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SMALL SOUTH ISLES - CAVA, FARA & SWITHA SMALL SOUTH ISLES - CAVA, FARA & SWITHA l l e b p m a C e i r u a L

Greenland Barnacle Geese roost on Switha in the winter “Hoy Head” passing Cava Lighthouse on its way to Lyness CAVA (ON Kalf-ey, Calf in 1898. Originally it was a gun position on Fara in SWITHA (ON Swein-ey, Isle). This small island has a 9.5m cast-iron tower, but this World War II. A narrow Sweyn’s or Sow Isle) is small lighthouse on the north end was replaced by a modern gauge railway partially island to the east of Cantick and it was around it that the fibreglass structure in 1988. encircled the island. It was Head. It is the winter roost for a capital ships of the German Materials and men were trans- used to move ammunition large flock of Greenland High Seas Fleet were moored ported in by helicopter. for the guns and hydrogen Barnacle Geese (Branta leucop- and scuttled. bottles for the balloons. sis), which feed on neighbouring FARA (ON Faer-ey, Sheep South Walls. About 1,000 of There is a record of a murder Island). is situated between Small flat cars were towed these geese winter here, or about taking place in 1774, when Hoy and Flotta was once by a 20hp Ruston Hornsby 4% of the UK population. William Mallich killed Hugh inhabited by several families, locomotive. Although it and Switha is designated as an SPA Inksetter after a fight. Pirate but was deserted in 1947. It is all of the track were to protect them. Lifeboat helicopter installing a new minor light on Cava Gow is said to have left two well named as sheep are its scrapped in the late 1970s, Stromness girls on the island only inhabitants today. The the route of the track can There is an Arctic Tern colony after leaving Stromness in island is quite lightly grazed still be made out. The and Leach's Petrel have been 1725. They were said ti be and in summer the grassy hydrogen was shipped seen here in the summer. The “well treated” and to have heath is full of wild flowers. across from Rinnigill on coastline is mostly rocky with been put ashore with a pile of Waders, Red Grouse and a Hoy. A large gas-production low cliffs but there is a shingle presents. Whether they had few Arctic Terns nest here. plant was built there, and beach at the southeast end, The “unwanted gifts” nine months was ready for operation in Pool, where seals haul out. A later is unrecorded. A large detachment of troops 1944, just in time for the few Grey Seals come ashore on looked after six barrage bal- barrage balloons to be relo- Switha to pup and mate in The lighthouse was installed loon sites and an anti-aircraft cated to London. autumn. Aerial view of Cava, Fara and Longhope from the northeast

Aerial view of Fara from the south Ruined farmstead, Fara Two standing stones and a possi- Aerial view of Switha and Cantick Head from the northeast ble chambered cairn suggest that Switha may possibly have been used in Neolithic times for buri- als. The Noust of Switha is less than 2km from Kirk Bay on Flotta, while The Pool is the same distance from Kirk Hope, making the island easily accessi- ble by small boat.

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SOUTH ISLES - GRAEMSAY SOUTH ISLES - GRAEMSAY

at the Point of Ness in Stromness and by 1851 the lights were operational.

Hoy Low was automated in 1966, while Hoy High wait- ed until 1978. Graemsay is quite different to any other island in Orkney and has a charm all to itself. Covered in wild flowers in summer, it Hoy High lighthouse with Stromness in the background makes a very pleasant stroll on a fine day. The Bay of GRAEMSAY (ON Grims- rocks form Brinkie's Brae in Sandside is particularly ey, Grimr's Isle) lies Stromness and also appear at attractive for a picnic lunch, between Hoy and Stromness Yesnaby. The rest of the and never crowded! and remains completely island is composed of Lower unspoilt. It is separated Stromness flags, as is much In the past many of the from the Mainland by Hoy of the western part of Graemsay men went to sea, Aerial view of Graemsay from the west with Hoy Low Lighthouse, Bay of Sandside and Hoy High Lighthouse Sound and from Hoy by Stromness parish. This does but with the demise of the Burra Sound, both of which not weather to very fertile shore at Oxan. The event on twin mountings were also visit and there are good Hudson's Bay connection, have strong tides, and thus it soil and as a result much of led to the basing of a lifeboat positioned there, but the gun views of the Hoy Hills, Arctic Whaling and the guards the western entrance Graemsay is grassy heath. at Stromness the following emplacement had no over- Stromness and Hoy Sound Iceland Fishery, the popula- to Scapa Flow. The ferry year. head cover. The whole com- from the director tower. tion has now dwindled from which serves Moaness in the Lighthouses In the late plex makes an interesting over 200 to under 30. north of Hoy also serves 1840s two lighthouses, Hoy Coastal Defence Hoy Low Graemsay. High and Hoy Low, were must be the only lighthouse Shipwreck The full-rigged built to act as leading lights anywhere with its own gun ship Albion became a total Geology Outcrops of base- to the western approaches of battery! The twin 6-pounder loss on the Point of Oxan, ment rocks occur rarely in Hoy Sound to clear the sub- battery, with watch tower with the loss of 11 people on Orkney, but these very old merged Bow Rock of Hoy and magazine was installed 1st January 1866. Graemsay granite schist rocks, often and Kirk Rocks off at the Point of Oxan in 1943, man Joseph Mowat was with lumps of whitish quartz Warebeth. At that time there as they were no longer need- drowned during the rescue are prominent on the north was no pier on the island, so ed in Burray once the in the buried in the coast of Graemsay, between a slipway was built at the Barriers had reached suffi- Graemsay kirkyard. Broken the Point of Oxan and the Bay of Sandside. Stone cient height. pottery from the ship’s cargo Bay of Sandside. The same from the North Isles was cut Four searchlights mounted can still be found along the Hoy Low Lighthouse and Coastal Defence Battery, Point of Oxan The ferry “Graemsay” serves Hoy and Graemsay Hoy High Lighthouse from the Point of Ness, Stromness WWII twin 6-pounder mounting, Point of Oxan, Graemsay

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