The Haven, Swona. A welcome mooring in the middle of the Pentland Firth. Photographer; Jason Bonniface.
Photo Description
On the same work away day that we visited Hoy (Waiting for the Ferry, Moaness) we returned to the mainland via the island of Swona which lies in the Pentland Firth between Stroma and South Ronaldsay. We landed at a small inlet on the east coast known as The Haven which forms the islands best harbour. It is a haven indeed from the fast flowing tidal races of the Pentland Firth. Swona is a seldom visited island that was inhabited until 1974. Today the island lies abandoned with the houses and farm buildings in varying states of disrepair. We visited on a stunning bright June day but the island must have felt pretty remote for the inhabitants as it was ravaged by some ferocious winter storm. This is a view east out towards South Ronaldsay through The Haven with the last boat built on the island, The Hood, pulled up on the shingle beach according to the Swona Wikipedia article.
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