Stromness

I am from the town of Stromness; it too is from Old Norse strumr-nes which means tidal stream/race point.

As you can see from the map, Stromness is made up of a bay, which is protected from the west by a large hill (Brinkie's Brae) and a point which points south-south-east.

The tides at this area are strong: here is the meeting place between Scapa Flow and Hoy Sound (which comes off of the Atlantic)

The inlet itself is called Hamnavoe - and is derived from the Old Norse hamn-vágr : haven bay.

It is a natural harbour - sheltered by Brinkies Brae to the west, and by the low Orphir hills to the east. The Hoy hills (seen in the distance from Warebeth beach at the top of this page) protect from the south. Still though - it's pretty windy! 

Brinkie's Brae is from the Old Norse for chest - bringa: perhaps from the distance, the low, steep hill upon which Stromness is built looked like the chest of a prostate man. Use by english speaking Scots added the 'brae'. Across the water on Hoy there are steep hills called The Bring. The area of water below these hills is known as the Bring Deeps (bringa djúp).

click here to see a map from 1822 of the area around Stromness harbour