Tour 2 - Calf Sound, Eday
Calf Sound & The Calf of Eday
Calf Sound: the stretch of water which separates the Calf of Eday from the north east coast of Eday. It is one of the most beautiful inlets in the Northern Isles, dominated by the spectacular Red Head sandstone cliffs.
The Red Head: the sandstone cliff boasts stunning panoramic views of the North Isles and Fair Isle, and supports a thriving population of guillemots, puffins and fulmars.
The Calf of Eday: The Calf of Eday measures 300 acres and has a number of prehistoric houses and chambered cairns. The ruins of a 17th century salt works can also be seen, which, during the 18th and 19th century provided Orkney with most of its salt.
The Calf of Eday supports around 32 species of birds.
Carrick House & The Stone o'Setter
Carrick House: built in 1633 for the Earl of Carrick, Lord Kinclaven. The house is renowned for its association with Orkney's most notorious pirate John Gow. Gow had set out to raid Carrick House but his ship and his men were overpowered by Eday locals and they were then held prisoner at the house. Gow and his followers were later hanged at Execution Dock, Wapping on June 17th 1725.
When travelling in Orkney in 1814, Sir Walter Scott collected tales of Gow and his men and incorporated them into his novel, The Pirate, published in 1821.
The Stone o'Setter:The Stone o'Setter is 7 feet (2.1 metres) wide at its base and stands over 15 feet (4.6 metres) high, making it one of Orkney's tallest megaliths. The stone is surrounded by chambered cairns and so it is believed that this area was of religious significance to the early people who built it.
Guillimots of the Holm of
Red Holm: a small islet that lies between Eday and Faray, at the northern end of the Sound of Faray.
Faray: a small uninhabited island that until the early 1930s had a population of 40, who made a living from crofting and creeling. Faray has been designated as an area of special conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive as it supports a well-established grey seal colony.
Castle o'Burrian: a natural rock stack which is home to many varieties of seabirds, in particular, puffins.
Wildlife to Look Out For
Common Seals: approximately 1.5 metres long with the bulls weighing up to around 250kg and the cows around half that. Breeding season is between June and July.
The Scottish population of Common Seals is estimated at 33,000, about 90% of the world population.
Grey Seals: a little larger than the Common Seal, at approximately 2 metres long; the bulls weigh up to around 300kg and the cows about a third less. Their diet consists of all types of fish supplemented by squid, sand eels and crabs. Breeding season is in autumn.
The Scottish population of Grey Seals has been estimated at 140,000.
Harbour Porpoise: most commonly found around the Hebrides and Northern Isles. Their length ranges from 1.4 - 1.9 metres and they can weigh up to around 65kg. Harbour porpoises are sociable and gather in pods of 2-5.
