ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 20:21 Page 304 WEST MAINLAND - EVIE MAINLAND - EVIE t h behind the beach, but these g i r y have been largely reduced p o c by sand-extraction, and are n w o only slowly regenerating. r C All the same the beach still makes a pleasant walk. It is very good for "Spoots" (Razor Fish) at extreme low tides. The changing light affords a wide range of colours on the waters of Eynhallow Sound. Eynhallow Sound from the Sands of Evie - or Aikerness as it is called in Orkney This is also a good area to search for seaside plants. Apparently it was thrown EVIE (ON Efja, back-cur- at its most impressive when into the sea by the farmer so rent in a river, referring to a Spring Ebb and a north- that the Crown could not Aikerness Bay and the westerly gale coincide. The claim it! One can only spec- strong tide which sweeps Vikings called it Efjusund. ulate on the folly of this self- past like a river) faces ish person, spurred on by Eynhallow Sound and Coastline The parish has a state greed. The remains of Rousay. The Burgar Rõst, dramatic and varied coast- further two brochs lie nearby which forms between line. Costa Hill with the at Knowe of Grugar Eynhallow and Costa is a 125m-high cliffs at Costa (HY35727) and Knowe of ferocious tide-race which is Head lies to the west and Stenso (HY364267), while m overlooks a rugged coast there is a further one at the u e s Craig of Ritten (HY401249), u which goes all the way to Broch of Burgar Costa Head has dramatic 125m-high cliffs M Grit Ness. The Sands of near Woodwick. th y The car makes an excellent had discovered a flight of Justice, 17 century-style e n k Evie, or Aikerness (ON stairs leading down into the About 1630 a young girl was r hide to observe wading birds O Akra-nes, Arable Land and sea ducks. Seals are In 1929, Robert Rendall the knowe. What was to accused of child murder and Point), is one of the best often to be seen, and Otters well-known poet, antiquari- become known as the Broch sentenced to death in the beaches in the West are quite common along the an and naturalist, was sitting of Gurness was soon to be manner of the times. She Mainland. more sheltered shores. on the Knowe o’Aikerness excavated. The name was “to be taken to Olly sketching the scene. One of “Gurness” is most likely a Smith, the lockman, have her Formerly there was a large Brochs In the short distance the legs of his stool sank into corruption of Aikerness. hands bund behind her back, Pictish symbol stone from Gurness expanse of sand dunes between Costa and a hole, and before long he Eynhallow Sound from Burgar Hill Woodwick, there are at least Summer sunset down Eynhallow Sound The Burgar Rõst with Eynhallow monastery six brochs, five of which are small compared to the mas- sive Broch of Gurness. The Broch of Costa is the most westerly and sited to be invisible from the seaward. Burgar Broch (HY353277), at the Point of Hisber, was excavated in the 19th century and a Pictish silver hoard was found. 304 305 ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 20:21 Page 306 WEST MAINLAND - EVIE MAINLAND - EVIE oned, only to be released From the hide all of when the “experts” are Orkney’s moorland birds proven fallible. may be seen, including Merlin, Hen Harrier, Short- Aerogenerators Attempts eared Owl and Whimbrel. to harness the energy of the Take the signposted road off wind have been made in the A966 for access. Parts of Evie since the early 1950s, the Reserve can also be when a prototype aerogener- reached by the many peat ator was installed on Costa tracks which lead into the Hill. Unfortunately it blew hill. down in a big gale in 1953. In the 1980s several experi- Mammals In recent years Red-throated Diver (Loom) mental wind turbines were Basking Sharks have been built on Burgar Hill seen in Eynhallow Sound, per- along the shore, or foraging among the seaweed, especial- (HY343261, 259m), and haps feeding on plankton EVIE ATTRACTIONS now three large turbines stirred up by the rapid change ly near the Broch of Gurness. Broch of Gurness generate electricity. The in depth in the Burgar Rõst Otters may also be seen in Broch of Burgar location was chosen due to which goes from less than Evie, and the Burn of Desso at Knowe of Stenso the high average windspeeds 10m to more than 20m in a Aikerness and the Woodwick Lowrie’s Water prevalent in Orkney. Issues short distance. Common Burn being likely spots in the Peerie Water