Orkney Image Library

Breakwater at Burwick

This picture of the breakwater at Burwick was taken one Sunday morning in 1989 when the Pentland Firth was very angry! This breakwater which has been in place for 20 years and was constructed with hollow concrete blocks known as cobs, has stood up admirably to the power of the sea in this very exposed location. Lots of these cobs were never used and are still stored at Burwick and Walliwall Quarry. From this picture it looks like these cobs might be a solution to the problems at the east side of no.2 barrier? The linkspan from the Gills Bay terminal came detached from its shore fixing on this day also. Does anyone know a date? The linkspan was then towed round to Wick Harbour and it lay there for several years but I'm not sure where it ended up.
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