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Photography Group trip to the Gloup - 9th July 2025
by Tim Wright - 13:36 on 10 July 2025
Dear Everyone,
Seven of us arrived at Skaill today on a slightly overcast morning with a moderate breeze. The boat was waiting for us and Sidney Foubister soon had us togged up in our life jackets. Off we set for the Gloup but first a short diversion around a large stack quite close into the shore. We passed masses of caves both large and small, short and long. Really the coast of Deerness from the sea is like a honeycomb. We suddenly turned hard left and slowed into the entrance of the Gloup. It is really quite narrow and very low. You cannot stand going in and out or you would be literally out the back if you did! Two Shags preceded us in swimming as there was no room to take off. The sun had come out and the sides of the Gloup had lots of flowers clinging on to precarious ledges. The water from the Burn was pouring down the inner end but on we went under the waterfall into the dark cave behind it. It is very gloomy but Sidney had lights to show us the rock formations and shingle beach at the back of the cave. Then it was out again into the Gloup pool rather damper than when we went in. People were up on the viewing platform above and must have been surprised to see us suddenly pop out from nowhere.
Off we set again out under the low rocky ceiling and into sunshine. We carried on to the Brough of Deerness where we went in to a small pool below the path up onto the Brough. We looked in at a cave there which had a resting seal at the end curved up like a Banana. Moving on we went past a small cave high on the Brough cliff used as a hideout for the people living there in olden times. I have been to it but it is steep to get to and close to the cliff edge. It is not visible from the land. We headed then to the Mull Head, close to the cliffs and by the beach where a yacht was wrecked quite a few years ago and broke up. We made the Mull Head but the other side was a little bumpy due to the water hitting the cliff and bouncing back. The ledges here, all the way along to our turning point, had lots of nesting Guillemots on. A few Razor Bills were seen and a couple of Puffins too. Half way to the Covenanters Memorial we puled into a cove and had the sad story of the fate of the Covenanters and their wreck in 1690. Only 50 survived and most of them were sent on later as slaves to the West Indies. A sad story of man's inhumanity to man even then showing that nothing changes but life goes on around in circles.
After that sobering story it was full speed back around the Mull towards Skaill. We had a short diversion to the Skerry off Skaill for seals but they were in the water and not in posing mode. So we disembarked very pleased with our terrific morning's adventure with lots of photos to boot. Back at the cars we decided to try the Deerness Distillery for lunch which proved to be amenable to seven turning up without a reservation. All in all a great day out.
The next project will be "Sports . With 12 different ones in the Island Games you should have plenty of choice and you can support the Orkney teams to boot.
The next meeting will be Wednesday 13th August at Waulkmill Bay. I will send definite time and place nearer the time when the forecast and tide time is ideal.
Hilary will be sending details of the 14th to 18th September trip to the Grant Alms Hotel at Grantown on Spey in the near future.
In the meantime keep clicking,
Tim
PS the fabulous photo from inside the inner Gloup cave was taken by Rod on his phone.
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