Cullya Blet

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Orkney

Scotland

Cullya Blet

Mirkady Point, Deerness, from the air
Mirkady Point, Deerness, from the air Credit: Mike Pennington

Cullya Blet is a prominent coastal feature located on the northeastern coast of Orkney, an archipelago in northern Scotland. It is a headland characterized by its rugged cliffs and rocky terrain, jutting out into the North Sea. The name "Cullya Blet" is derived from the Orcadian dialect, with "Cullya" referring to a small hill or knoll and "Blet" meaning a cliff or precipice.

The headland offers breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline, with its towering cliffs providing a nesting site for various seabirds, including guillemots, puffins, and kittiwakes. This makes Cullya Blet a popular destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

The rocky shores and hidden coves around Cullya Blet are also home to a diverse range of marine life, including seals, dolphins, and even occasional sightings of whales. The area is known for its rich biodiversity, with various plant species thriving in the coastal habitat.

Cullya Blet is accessible by foot, and there are several walking trails that lead to the headland, allowing visitors to explore the stunning coastal landscape and observe the wildlife in its natural habitat. The headland also provides a vantage point for panoramic views of the surrounding sea and nearby islands.

Overall, Cullya Blet is a remarkable coastal feature in Orkney, offering a blend of natural beauty, wildlife diversity, and stunning vistas that attract both locals and tourists alike.

