Yesnaby facts for kids

Yesnaby is a beautiful area on the west coast of Orkney Mainland in Scotland. It is located in a place called Sandwick, south of Skara Brae. Yesnaby is famous for its amazing coastal cliffs made of Old Red Sandstone.

You can see many cool natural features here. These include tall sea stacks, which are like stone towers in the sea. There are also blowholes that spray water high into the air. You might also spot geos, which are narrow inlets in the cliffs. The sea often looks like it's boiling because of the waves hitting the rocks!

Yesnaby is a great place for visitors. There's a car park, a path along the coast, and signs to help you learn about the area. Many climbers love Yesnaby because of Yesnaby Castle. This is a unique sea stack with two "legs" that looks a bit like a smaller version of the famous Old Man of Hoy. Yesnaby is also one of the rare places where a special flower called the Scottish Primrose grows.

What are the Yesnaby Cliffs Made Of?

The stunning cliffs at Yesnaby are made from very old rocks. These rocks are called Lower Devonian sandstones. They belong to a special group of rocks known as the Yesnaby Sandstone Group. These rocks are only found in the Yesnaby area.

Above these sandstones are other layers of rock called the Lower Stromness Flagstones. If you look closely at these rocks, you might find ancient fossils! These fossils are called stromatolites. They are traces of tiny living things that lived in the sea between 390 and 400 million years ago. Locals sometimes call these fossils "Horse Tooth Stones" because of how they look.

What is the Culture of Yesnaby Like?

Yesnaby has some interesting stories and connections to art.

Local Stories and Folklore

According to old stories from Orkney, there was a woman known as the "Yesnaby Healer." People believed she could stop bleeding in anyone, even if they were far away!

Music Inspired by Yesnaby

A famous Orkney composer named Peter Maxwell Davies was inspired by Yesnaby. He wrote a piece of music for solo piano called "Yesnaby Ground." It's an interlude, which is a short piece of music.

Exploring Yesnaby's Past

The Archaeology Institute at the University of the Highlands and Islands started a special project. It's called the Yesnaby Art & Archaeology Research Project. They study the history and art of the Yesnaby area.

What is Yesnaby's History?

Yesnaby played a small but important role during the Second World War.

Yesnaby During World War II

During the war, an anti-aircraft battery was built on top of the cliffs at Yesnaby. This battery was part of the defenses for the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow. The Royal Navy soldiers operated the battery. You can still see some parts of these wartime buildings today.

Images for kids

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  Panorama of Yesnaby

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  Sea cliffs

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  Puffin

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  Geo (inlet)

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  Black Guillemots

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  Black Guillemots in summer plumage

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  Cliff

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  Cliffs

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  Cliff

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  Cliffs