Beasts of Holm

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Ross-shire

Scotland

Beasts of Holm

Stormy Waves hit Arnish Point Lighthouse Stormy waves batter Arnish Point Lighthouse, Isle of Lewis — Stormy Waves hit Arnish Point Lighthouse Credit: Adam Forsyth

Beasts of Holm is a prominent coastal feature located in Ross-shire, Scotland. It is known for its rugged and dramatic landscape, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers alike. Situated on the eastern edge of the Isle of Lewis, Beasts of Holm is a headland that juts out into the North Atlantic Ocean.

The name "Beasts of Holm" refers to a cluster of small, rocky islets that surround the headland. These islets are teeming with diverse wildlife, including seabirds, seals, and occasionally, otters. The area is also known for its rich marine life, with numerous species of fish and crustaceans inhabiting the surrounding waters.

The headland itself is characterized by towering cliffs, which provide nesting sites for seabirds such as puffins, guillemots, and razorbills. The rugged terrain offers breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean and the surrounding coastline, making it a popular spot for hikers and nature lovers.

Beasts of Holm is also notable for its historical significance. The headland is home to several archaeological sites, including ancient burial grounds and standing stones, which provide insights into the area's human habitation throughout the ages.

Overall, Beasts of Holm in Ross-shire is a captivating coastal feature that encompasses diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes, and a rich history. Its unique combination of natural beauty and cultural heritage makes it an enchanting destination for visitors and locals alike.

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Beasts of Holm Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.187486/-6.3503974 or Grid Reference NB4430. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Stormy Waves hit Arnish Point Lighthouse

Stormy waves batter Arnish Point Lighthouse, Isle of Lewis

Adam Forsyth

Iolaire memorial

In the early hours of New Year's Day 1919 the biggest tragedy ever to affect the Western Isles occurred when H.M.Y. Iolaire carrying soldiers and sailors returning home from the First World War struck rocks within sight of Stornoway harbour. 205 men lost their lives and almost every community in Lewis and Harris was affected with the loss of a father, husband, brother or son. What should have been a joyful celebration at the end of the war turned into years of mourning for these islands and the beginning of the population decline which is still felt in the islands today.

Ralph Greig

Path to the shore

Ralph Greig

A Lewis Rainbow

Ralph Greig

Sewage Windmills "blowing the smell away"

Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches

Ralph Greig

Memorial Cairn

Ralph Greig

Iolaire Monument

The curving strips on the right are the names of the islanders who died in the 'Iolaire' disaster, arranged by the locality where they lived. The longest strips are those communities who lost the largest number of their men. The original monument is in the background.

Anne Burgess

Iolaire Monument

This is the plaque on the monument to the men lost in the 'Iolaire' disaster.

Anne Burgess

Eilean Thuilm

Eilean Thuilm lies just offshore, close to the 'Beasts of Holm', the rocks on which HMY 'Iolaire' was wrecked.

Anne Burgess

Iolaire Monument

This is the original monument commemorating the 'Iolaire' disaster of 1 January 1919.

Anne Burgess

Iolaire Monument

The curving strips on the left are the names of the islanders who died in the 'Iolaire' disaster, arranged by the locality where they lived. The longest strips are those communities who lost the largest number of their men. The original monument is in the background.

Anne Burgess

Old Red Sandstone Conglomerate

Most of Na h-Eileanan an Iar (The Western Isles) is composed of Lewisian Gneiss, apart from a relatively small area of Old Red Sandstone at Stornoway and the Eye Peninsula. This is some of that sandstone, laid down by intermittent floods in a desert environment over 400 million years ago.

Anne Burgess

Arnish Point Lighthouse, Stornoway Harbour

Arnish Point Lighthouse marks the entrance to Stornoway Harbour. As such, it is often referred to as Stornoway Lighthouse. Designed by Alan Stevenson of the famous Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers, it is located on a headland on the west side of the entrance to Stornoway Harbour, about 3 miles south of the town. The lighthouse is unusual in that it is made of iron, rather than stone, and was the Northern Lighthouse Board’s first prefabricated lighthouse. The light was continuously manned from 1852 until it was automated in 1963 and the cottages that housed the keepers were subsequently sold.

David Dixon

Arnish Point Lateral Marker Buoy

Lateral Marks are used generally to mark the sides of well-defined, navigable channels. They are coloured red (port hand marks) and green (starboard hand marks) and indicate the port and starboard hand sides of the route to be followed.

David Dixon

Cala Ghlumaig -Arnish Point Industrial Estate

David Dixon

Isle of Lewis, Holm Point, Iolaire Monument

The obelisk on top of the cliff is the Iolaire Monument, a memorial to those who died on the Admiralty yacht HMY Iolaire which was carrying 280 Island servicemen returning home from the Great War when it sank at the entrance to Stornoway harbour on New Year’s Day 1919. 205 of the passengers, of whom 181 were islanders, were lost in the tragedy. NB4430 : The Iolaire Plaque

David Dixon

Beasts of Holm (Biastan Thuilm)

The Beasts of Holm are dangerous rocks lying just offshore at the entrance to Stornoway Harbour. On New Year’s Day in 1919, the Admiralty yacht HMY Iolaire which was carrying 280 servicemen returning home from the Great War sank here with the loss of 205 passengers, of whom 181 were islanders. A yellow buoy marks the site of the wreckage and a memorial on Holm Point (behind) commemorates the disaster. NB4430 : The Iolaire Plaque

David Dixon