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Cullya Blet Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.951022/-2.7809495 or Grid Reference HY5507. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Mirkady Point, Deerness, from the air
Mirkady Point, Deerness, from the air
Keigar and Eve's Loch, Deerness, from the air
Keigar and Eve's Loch, Deerness, from the air
Od Points On Mirkady Point one looks south and left to Scarf Point and right, here, to the Point of Od.
Oddly, another is nearby <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2720656">HY5404 : The Point of Od</a>
Od Points
On Mirkady Point one looks south and left to Scarf Point and right, here, to the Point of Od. Oddly, another is nearby HY5404 : The Point of Od
Mirkady Herring Curing Station The building is well photographed but its history is not widely known.
Built in 1846 by Mr Groat of Newhall it was used for about 30 years as a Herring Curing Station. It is remarkably intact and now a Cat. B listed building.
More information here <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/3013/details/mirkady+point+herring+curing+station/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/3013/details/mirkady+point+herring+curing+station/">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> and <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-46146-deerness-mirkady-point-mirkady-fishing-st" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-46146-deerness-mirkady-point-mirkady-fishing-st">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>
Mirkady Herring Curing Station
The building is well photographed but its history is not widely known. Built in 1846 by Mr Groat of Newhall it was used for about 30 years as a Herring Curing Station. It is remarkably intact and now a Cat. B listed building. More information here LinkExternal link and LinkExternal link
Repentance Stools - Dale of Helzie Repenting Stools on old maps. Nothing in Archives nor on the Web gave a clue as to the origin of the name.
Just below Dot, in the cliffs, are the Hidie Holes <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2870578">HY5608 : The Hidie Holes of Helzie</a> (where local men avoided the Press Gangs). There is a clear mention of those in the original OS surveyor's notes.
Repentance Stools - Dale of Helzie
Repenting Stools on old maps. Nothing in Archives nor on the Web gave a clue as to the origin of the name. Just below Dot, in the cliffs, are the Hidie Holes HY5608 : The Hidie Holes of Helzie (where local men avoided the Press Gangs). There is a clear mention of those in the original OS surveyor's notes.
The Hidie Holes of Helzie It is in these holes, so I read in Kirkwall Archives, that local men hid from the Press Gangs.
Just below the Repenting or Repentance Stools <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2842749">HY5608 : Repentance Stools - Dale of Helzie</a>, they are only just accessible from the land and are, indeed, excellent hiding places, but only on a calm day!
The Hidie Holes of Helzie
It is in these holes, so I read in Kirkwall Archives, that local men hid from the Press Gangs. Just below the Repenting or Repentance Stools HY5608 : Repentance Stools - Dale of Helzie, they are only just accessible from the land and are, indeed, excellent hiding places, but only on a calm day!
Otter Geo Archways Just out from the geo are a series of arches and fissures.
The rock structure enables sea-erosion to produce stacked columns. Some look very weak but have obviously withstood many years of onslaught
This arch is seen from above in Ian's <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1116461">HY5508 : Boulder beach with stacks and arches</a>.
Otter Geo Archways
Just out from the geo are a series of arches and fissures. The rock structure enables sea-erosion to produce stacked columns. Some look very weak but have obviously withstood many years of onslaught This arch is seen from above in Ian's HY5508 : Boulder beach with stacks and arches.
The Castle - Helzie The Castle on old maps Muckle Castle on newer ones.
Easily seen from above but there are three 'castles' to be found.
<a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2870578">HY5608 : The Hidie Holes of Helzie</a> are just seen in this picture
The Castle - Helzie
The Castle on old maps Muckle Castle on newer ones. Easily seen from above but there are three 'castles' to be found. HY5608 : The Hidie Holes of Helzie are just seen in this picture
Little Castle - Helzie Peerie Castle on modern maps, this is attached to the land.
Look closely through the fissure to see the Covenanter's Memorial.
There are many stacks here, none are definitively labelled on the map but it is a wondrous place for exploring by small boat (on a calm day!)
Little Castle - Helzie
Peerie Castle on modern maps, this is attached to the land. Look closely through the fissure to see the Covenanter's Memorial. There are many stacks here, none are definitively labelled on the map but it is a wondrous place for exploring by small boat (on a calm day!)
Chair for the Devil - Helzie Well, maybe THIS is the Trow's Stool <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2870605">HY5608 : Trow's Stool of Helzie</a> but I think it's a chair, stools do not have backs, do they?
Anyway it is close to the other one, so perhaps there was a Wicked Witch too.
Chair for the Devil - Helzie
Well, maybe THIS is the Trow's Stool HY5608 : Trow's Stool of Helzie but I think it's a chair, stools do not have backs, do they? Anyway it is close to the other one, so perhaps there was a Wicked Witch too.
The Old House, Mikardy Point Late on a summers evening just after sunset the yellow lichen on the roof of the old house at Mikardy Point shows up well against the steely blue sky.
Apparently an old herring curing station.:-
<a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2723377" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2723377">Link</a>
The Old House, Mikardy Point
Late on a summers evening just after sunset the yellow lichen on the roof of the old house at Mikardy Point shows up well against the steely blue sky. Apparently an old herring curing station.:- Link
Hurnip's Point View Half an hour after sunset and the light is stunning. The old herring station at Mikardy Point seen from Hurnip's Point. Beyond is Wideford Hill above Kirkwall.
Hurnip's Point View
Half an hour after sunset and the light is stunning. The old herring station at Mikardy Point seen from Hurnip's Point. Beyond is Wideford Hill above Kirkwall.
Orcadian Summer Sky Heading towards midnight and the light is moving round to the north - a typical orcadian sky in the summertime - when the weather is fine!
Looking towards Mikardy Point from Braebuster.
Orcadian Summer Sky
Heading towards midnight and the light is moving round to the north - a typical orcadian sky in the summertime - when the weather is fine! Looking towards Mikardy Point from Braebuster.
Halley Beach Sunset Enjoying the late Orcadian evening on Halley Beach, Deerness - the sun is just about to set over Tankerness.
Halley Beach Sunset
Enjoying the late Orcadian evening on Halley Beach, Deerness - the sun is just about to set over Tankerness.
Triangulation pillar, Ward Hill, Deerness, Orkney The buildings behind are part of the <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/14752">HY5607 : Deerness WWII Chain Home Low radar station</a>.
Triangulation pillar, Ward Hill, Deerness, Orkney
The buildings behind are part of the HY5607 : Deerness WWII Chain Home Low radar station.
Trig point at The Ward, Deerness
Trig point at The Ward, Deerness
Malisburgh
Malisburgh
The Ward Easy bag up the farm lane to trig point with Jim Bloomer and Tricky Speirs.
Name: The Ward
Hill number: 12221
Height: 87m / 285ft
Parent (Ma/M): 1554  Wideford Hill
Area:23: Orkney Islands
Class: 0
Grid ref:HY568073 (est)
Drop: 86m
Col: 1m  HY548034
The Ward
Easy bag up the farm lane to trig point with Jim Bloomer and Tricky Speirs. Name: The Ward Hill number: 12221 Height: 87m / 285ft Parent (Ma/M): 1554 Wideford Hill Area:23: Orkney Islands Class: 0 Grid ref:HY568073 (est) Drop: 86m Col: 1m HY548034
Show me another place!

Cullya Blet is located at Grid Ref: HY5507 (Lat: 58.951022, Lng: -2.7809495)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///earlobes.hounded.fleet. Near Deerness, Orkney Islands

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Located within 500m of 58.951022,-2.7809495
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Lat/Long: 58.9525498/-2.7759976
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Lat/Long: 58.9518107/-2.7735377
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Lat/Long: 58.9498255/-2.7731419
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