access to St John's Geo is relatively easy, with a well-maintained footpath leading to the headland from the nearby village. Visitors can enjoy leisurely walks along the cliff edge, taking in the stunning coastal scenery and observing the abundant wildlife.

Overall, St John's Geo is a captivating coastal feature that showcases the raw beauty of Orkney's coastline. Its dramatic cliffs, geological formations, and diverse wildlife make it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a peaceful retreat by the sea.

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St John's Geo Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.758785/-2.9912132 or Grid Reference ND4286. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Eastward House, A961 near Barswick, South Ronaldsay Built in 1873 by local residents for the Church of Scotland, it is now (2014) a home offering B & B.
Eastward House, A961 near Barswick, South Ronaldsay
Built in 1873 by local residents for the Church of Scotland, it is now (2014) a home offering B & B.
Farmland, Mossetter
Farmland, Mossetter
Loch of Lythe  Small loch near Ossquoy, the farm on the right
Loch of Lythe
Small loch near Ossquoy, the farm on the right
Tomison's Academy Founded under the will of William Tomison (1739-1829) of the Hudson's Bay Company. 
This former school is now empty and the adjacent buildings falling into dereliction
Tomison's Academy
Founded under the will of William Tomison (1739-1829) of the Hudson's Bay Company. This former school is now empty and the adjacent buildings falling into dereliction
Aerial view of southern South Ronaldsay Taken from a flight to Shetland via Orkney this is the southern end of the southernmost of the main islands of Orkney, South Ronaldsay.
Obviously aerial photos such as this cover many squares, so I have taken the subject reference as Barth Head, which is the little sticky-out point nearest the camera.
Aerial view of southern South Ronaldsay
Taken from a flight to Shetland via Orkney this is the southern end of the southernmost of the main islands of Orkney, South Ronaldsay. Obviously aerial photos such as this cover many squares, so I have taken the subject reference as Barth Head, which is the little sticky-out point nearest the camera.
Castle Skerry
Castle Skerry
The deserted croft of Greenvale Deserted and derelict.
The deserted croft of Greenvale
Deserted and derelict.
Inside Greenvale Looking into one of the rooms. A very similar atmosphere as in those on Swona, which Greenvale overlooks.
Inside Greenvale
Looking into one of the rooms. A very similar atmosphere as in those on Swona, which Greenvale overlooks.
Greenvale Possibly the original dwelling. Swona on the horizon in the background.
Greenvale
Possibly the original dwelling. Swona on the horizon in the background.
The Haven, Barswick On Sundays, the inhabitants of Swona used to cross to South Ronaldsay in an open boat and would land here. This building is where they would then change into "Sunday Best" before walking across the fields to the kirk (ND441856). After the service, the process was reversed. What people!
The Haven, Barswick
On Sundays, the inhabitants of Swona used to cross to South Ronaldsay in an open boat and would land here. This building is where they would then change into "Sunday Best" before walking across the fields to the kirk (ND441856). After the service, the process was reversed. What people!
Dunda House
Dunda House
Osquoy Farm on South Ronaldsay.
Osquoy
Farm on South Ronaldsay.
Old school, Cleat A former school building on South Ronaldsay.
Old school, Cleat
A former school building on South Ronaldsay.
Hay field, Lythe The deep muddy ruts illustrate what an appalling Summer it was in 2015.  Orkney had a particularly hard time and hay and straw had to be bought in for the Winter.
Hay field, Lythe
The deep muddy ruts illustrate what an appalling Summer it was in 2015. Orkney had a particularly hard time and hay and straw had to be bought in for the Winter.
Greenquoy
Greenquoy
A961 passing Lythe A fast and empty road, ideal for a calm evening.  Unfortunately it is extremely rare in Orkney for milages to be displayed and I had no idea how far it was to St Margaret's Hope.
A961 passing Lythe
A fast and empty road, ideal for a calm evening. Unfortunately it is extremely rare in Orkney for milages to be displayed and I had no idea how far it was to St Margaret's Hope.
Track to Beedies This has been a smithy and more recently operates as a Garden Furniture shop.
Track to Beedies
This has been a smithy and more recently operates as a Garden Furniture shop.
Dundas House Dundas House was the home of William Tomison (1739-1829) who made a fortune with the Hudson's Bay Company, and endowed 
<a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5812424">ND4485 : Tomison's Academy</a> nearby.
Dundas House
Dundas House was the home of William Tomison (1739-1829) who made a fortune with the Hudson's Bay Company, and endowed ND4485 : Tomison's Academy nearby.
Show me another place!

St John's Geo is located at Grid Ref: ND4286 (Lat: 58.758785, Lng: -2.9912132)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///caravans.pupils.customers. Near St Margaret's Hope, Orkney Islands

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 58.758785,-2.9912132
North Barth Clivie
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 58.7546745/-2.9897509
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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