Sandwick, Orkney

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For other uses, see Sandwick.
The Bay of Skaill, which gives the parish its name.
The Bay of Skaill, which gives the parish its name.

Sandwick (Old Norse: Sandvík[1], meaning "Sand Bay") is a parish on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney[2]. It commences four miles north of Stromness.[2]

The coast except at the small sandy bay [2] (whence the parish's name) consists of cavernous cliffs, from 100-200 ft, and includes a lofty natural arch, and is much flanked by insulated pillar-rocks.[2]

The interior is much diversified, and comprises both a large aggregate of flat arable land, and a considerable extent of hilly ground, partly more than 300 ft high.[2]

The chief residence is Breckness[2], and chief antiquities include numerous tumuli, a vitrified cairn, a remarkable cromlech, a remnant of a very large stone circle, five Norse forts, and the ruins of Sunsgar castle.[2] Notably Skara Brae and Yesnaby are in this parish.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone

This article incorporates text from - Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone

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