Sandwick, Orkney facts for kids
Sandwick is a special area, like a district, located on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It's about 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) north of a town called Stromness.
The name Sandwick comes from the Old Norse language. In Old Norse, "Sandvík" means "Sand Bay." This name makes sense because there's a small sandy bay along its coast.
The coastline of Sandwick is mostly made up of tall cliffs, reaching 30 to 60 meters (100 to 200 feet) high. These cliffs have many caves. You can also find a tall natural arch here, which is like a huge rock bridge, called the Hole of Rowe. There are also many tall, thin rocks standing alone in the sea, like pillars.
The land inside Sandwick is very varied. It has large flat areas that are good for farming. There are also hilly parts, with some hills being over 90 meters (300 feet) high.
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What to See in Sandwick
Sandwick is home to some interesting places and old sites.
Important Buildings and Old Sites
- Skaill House: This is the main big house in the area.
- Ancient Mounds: You can find many old burial mounds, called tumuli.
- Vitrified Cairn: This is a special stone pile that was heated so much it turned glassy.
- Stone Circles: There's a remarkable cromlech, which is a type of ancient stone monument. You can also see parts of a very large stone circle.
- Norse Forts: There are five old forts built by the Norse people.
- Sunsgar Castle: You can see the ruins of this old castle.
Famous Landmarks
Two very famous places are located in Sandwick:
- Skara Brae: This is an amazing Stone Age village that is thousands of years old.
- Yesnaby: This area is known for its dramatic cliffs and sea stacks.
Sandwick is the largest parish in all of Orkney.
Farming in Sandwick
Farming is a very important part of life in Sandwick. Many of the biggest and most successful farms in Orkney are found here. This is because the land in Sandwick is very green and good for growing crops.
In the 1970s, there were more than 25 dairy farms in Sandwick, which produced milk. Today, only two dairy farms are left. Most other farms now raise beef cattle and grow crops.
Quoyloo Village
The small village of Quoyloo is located within Sandwick. It has a few useful places for the community:
- A shop where people can buy things.
- A general store.
- A post office for sending mail.
- A garage run by Isbister Brothers Ltd, which has been in the parish since 1929.
The Sandwick Community Association helps run the Sandwick hall. This hall is used by everyone in the parish for different events and activities.
St Peter's Kirk
St Peter's Kirk is also known as Skaill Kirk. It's a special church because it's a rare example of a Church of Scotland Parish Kirk that hasn't been changed much since it was built in 1836.
History of the Kirk
- The current church was built partly on the foundations of an older church from 1670.
- It's believed that all the churches on this site have been dedicated to St Peter.
- The church is considered a very important building by Historic Environment Scotland.
Inside the Kirk
St Peter's Kirk is located in an open area near the Bay of Skaill. It's a large church with a rough plaster finish called "harl." It has two tall windows in the middle, a small bell tower, and a slate roof.
When you go inside, you can imagine what it was like for people to worship there in the 1800s. Back then, over 500 people would attend church services!
Modern Use
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 the parish still use it often for funerals and weddings.