such as nature conservation Seals are often seen hauled out gloaming. Loomachun and amenity limit the num- Burgar Hill ber of possible sites in Aerogenerators Orkney for such develop- The Woolshed Sands of Aikerness ments. Craft workshop producing traditional Woodwick knitwear, homemade felt goods and Birsay Moors RSPB Reserve Aerogenerators on Burgar Hill Research is also being con- sheepskin rugs. North Ronaldsay wool Hillside Road convoyed by the said lock- than seek the real cause of ducted on the tidal flows of in natural colours for handknitters. Eynhallow Sound man to the oise mouth, and death. Eynhallow Sound to see if it Benlaw, Costa, Evie KW17 2NN Costa Head drowned in the sea to the would be a suitable location Tel (01856) 751305 death”. At a time when In four centuries we have to install an experimental infant mortality was no not moved very far. Today tidal generator. While the Woodwick Burn and woods doubt very high, it must mothers are still persecuted amounts of energy involved have been convenient to for infanticide by the estab- are very large, the engineer- Woodwick House murder the mother rather lishment, and often impris- ing problems are also huge. Country House Hotel The first experimental aerogenerator was on Costa Hill Birsay Moors RSPB “An extraordinary, Reserve spills over into peaceful location set Evie, and there is a bird-hide in beautiful sur- at Lowrie's Water roundings with blue- (HY345257), from where bell woodland, burn breeding Red-throated Divers can be observed and secluded bay.” without causing any distur- Our superb cuisine makes use of prime local produce bance. The adult’s calls can and seafood.Open to non-residents, Full licensed with often be heard as they fly selection of Orkney malts and ales. Open all year. back and forth from their fishing grounds. Tel (01856) 751330 www.woodwickhouse.co.uk 306 307 ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 20:22 Page 308 BROCH OF GURNESS (OR AIKERNESS) IRON AGE BROCH AND VILLAGE may not be untypical. The A recent transliteration of tower would have been an this inscription suggests that excellent source of building it is in fact in Old Norse and stone once it had fallen out reads, “INEITTEMUN|MATS, of use. in memory of Mats”. The context of this find is Originally there was a cen- unknown, but the argument tral hearth and an under- is persuasive. The knife- ground well with steps going blade has sadly become lost down to a collecting tank, since being found in 1931. while the subdivisions seem Broch of Gurness from the west to be a later addition. Within Parts of a Roman amphora the space between the broch which dates from AD60 or and the ramparts is a small earlier were found during village which might have excavations in the 1930s. Aerial view of the Broch of Gurness from the northeast accommodated up to 30 or These were used to transport The Broch of Gurness excellent defensive position, more families. wine or olives. Roman pot- (HY383269) is one of adjacent good farmland, a m tery was also found at Oxtro u e Orkney's best-preserved fine beach for hauling boats s u and Midhowe brochs, while brochs. The domestic build- and nearby fishing grounds M coins were recovered from y e ings around it are more make it easy to see why the n the Broch of Lingro. k r extensive and have survived site was chosen. O Whether the artefacts are the Broch of Gurness from the east showing massive defensive walls and village better than those at any other result of trade, exchange or S broch. The view down The houses at the entry gate are the remains of booty will M Pictish comb from Buckquoy, Birsay N Eynhallow Sound is one of were rebuilt in their present probably never be known. the best in Orkney. The position as they were This village appears to have m removed to expose earlier u been occupied while the The “well” in the broch inte- e s u structures during excava- broch was in use and it may rior is a complex structure M tion. One, with five cells off y be that the whole complex built in a hole about 4m by e n k a central room, is typically was planned from the outset. 5m quarried out of the rock. Ogam-inscribed knife handle r O Pictish, while the other is Houses share side and back It includes a 18-step stair- in view of the similarities to discovered in one of the oblong and either Pictish or walls and are furnished in way, chambers with cor- Minehowe in Tankerness. ramparts. She wore a finely early Norse.