Orphir

Not to be confused with Ophir.

The Hall of Clestrain, birthplace of John Rae, and currently derelict

Orphir (Old Norse: Jorfjara/Orfjara^[1]^[2]^[3]) is a parish and settlement in Mainland, Orkney. It is approximately 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Kirkwall, and comprehends a seaboard tract of about 7 by 3½ miles (11 by 5½ km), and includes Cava and the Holm of Houton. The coast includes Houton Head, about 300 ft tall (91 m), but all elsewhere is nearly level; and the interior is an assemblage of vales and hills, the latter culminating at about 700 feet (210 m) above sea level, and commanding fine views.

A chief residence was the Hall of Clestrain; and chief antiquities include the ruins of Earl Paul's Palace, remains of pre-Reformation chapels, and several tumuli.

Notable people

John Rae (30 September 1813 – 22 July 1893), the explorer of Canada's Arctic was born at the Hall of Clestrain in this parish.
Henry Halcro Johnston, botanist and international rugby union player was born and died at Orphir.

References

↑ Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
↑ Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
↑ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.

This article incorporates text from - Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone

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Orkney

List of Orkney islands

Inhabited islands	Mainland Auskerry Burray Eday Egilsay Flotta Gairsay Graemsay Holm of Grimbister Hoy Inner Holm North Ronaldsay Papa Stronsay Papa Westray Rousay Sanday Shapinsay South Ronaldsay South Walls Stronsay Westray Wyre

Other islands	Eynhallow Helliar Holm Lamb Holm Switha Swona North West islands North East islands South West islands South East islands

Towns and villages	Kirkwall Balfour Dounby Finstown Houton Longhope Lyness Pierowall St Margaret's Hope Stromness Whitehall

Mainland parishes	Birsay Deerness Evie Firth Harray Holm Kirkwall Orphir Rendall St Andrews St Ola Sandwick Stenness Stromness

Topics	Prehistory History Geology Scapa Flow

Coordinates: 58°56′N 3°9′W / 58.933°N 3.150°W / 58.933; -3.150

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