ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 20:29 Page 346 BURRAY, LAMB HOLM, GLIMPS HOLM & HUNDA ACROSS THE CHURCHILL BARRIERS t h also sometimes a good place BURRAY (ON Borgarey, g i r y to find Groatie Buckies and Brochs Isle) is not men- p o c other shells. Arctic Terns tioned in the Orkneyinga n w o and a few Little Terns nest saga, but the presence of a r C on the island, from the west Bu farm suggests that it was side of which there is a won- farmed in Viking times and derful panoramic view of evidence of much older set- Scapa Flow. The banks tlements has come to light above the shore are full of during industrial sand wild flowers in summers and extraction at the Links on are frequented by several the east side. species of butterflies and LAMB HOLM No block- The engine of the Lycia bumble bees. Echnaloch (ND475965), ships remain visible at sticks above the surface at separated from the sea by an Barrier No.1, which blocks low tide at the north end of Barrier No.3 with blockships Beside Barrier No.3, in ayre, is particularly good for Kirk Sound, the entry route Barrier No.2 and a few other Weddel Sound, is the most wildfowl at all times of year. the farmer gained little, but with an internal diameter of of the German submarine pieces can be seen at low complete and one of the old- Mute Swans and ducks can science lost a lot. On the about 13m and massive U47 in 1939. There are tide, including the remains est blockships, the Reginald, be observed from the car southeast coast the Hillock 5.5m thick walls. however still interesting bits of the barge F/C Pontoon, a 930ton iron 3-masted with their young from only a of Fea (ND493956) is possi- of ships for divers to which was used in the sal- motor schooner, built in few feet away at the edge of bly a chambered cairn, but The West Broch may well explore. Barrier No.1 is also vage of the German Fleet, 1878, sunk in 1915 and used the loch. Echnaloch Bay is has been largely lost to ero- pre-date its larger neighbour popular for sea angling, as and Emerald Wings, whose to store Lobster creels today. also good for seaduck and sion by the sea. by analogy with the Bu of the deep water and food boiler shows at low water Many starlings roost inside Great Northern Divers in Navershaw and Howe Broch from the nearby salmon near the Glimps Holm shore. her hull in the evenings. On winter. Brochs The two brochs on in Stromness. No doubt farm attract fish. This is the most exposed the west side are the Empire the northeast of Burray are Holm Sound was important Barrier in bad weather. Seaman and Martis, only Chambered Cairns There still prominent and were for shipping in the Iron Age, Apart from the Italian th visible at low tide. was a stalled chambered investigated in the 19 cen- just as it was until the Chapel, Lamb Holm has a GLIMPS HOLM has peat cairn below Northfield tury in the manner of the Barriers were built. It is derelict pier and a large cuttings and an excellent No.3 Barrier was the first to (ND488988) until 1863 time. All that remains today interesting to note that both quarry used in the construc- sandy beach on the east side, rise above the waves, on when the tenant farmer took is two grass mounds of sides of the sound are guard- tion of the Barriers. The which has increased in size May 13th 1942, while a dislike to it and had it debris, the larger of which is ed by brochs. In the 1860s quarry now has a Lobster due to the Barriers. This Barrier No.2 was the last on destroyed. Over twenty being slowly removed by both were cleared out to hatchery, while most of the beach is sheltered from the April 21st 1943. Although it human and seven dog skele- easterly gales. The West reveal internal stairways. island is a grass airstrip. The north, west and east and pro- is the shortest, No.3 Barrier tons were found. There was Broch is smaller with an The impressive East Broch remains of a World War II vides safe paddling or swim- is very exposed during apparently a side cell, which interior diameter of about has corbelled cells at its coastal defence battery lie ming, as well as good Spoot southwest gales. may have had slab-sided 9m and walls about 3.5m entrance, an internal scarce- east of the quarry. hunting at spring ebbs. It is walls. As is usual in such thick, while the East Broch ment ledge and survives to is much more substantial over 2m in height. Blockship “Reginald” is the oldest View from new OIC viewpoint cases of wanton