Sandwick, Orkney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sandwick |
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|---|---|
 The Bay of Skaill, which gives the parish its name |
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| Civil parish |
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| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
Sandwick is a beautiful area on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, in Scotland. It's about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of Stromness. The name Sandwick comes from an old language called Old Norse. It means "Sand Bay," which makes sense because there's a lovely sandy bay here.
Sandwick is known for its amazing coastline. You'll find tall cliffs, some as high as 60 meters (200 feet). There's even a cool natural arch called the Hole of Rowe. The land inside Sandwick is a mix of flat farming areas and hills. Some of these hills are over 90 meters (300 feet) high!
This area is home to Skaill House, a historic building. It also has many ancient sites, like old burial mounds and stone circles. Two very famous places, Skara Brae and Yesnaby, are also in Sandwick. Did you know Sandwick is the biggest parish in Orkney?
Farming is a really important part of life in Sandwick. The land here is very green and good for growing crops. Many of Orkney's most successful farms are located right here. While there used to be many dairy farms, most farms now raise beef cattle and grow crops.
The small village of Quoyloo is part of Sandwick. It has a shop where you can buy things, a post office, and a garage. The Sandwick Community Association helps run the local hall for everyone in the area.
St Peter's Kirk
St Peter's Kirk is also known as Skaill Kirk. It's a special church built in 1836. This church is a rare example of a Church of Scotland building that hasn't been changed much over time. Because it's so important, it's listed as a Category A building by Historic Environment Scotland.
The church you see today was built partly on the old foundations of a church from 1670. It's thought that all the churches on this spot have been named after St Peter.
St Peter's Kirk is in an open spot near the Bay of Skaill. It's a large church with a rough plaster finish called harl. It has two tall windows, a bell tower, and a slate roof. Inside, you can imagine what church services were like in the 1800s, when over 500 people would attend.
The Scottish Redundant Churches Trust took over the church in 1998. They restored it between 2002 and 2003. Even though it doesn't have electricity or heating, people in Sandwick still use it for funerals and weddings.
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