1. Home
  2. Scotland
  3. Highlands and Islands
  4. Orkney Islands
  5. Orkney
  6. Gillieselly

Gillieselly

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

Gillieselly

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

Gillieselly is a prominent headland located on the coast of Orkney, an archipelago situated off the northeastern coast of Scotland. This coastal feature is renowned for its striking natural beauty and dramatic cliffs, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.

Rising to an impressive height of approximately 150 feet, Gillieselly commands breathtaking views of the surrounding waters and the vast expanse of the North Sea. The headland boasts rugged cliffs that have been shaped by the relentless force of the crashing waves, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for onlookers.

The area surrounding Gillieselly is rich in biodiversity, serving as a haven for various species of seabirds such as fulmars, kittiwakes, and puffins. Birdwatchers flock to this spot to observe and appreciate the diverse avian population that calls Gillieselly home.

In addition to its natural splendor, Gillieselly also holds historical significance. It is believed to have been a site of strategic importance during ancient times, with remnants of Iron Age settlements and fortifications found in the vicinity. These archaeological remains provide valuable insights into the early human habitation of Orkney and the cultural heritage of the region.

Access to Gillieselly is relatively easy, with a well-maintained coastal path leading visitors to the headland. The path offers stunning vistas along the way, adding to the overall experience. Whether it is to witness the power of nature, observe birdlife, or explore the historical remnants, Gillieselly offers a captivating and memorable coastal experience for all who venture to this picturesque headland.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Gillieselly Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.751614/-2.9869823 or Grid Reference ND4285. 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.
View west from the Pentland Venture ferry Just before entering the port at Burwick
View west from the Pentland Venture ferry
Just before entering the port at Burwick
St Mary's Church, Burwick Old St Mary’s is in the very south of the south parish at Burwick. It is on the site where the first Christian missionaries reputedly arrived in Orkney. The church is thought to have last been used for regular worship around 1959, then used for occasional services until around 1995. It is on the Churches at Risk register, especially since it was struck by lightning in 2013.
St Mary's Church, Burwick
Old St Mary’s is in the very south of the south parish at Burwick. It is on the site where the first Christian missionaries reputedly arrived in Orkney. The church is thought to have last been used for regular worship around 1959, then used for occasional services until around 1995. It is on the Churches at Risk register, especially since it was struck by lightning in 2013.
Pentland Venture ferry at Burwick
Pentland Venture ferry at Burwick
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
Waiting for the ferry at Burwick Pier
Waiting for the ferry at Burwick Pier
St Mary's Church, Burwick A better view of the church than when we arrived earlier in the day <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7443070">ND4384 : St Mary's Church, Burwick</a>. Old St Mary’s is in the very south of the south parish at Burwick. It is on the site where the first Christian missionaries reputedly arrived in Orkney. The church is thought to have last been used for regular worship around 1959, then used for occasional services until around 1995. It is on the Churches at Risk register, especially since it was struck by lightning in 2013.
St Mary's Church, Burwick
A better view of the church than when we arrived earlier in the day ND4384 : St Mary's Church, Burwick. Old St Mary’s is in the very south of the south parish at Burwick. It is on the site where the first Christian missionaries reputedly arrived in Orkney. The church is thought to have last been used for regular worship around 1959, then used for occasional services until around 1995. It is on the Churches at Risk register, especially since it was struck by lightning in 2013.
Breakwater at Burwick Ferry Port
Breakwater at Burwick Ferry Port
John o' Groats ferry arrives at Burwick Summer sailings across the Pentland Firth
John o' Groats ferry arrives at Burwick
Summer sailings across the Pentland Firth
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.
Approaching the harbour at Burwick, Orkney Islands Taken from the John O'Groats ferry.
Approaching the harbour at Burwick, Orkney Islands
Taken from the John O'Groats ferry.
Bur Wick Pier The end of the pier at Bur Wick
Bur Wick Pier
The end of the pier at Bur Wick
A feather? A beautiful fold in the rocks of The Wing.
A feather?
A beautiful fold in the rocks of The Wing.
Castle Skerry Another small headland by Bur Wick
Castle Skerry
Another small headland by Bur Wick
Modern concrete pier At Burwick, South Ronaldsay built to facilitate tourist access to Orkney from John o'Groats.
Modern concrete pier
At Burwick, South Ronaldsay built to facilitate tourist access to Orkney from John o'Groats.
Bur Wick Pier Route to John o' Groats in the summer months, although with the recent problems on the Scrabster to Stromness route, discussions have revisited the idea of Pentland Ferries opening a route from here to Gills Bay for vehicles and foot passengers which would reduce the journey time to around 30 minutes.
Bur Wick Pier
Route to John o' Groats in the summer months, although with the recent problems on the Scrabster to Stromness route, discussions have revisited the idea of Pentland Ferries opening a route from here to Gills Bay for vehicles and foot passengers which would reduce the journey time to around 30 minutes.
Ferry terminal at Bur Wick Reinforced defences to protect the harbour and pier in South Ronaldsay.
Ferry terminal at Bur Wick
Reinforced defences to protect the harbour and pier in South Ronaldsay.
Show me another place!

Gillieselly is located at Grid Ref: ND4285 (Lat: 58.751614, Lng: -2.9869823)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///spilled.onlookers.boil. Near St Margaret's Hope, Orkney Islands

Nearby Locations

Barth Head Moi Geo Sinilie Gillieselly Barth Skerry Riggen

Related Wikis

Burwick, Orkney
Burwick, Orkney

Burwick () is a small harbour on the island of South Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It is the closest Orkney harbour to the Scottish mainland...

HMS Opal (1915)
HMS Opal (1915)

HMS Opal was an Admiralty M-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She served in the First World War following her construction at Sunderland in 1915. Attached...

Liddle Burnt Mound
Liddle Burnt Mound

Liddle Burnt Mound is a Bronze Age site on the island of South Ronaldsay, Orkney. The site consists of the remains of a building and a mound that surrounds...

Tomb of the Eagles
Tomb of the Eagles

The Tomb of the Eagles, or Isbister Chambered Cairn, is a Neolithic chambered tomb located on a cliff edge at Isbister on South Ronaldsay in Orkney, Scotland...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 58.751614,-2.9869823
North Barth Clivie
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 58.7546745/-2.9897509
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Moi Geo Orkney
Selki Holes Orkney

Have you been to Gillieselly?

Leave your review of Gillieselly below (or comments, questions and feedback).

© 2024 UK Place Database | Privacy