Castle of Garth

Castle of Garth is a locality in Orkney Islands, Scotland. Castle of Garth is situated nearby to the locality The Galt, as well as near Quoys of Vaedi.

Places of Interest

Highlights include Shapinsay and Sweyn Holm.

Shapinsay

Photo: Purplebaron, Public domain.

Shapinsay is one of the smaller Orkney Islands, a short ferry ride from Mainland Orkney. It measures about 7 miles north-south by 3 miles east-west, with a population in 2011 of 307, and Balfour the only village.

Sweyn Holm

Islet

Photo: Derek Mayes, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Sweyn Holm is a small island in the Orkney Islands, next to Gairsay. It is thought to be named for Sweyn Asleifsson, who was connected with Gairsay or possibly a corruption of "servant's island" in Norse. Sweyn Holm is situated 2½ miles northwest of Castle of Garth.

Vasa Loch

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Vasa Loch is a brackish lagoon in southwestern Shapinsay, Orkney Islands. This water body has been shown on early maps of the island in a very similar shape and size to its current geometry, separated from the North Sea by a narrow strip of raised beach.

Places in the Area

Nearby places include Quholm and Balfour.

Quholm

Hamlet

Photo: C Michael Hogan, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Quholm is a farm in the northeast of Shapinsay, in the islands of Orkney, Scotland. Quholm is situated 2½ miles east of Castle of Garth.

Balfour

Village

Photo: Shirley Grant, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Balfour is a village on the island of Shapinsay, Orkney. The village is situated on Elwick Bay, which was used as an anchorage by Haakon IV of Norway before sailing south to eventual defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263. Balfour is situated 2½ miles south of Castle of Garth.