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Voe of Cullingsburgh facts for kids

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Voe of Cullingsburgh is a large sea inlet, also known as a sea loch, located off the Shetland island of Bressay. In the Shetland dialect, the word voe means "sea inlet." The local people often spell the name "Voe of Cullingsbrough" and pronounce it "Cullingsbroch."

What is a Voe?

A voe is a type of narrow bay or inlet of the sea. You can find many of these natural features around the coasts of Shetland and Orkney in Scotland. They are similar to fjords but are usually smaller. Voes are often deep and provide sheltered places for boats.

Where is Voe of Cullingsburgh Located?

The Voe of Cullingsburgh is surrounded by interesting land features. To its west, Score Head and the Aith Ness peninsula separate it from another inlet called Aith Voe. To the east, the hills of Ander Hill and the point of Loder Head separate it from Noss Sound.

Inside the main voe, there are several smaller bays. These include Score Minni, Blue Geo, Minni of Aith, and the Bay of Cuppa. There are also two small islands called Inner Score and Outer Score. These islands are "tidal," meaning they can be reached by land at low tide but are surrounded by water at high tide. A narrow channel called the Gluop of the Scores separates them.

Exploring the Settlements and History

Around the Voe of Cullingsburgh, you can find several small communities and historical sites.

Communities Around the Voe

On the western side of the voe, there are small settlements like Setter, Bruntland, and Aith. On the eastern side, you'll find Garth and Cullingsburgh. These eastern areas are no longer inhabited, meaning people don't live there anymore.

Ancient Structures: Brochs

Near the uninhabited areas on the east, you can see the remains of an ancient building called a broch. Brochs are tall, round stone towers built by people in Scotland a very long time ago, during the Iron Age. They were likely used as homes and for defense.

St. Mary's Church

Also on the eastern side are the remains of St. Mary's Church. This church dates back to the 12th century, making it over 800 years old! It's a fascinating glimpse into the past.

The Bressay Stone

A very important historical artifact, the Bressay Stone, was discovered near the churchyard in 1852. This stone was made by the Picts, an ancient people who lived in Scotland. The Bressay Stone is from the 8th or 9th century AD.

The original stone is made of a type of rock called chlorite slate. It is about 16 inches wide at the top and gets a bit narrower towards the bottom. In the year 2000, a copy of the original stone was placed inside the churchyard, so visitors can see what it looked like.

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