Collapsed sea cave

There’s a strange depression on the coastal walk in the north of Westray. I finally realised what it was. It’s a collapsed sea cave. It’s astonishing to think that Westray is hollowed out to this depth from the coastal cliffs.

There are stories of some collapsed sea caves on Westray which have a blowhole. A local farmer would place his hat on the base of the hole and show his guests it being blown into the air as a wave trapped air in the cave below and forced it up through a small crack. It’s even possible to see spray coming up from the middle of a field in some places when the wind and tide are right.

Westray. It’s hollow underneath.