destruction, East Broch of Burray East |Broch 19th century drawing 346 347 ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 20:29 Page 348 BURRAY, LAMB HOLM, GLIMPS HOLM & HUNDA ACROSS THE CHURCHILL BARRIERS and to transport goods from Walks – east coast A pleas- Orkney to Caithness. With ant circular walk around the the growth of the Herring east coast starts at the links Fishery in the 1800s, the at the south end of the mag- yard moved to Burray. nificent sandy beach, which is known as the Bu. (access By 1914 there were about 20 past the ruined kirk “Zulus”, sailing vessels of ND493964). At Burray about 20m in length, based Haas (ND490988), the need in Burray. Most were built for defence in different eras in northeast Scotland and is emphasised by the 2,000- WWII battery at Northfield followed the shoals as they year old brochs beside a Herring Fishery at Burray moved south. Stronsay was World War II gun battery. Old St Laurence Kirk Later a twin 6-pounder of sand to the east. The by its own barrier, built dur- the principal station, but a The low sandy shore (ND482964) is at the south replaced this. It was backed blockships Carron, ing the war to form part of considerable amount of towards Warebanks is a end of the Bu Sands, which up by three searchlights, but Collindoc and Pontos are the boom-defences against Herring was processed at pleasant stroll, followed by a were formerly backed by was removed to Graemsay now largely buried, but the small surface craft. The Burray and at St Margaret’s return along the road to the very extensive links and in 1943 when the Barriers wide curve of new beach island has many Grey and Hope. By the 1930s the old kirk. dunes. The church has inter- had blocked the sounds. makes a delightful place to Common Seals, and is one Herring Boom was over and esting carved sandstone door Burray saw much activity stroll. Many Long-tailed of the best places in Orkney the Churchill Barriers fin- South coast Another short- jambs and lintels and has during the war due to the Ducks gather here before to see Otters. Arctic Terns ished Burray as a port. er circular walk goes along presumably been rebuilt sev- building of the Barriers. A migrating north in spring, breed here as well as several the shore from the car park eral times, most likely on the second camp for Italian and the new dunes are slow- other species characteristic The Fossil and Heritage at No.4 Barrier towards site of a very ancient chapel, POWs, camp 34, also had a ly being colonised by plants, of undisturbed islands. At Centre at Viewforth over- Burray Ness, passing Wife’s which may date to 1172 or chapel, but this was including the rare Oyster Littlequoy (ND448964), looks Echnaloch and Scapa Geo on the way. The low, earlier. The kirkyard has destroyed in 1945. Plant. Stephane Jaeger spins and Flow. There is a fascinating south-facing banks along many interesting old graves- hand-knits her unique home- display of fossils, some of this shore are a haven for labs, while there is clear evi- Boat Building Until recent- HUNDA (ON Hundey, Dog grown wool and cashgora which are over 350 million wild flowers in summer. dence of ruined buildings on ly Burray had a boat yard, Island, ND440970) on the garments, visitors welcome, years old, as well as relics of Hillock of Skea may be a the seaward side. The whole which has been in the same west side of Burray is joined Tel (01856) 731228 bye-gone days, trade antiq- chambered cairn, but has area is a blaze of colour in family for seven generations uities and artefacts from been mostly destroyed by summer with wild flowers building traditional clinker- Orkney Vintage Club. the sea. Return via the old and butterflies. built work-boats. In about Based on collections of fos- kirk and the road. ORKNEY 1700 John Duncan of the sils and minerals by Leslie World War II A coastal South Parish in South FOSSIL & VINTAGE CENTRE Firth of Orkney Builders and Barrier No.4 blocks Water defence battery was installed Ronaldsay set up a boatyard of old joiner’s tools by his Sound and has caused the VIEWFORTH, BURRAY, ORKNEY KW17 2SX Tel (01856) at Northfield in April 1940 with a Mr Horne to build father, the Centre tells the build up of huge quantities An ideal opportunity to see a fascinating display of fos- with a 12-pounder gun on a small yoles for the fisher- story of Orkney geology in a sils, relics of bye-gone days, trade antiquities and arte- temporary emplacement.