Scapa Flow

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Scapa Flow, Orkney's great natural anchorage is surrounded by the islands of Mainland, Hoy, Burra, Flotta and South Ronaldsay and stretches for 10 miles east to west and 8 miles north to south. It has played an important role in British naval history being a strategic base for the navy in the two World Wars. The remnants of the German Fleet was scuttled in 1919, after surrendering at the end of the conflict.

During the Second World War, HMS Royal Oak was sunk by a German U-Boat, within Scapa Flow, Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered a defencive barrier to be built along its eastern side stop the U-Boats entering. The result, known as the Churchill Barriers, link the islands of South Ronaldsay, Burray, Glimps Holm, Lambs Holm and the Orkney Mainland to this day.