One Of The UK's Largest Wartime Structures Goes On The Market For £400,000

An enormous 19-acre coastal battery has gone up for sale for £400,000. 

The site, Hoxa Head, helped guard Orkney during both World Wars and is one of the largest wartime structures in Scotland.

Its position looks out over one of the main approaches to Scapa Flow, which was an important Royal Navy strategic base in the north of the UK.

However, now the impressive panorama draws thousands of visitors every year to make the pilgrimage to the settlement on South Ronaldsay.

Scattered along the rugged coastline are gun and searchlight emplacements, along with the batteries on the Floatta.  Unlike most of the other battery sites in Scotland, the foundations and plinths of the military camps which served there can still be seen.

The site has been in the current owner, Peter Thomson’s family for generations, he hopes a new owner will develop the historical site further.

He said: “The islands have a massive wartime history, with Scapa Flow, The Churchill Barriers and The Italian Chapel.

"This is probably not something that you can buy anywhere. It is unique. It will be sad to see it go, but I am moving on."

Interestingly, Hoxa Head isn’t just famous for its unique military settlement, it also has an abundance of scurvy grass, the leaves of which are so rich in Vitamin C, it was historically used to treat sailors with scurvy.

Cover photo: SWNS