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Wooden steps down through the dunes to the beach at Glimps Holm, the barrier and the sea beyond.
Orkney

Glimps Holm Beach

A long, sheltered beach beside the third Churchill Barrier, with the wreck of the blockship Reginald offshore.

Welcome

Glimps Holm beach is a long, lazy stretch of sand with bright blue water, lying in the shadow of the third Churchill Barrier on the road south from Kirkwall.

The barrier made it: built in the Second World War to protect the Home Fleet in Scapa Flow, it changed the tides and currents here, and the sand built up behind it into one of the loveliest shores in the south isles.

Heading south, just before you turn onto the third barrier, there is a large lay-by on the left. Park there and take the short flight of steps down to the beach, and you come face to face with the huge concrete blocks of the causeway. In the water in front lies the wreck of the blockship SS Reginald, sunk to close the channel before the barrier was built, and small fishing boats and dinghies are often out on the water. You can walk the coast of Glimps Holm all the way back to the second barrier.

A short drive awayPolly KettleA family tearoom on Burray, cooking from scratch with Orkney produce and selling local pottery and crafts.4 min by roadSee itA cappuccino and a slice of iced cake on white plates at Polly Kettle.
Before you go

Open at any time and free.

Heading south from Kirkwall, park in the large lay-by on the left just before the third barrier and take the steps down.

Getting there
Lay-by before the third barrier, heading south.
Look for
The wreck of the SS Reginald.
Walk
Along the coast to the second barrier.
Where it is

Glimps Holm, Orkney, KW17 2QQ.

Close byOn the barriers.
  1. Italian ChapelItalian ChapelTwo Nissen huts on Lamb Holm turned into a painted chapel by Italian prisoners of war in the 1940s.2 miles3 min by road
  2. Churchill BarriersChurchill BarriersFour wartime causeways linking the Orkney Mainland to Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay, with blockships beside them.2 miles2 min by road
  3. The Murray ArmsSeafood off the family's own boats, in St Margaret's Hope.5 miles7 min by road
  4. The front of Robertsons in St Margaret's Hope, its old General Merchants sign over the door.Robertsons Coffeehoose BarA family-run coffee house and bar in an old general store in St Margaret's Hope, with food all day and music.6 miles8 min by road
  5. Highland Park Distillery's stone buildings and cobbled yard lit by lamps at dusk.Highland Park DistilleryOrkney's whisky distillery on the edge of Kirkwall since 1798, with tours, tastings without booking and a shop.8 miles11 min by road
Directions
A cappuccino and a slice of iced cake on white plates at Polly Kettle.RestaurantsPolly Kettle2.4 miles
A chocolate and redcurrant dessert with honeycomb, drawn in chocolate on a white plate, the Lynnfield.RestaurantsLynnfield Hotel8.2 miles
ShoppingHoxa Tapestry Gallery8.4 miles
AttractionsSt Magnus Cathedral9.0 miles
ShoppingSheila Fleet Kirk Gallery9.1 miles
The children's corner of the Orcadian Bookshop, shelves of picture books above small chairs and a table.ShoppingThe Orcadian Bookshop9.1 miles
AttractionsOrkney Wireless Museum9.3 miles
A plate of seared scallops with asparagus and potato at Helgi's.RestaurantsHelgi’s9.4 miles
AttractionsThe Orkney Distillery9.7 miles
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