The Churchill Barriers refer to World War 2 but these blockships were deliberately sunk here during World War 1. When in 1914 the UK's Grand Fleet arrived in Scapa Flow huge natural harbour there was not a single gun in place to protect the ships. Coastal defence batteries and systems of boom defences were quickly put in place and the plan conceived to block the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow. Initially a solid barrier was proposed but this was abandoned in favour of the quicker solution of the use of blockships.

At the start of World War 2 the World War 1 defences were brought back into use and extra sunken blockships protected Scapa Flow. That was until a German submarine U47 crept in.

Image courtesy © Charles Tait

The set of four causeways protect the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow and the barriers today provide a road link to mainland Orkney between Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay islands which cyclists make use of on their Orkney journey.

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