Swona
| Norse name | Svíney; Swefney |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | Pig/whale island; Sweyn's Island |
 Swona, viewed from South Ronaldsay |
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| Location | |
 Swona
Swona shown within Orkney
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| OS grid reference | ND387844 |
| Coordinates | 58°45′N 3°03′W / 58.75°N 3.05°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Orkney |
| Area | 92 hectares (0.36 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 153 |
| Highest elevation | Warbister Hill 41 metres (135 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Orkney Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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| References | |
The beacon on The Tarf, Swona
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 Orkney
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| Location | Swona Pentland Firth Orkney Scotland United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 58°44′15″N 3°04′14″W / 58.737451°N 3.070497°W |
| Year first constructed | 1906 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1983 (current) |
| Automated | 1983 |
| Deactivated | 1983 (first) |
| Foundation | concrete basement |
| Construction | concrete tower (current) cast iron tower (first) |
| Tower shape | square parallelepiped tower with external ladder, balcony and light |
| Markings / pattern | white tower |
| Height | 8 metres (26 ft) |
| Focal height | 17 metres (56 ft) |
| Light source | solar power |
| Characteristic | Fl W 8s. |
| Admiralty number | A3607.5 |
| NGA number | 3076 |
| ARLHS number | SCO-234 |
| Managing agent | Northern Lighthouse Board |
Swona is an uninhabited island in the Pentland Firth off the north coast of Scotland.
Swona is the more northerly of two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. It lies in the southern approach to Scapa Flow, west of South Ronaldsay.
Situated in the tidal stream of the Pentland Firth, a tidal race is present at both the north and south ends of the island, being minimal briefly at the turn of the tide. Between the races is a calm eddy which extends down-tide as the tide strengthens. The races are highly visible, with over-falls and whirlpools. Large swell waves can also be present, especially in bad weather conditions. When entering or leaving the eddies crossing the races, even large powerful vessels can be pushed off course, such is the demarcation between the relatively calm eddy and the fast-moving tide in the races.
Swona is about 1.25 miles (2.0 km) long by about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide, with a maximum height of approximately 41 metres (135 ft) and an area of about 92 hectares (0.36 sq mi). It is made up of Old Red Sandstone with cliffs on the east coast.
It is administered as part of the Orkney Islands, while Stroma, to the south, is part of the Highland Region (although traditionally part of Caithness). There is no regular access to the island, however, the Pentland Ferries sailing from Gills Bay, near John o' Groats, to St Margaret's Hope usually passes close to the island, dependent on the tidal direction at the time.
In 2005 Swona was owned by two Orkney farmers, but not worked due to difficulty of access. It is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) conservation area with a number of rare plants.
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Wikipedia