Locations – Shapinsay

Skenstoft

SDT — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 10:04:50 +0000

Skenstoft is a favourite in the summer months. It is very shallow and when the tide goes out the sand stretches out before you. It’s a great place for little ones to play in the shallows and build sand castles! It’s a great for a spot of snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding or swimming.

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Mill Dam RSPB Reserve

SDT — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 10:25:20 +0000

Mill Dams is covered in a dynamic wetland with open water. It’s covered in wide swamp plant communities and a range of different plants, especially adaptive to living in damp, marshy places. You will find a wide selection of birds through out the year. In the summer you look out for the rare pintail and up to nine different species of ducks. Also keep an eye out for the great yellow…

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Ness Beach

SDT — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:25:51 +0000

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Sandgarth Beach

SDT — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:19:49 +0000

Sandgarth is located on the east side of Shapinsay or is a great spot for some sea swimming.

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World War 2 Coastal Batteries

SDT — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 08:18:57 +0000

The world war 2 coastal batteries was also named Galtness. They were used for defending the entrance of the Wide Firfth from 1941 till 1943.It was manned by 250 soldier and the emplacement for twin 6-pounders the director tower and searchlights all remain till this day.

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Shapinsay Play Park

SDT — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 09:45:55 +0000

Its a bit hidden but its around the back of the school close to a patch of woodland. After having new equipment put into the play park it as never been more exciting to go down and have fun for the day. It’s mostly used by the school pupils but it is also open to the public.

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Burroughston Broch

SDT — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 08:23:36 +0000

The iron age building named Burroughston Broch can be found north east on the coast of Shapinsay. Because of the location of it you will probably have the place to yourself. The site is part excavated and is a similar structure to other broch’s in Orkney like the Broch of Gurness. The site is unkempt and is surrounded by rough grass that really adds to the authenticity of the place.

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Gas House

SDT — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:04:07 +0000

The Gas House was once used as the Gas works to serve Balfour Village and Balfour Castle and remained operational until the 1920s. The gasworks is in the form of a round tower with a corbelled parapet of red brick and carved stones—including one possibly removed from Noltland Castle on Westray, which is inscribed with the year 1725. The structure appears to be fortified, in accordance with Balfour’…

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The Douche

SDT — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:02:03 +0000

David Balfour constructed Dishan Tower in the 1600s known locally as The Douche. It was built as a dovecot but with the completion of Balfour Castle in 1848 it was converted into a salt water shower. A local landmark due to its high visibility when approaching the island by sea. Sadly its roof has now collapsed, but it still stands tall in front of the Castle as you approach from the sea.

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Balfour Village

SDT — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 10:57:46 +0000

Balfour village was built in the 1780s by Thomas Balfour that was originally named Shoreside. By 1841 there were 28 houses in the village, with 116 residents whose occupations included fishermen, shoemakers, tailors, blacksmiths, wrights, millers and a merchant. In 1846 the Castle and village were passed to David Balfour who also brought great change in Shoreside, demolishing the southern part of…

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Balfour Castle

SDT — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 10:45:22 +0000

Balfour castle was the creation of two men, David Balfour and David Bryce. The castle is a rare example of calendar house originally planned with 7 turrets, 12 external doors, 52 rooms and 365 sections of windows. The Balfour family owned the Castle for over a century but by the time the family line expired in the early 1960s the family fortune was gone and the Castle had lost most of its former…

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Castle Bloody

SDT — Fri, 14 May 2021 08:56:47 +0000

Castle Bloody is not quite so spectacular to look at as the magnificent Balfour Castle, but would certainly pre-date it! To the untrained eye, it just looks like a pile of stones or corner post that’s been built at the end of a field! This chambered mound is all that can be seen from above, but we know that below the mound there is a depression with a flag stone covering evidence of what might…

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