Burn of Ayreland

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The Mill of Eyrland

The Burn of Ayreland (or 'Ireland') is a northwesterly flowing coastal stream on Orkney Mainland. It discharges to the Bay of Ireland, the northern bay of Clestrain Sound, about two miles south of Stenness.

The hamlet named Ireland, in the Stenness Parish, is on the course of the burn.

Draining chiefly agricultural lands elevated mosses and moorland. This stream has a notable lack of turbidity and a pH level of approximately 8.[1] Armouring of the stream bottom consists of pebbles, cobbles and occasional boulders.

Prehistory and history

This burn is located a few miles south of very significant Neolithic and Iron Age archaeological sites. A few miles to the north are the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar.[2] About three miles to the northeast is the Neolithic Maes Howe site.

References

  1. C.M Hogan, Natural History of the Orkney Islands, Aberdeen (2006)
  2. J. Gunn, Orkney, the Magnetic North, Thomas Nelson and Sons, Edinburgh (1932)

Coordinates: 58°58′N 3°13′W / 58.967°N 3.217°W / 58.967; -3.217