Point of Ayre (Orkney)

There are also two similarly named points in the British Isles: Point of Ayre, Isle of Man and Point of Ayr, North Wales.
Point of Ayre, Deerness, Orkney Mainland

Point of Ayre (58°55′N 2°43′W / 58.92°N 02.72°W / 58.92; -02.72 HY583042) is a headland in the parish of Deerness, on the Eastern side of Orkney Mainland, off the northern coast of mainland Scotland. Overlooking the Copinsay Pass, it lies 4 miles (6 km) south of Mull Head,[1] and around 10 miles from Kirkwall, the main town on the island.[2]

At Point of Ayre is a seven-metre thick basalt lava flow. At its top surface are relict gas bubble holes now filled with carbonate. Lower down, the lava has weathered in an "onion-skin" or spheroidal pattern, which is an unusual feature in Orkney.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Ayre, Point of". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  2. ↑ "Point of Ayr Interactive Map". Pagemost.com. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  3. ↑ "The East Mainland". The Orkney Website. Archived from the original on 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
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