Point of Holm Sound

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

Point of Holm Sound

Aerogenerator on Shapinsay Taken from the Shetland-Orkney ferry at dusk. Exact position to be ascertained. — Aerogenerator on Shapinsay Credit: Mike Pennington

Point of Holm Sound is a prominent coastal feature located on the island of Orkney, Scotland. Situated on the eastern coast of the island, this headland juts out into the waters of Holm Sound, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The Point is characterized by its rugged and rocky terrain, with cliffs that drop dramatically into the sea below.

The Point of Holm Sound is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It is home to diverse marine and birdlife, making it a haven for birdwatching and wildlife spotting. Visitors can often observe seabirds such as puffins, guillemots, and gannets nesting in the cliffs, while seals and otters can occasionally be spotted swimming in the waters below.

The Point also holds historical significance, with the remnants of a World War II gun emplacement still visible on its top. These structures serve as a reminder of the island's strategic importance during the war. Additionally, the Point of Holm Sound offers visitors a chance to explore the nearby Brough of Deerness, an uninhabited island accessed by a causeway at low tide.

The rugged beauty and rich biodiversity of Point of Holm Sound make it an ideal destination for those seeking a unique and immersive coastal experience. Whether it's admiring the stunning views, observing wildlife, or delving into Orkney's history, this headland offers something for everyone to enjoy.

Show me another place!

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

Point of Holm Sound Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 59.029909/-2.8935542 or Grid Reference HY4816. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Aerogenerator on Shapinsay

Taken from the Shetland-Orkney ferry at dusk. Exact position to be ascertained.

Mike Pennington

Shapinsay: South Church

The ruined church has an unusually positioned bell, in the little enclosure ahead of us, which makes me think that it was originally a small tower.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: inside the South Church

A sad sight, it is clearly many years since HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church last hosted a congregation.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the South Church from the southeast

Another view of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church. The picture was cunningly taken in the briefest of moments when a child, the son of a man mowing the grass, was hidden behind one of the gravestones.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: old toilet (?) at South Church

Situated in a small brick/stone compound at the east end of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church, the thing on the wall is clearly a cistern but below it seems to be some kind of small furnace - definitely not something to go on!

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the South Church from the east

This view of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church takes in the Balfour family's burial compound, a separate building on the east side of the churchyard.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the Balfour burial compound

Looking rather like a little ruined church itself, the Balfours' burial place is this building in the churchyard of the South Church - see HY5016 : Shapinsay: the South Church from the east.

Chris Downer

South Kirk

Both the kirk, built in 1822, and the Balfour Burial Aisle on the left, are Category B Listed. See Link

and Link

for information.

Anne Burgess

Hamar

The isolated house stands above fields being harvested for hay.

Anne Burgess

Ground-level Belfry

Outside the ruins of South Church.

Anne Burgess

South Kirk

Inside the kirk are several picnic benches.

Anne Burgess

Window of the Balfour Aisle

The north-facing window of Link

Anne Burgess

Hebe?

This plant, whatever it is, has colonised the walls of the ruined Balfour burial Aisle.

Anne Burgess

Balfour Burial Aisle

The Aisle is dated 1656 but was adopted as the family burial place of the Balfours about 1800.

Anne Burgess

South Kirkyard

The graveyard lies beside the now disused South Kirk.

Anne Burgess

South Kirk and Kirkyard

The kirk was built in 1822.

Anne Burgess

Shapinsay Graveyard, Orkney Islands

The roofless building in the centre of the image is the crypt of the Balfour family, foremost pioneering family of the island. This is the eastern portion of the cemetery.

C Michael Hogan