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Flotta
 FLOTTA
(ON Flat-ey, Flat Isle), belonged to the old Bishopric estate,
and was feued out along with Burray. In the 18th century
it became part of the Stewart of Burray estate, and eventually
most of the farms became owner-occupied. By 1911 the population
was 431 on this quiet, but industrious island. Wartime brought
an influx of servicemen and development to Flotta, which
was heavily used by the Navy in both World Wars and even
had a golf course at Roan Head with its own steel jetty.
A large Royal Navy Port Signalling and Observation
Station was built at Stanger Head in WWI, and enlarged in
WWII. Access to this tower is difficult, but there is a marvellous
view from the top over Scapa Flow and its southern approaches.
 Flotta
had several gun batteries. At Stanger there were twin 6in
coast defence guns defending Hoxa Sound similar to Ness Battery
at Stromness. This was mostly destroyed in quarrying operations.
The Buchanan site facing the Sound of Hoxa, during WWII covered
the inner boom defence net and is typical of such batteries
with concrete observation tower, gun emplacement and protected
magazine, plus searchlight emplacements on the shore, all
powered by a generator house.
At Roan Head (WWI) there was a twin twelve-pounder
in a concrete parapet to cover the boom defence net. From
Gate/Innan Neb another covered the boom in WWI, while in
WWII a twin twelve-pounder concrete gun house, with single
tower and underground magazine was installed. There were
also several anti aircraft and barrage balloon sites on the
island.
 A
rocket battery was also built on the Golta peninsula. New
piers were constructed on Flotta in World War II, Gibralter
pier now being the main ro ro link with Houton and Lyness.
There was a large army camp complete with cinema, of which
one wall still stands.
Flotta Oil Terminal, operated originally
by the Occidental Oil Company, then by Elf Enterprise and
now by Talisman was established 1976 to take crude oil from
the Piper and Claymore fields in the North Sea, the former
starting in 1976, the latter in 1977. Exporting a sizeable
fraction of Britain's oil, the terminal has given a big boost
to the local economy through employment and royalty payments.
Large ships are once again a regular part of the scene in
Scapa Flow. A production peak of over 13m tonnes was reached
in 1995.
Flotta, despite the oil developments and
relics of wartime, makes an interesting visit. Compact enough
to explore on foot, this little island has many contrasts
of old and new, past and present.
Well served by ferries, there is still a substantial local
population. As on some of the other smaller islands the less
intensive farming results in beautiful pastures of wild flowers
in summertime.
There are several panoramic views across Scapa Flow and
the other South Isles, especially from Stanger Head and from
West Hill, which is one of the few places in Orkney from
which Kirkwall and Stromness can both be seen.
The Orkney Ferries vessel Hoy Sound calls at Flotta several
times per day and connects to Houton and Lyness. |
