Point of Ayre, Orkney

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There are also two similarly named points in the British Isles: Point of Ayre, Isle of Man and Point of Ayr, North Wales.

Point of Ayre (58.92° N 02.72° W HY583042) is a headland in the parish of Deerness, on the Eastern side of Orkney Mainland, off the Northern coast of Scotland. Overlooking the Copinsay Pass, it lies 4 miles (6 km) south of Mull Head,[1] and around 10 miles from Kirkwall, the main town on the island.[2]

At Point of Ayre is a seven metre thick basalt lava flow. At its top surface are relict gas bubble holes now filled with carbonate. Lower down, the lava has weathered in an "onion-skin" or spheroidal pattern, which is an unusual feature in Orkney.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ayre, Point of. Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  2. ^ Point of Ayr Interactive Map. Pagemost.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  3. ^ The East Mainland. The Orkney Website. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
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