… because it’s stone and breaks naturally into flags. The whole Island of Westray is made of it. Perfect flagstone paving everytime. It’s just a pity that there’s no naturally occurring slate on the island, because flags make very, very heavy roofing materials. Most of the old buildings have collapsed because of structural failure of [...]
It’s easy to tell an incomer on Westray. They stick out like a sore thumb. I’m one of them, I should know. Depopulation has had an effect on life here and Westray has responded by the people being warm and welcoming. I’m told other island communities aren’t the same and people have found a frosty [...]
There are so many patterns on rocks here it’s dizzying. There are magnificent beds of wave patterns from fossilised freshwater beaches 380 million years ago. There are rock strata outcropping on headlands. There are fossilised fish remains, fossilised mud cracks and fossilised worm burrows and even evidence of the fossilised footprints of ancient water scorpions. [...]
Despite the wind the Westray flag resolutely refuses to flutter in the breeze. The people of Westray didn’t choose it but they have found it essential for generations. It took about 10 million years to make. It’s all forms of grey in colour and is currently 175 metres deep. What is the Westray flag? It’s [...]
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