Stromness Holms

The word 'holm' comes from Old Norse and means a small island. Just offshore from Copland’s Pier in Stromness lie the Inner and Outer Holms, two low-lying islets that are connected to each other and to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand at low tide.

The Holms are home to a single property, a 19th-century house built by the Orcadian sea captain Henry Linklater. With no connection to the electricity grid, the home relies entirely on its own renewable energy system, including a 6kW wind turbine that provides its sole source of power. The turbine demonstrates how small-scale renewable energy can support off-grid living, even in exposed island locations.

Although privately owned and not open to visitors, the Holms form a distinctive part of the Stromness seascape. Easily visible from the shore and surrounding viewpoints, they offer a striking example of Orkney’s long tradition of adapting to island life and harnessing local natural resources. The sight of the wind turbine standing above these remote islets provides a reminder that renewable energy can be deployed on every scale, from individual homes to large community and commercial projects across the islands.