Longhope, Orkney

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Longhope
population =
os_grid_reference= ND3090
latitude= 58.79
longitude= -3.21
unitary_scotland= Orkney Islands
lieutenancy_scotland= Orkney Islands
constituency_westminster= Orkney and Shetland
constituency_scottish_parliament= Orkney
post_town= STROMNESS
postcode_district = KW16
postcode_area= KW
dial_code= 01856

Longhope is a coastal settlement on the island of South Walls which is one of the Orkney islands off the northern coast of Scotland. South Walls is linked to Hoy by causeway; Longhope is the largest settlement on the two islands.

An RNLI lifeboat has been stationed at Longhope since 1874; a former lifeboat station is now a museum. On 17 March 1969 the station suffered one of the worst tragedies in British lifeboat history when its lifeboat, "T.G.B.", was lost with all eight crew after answering a mayday call during severe storms. In total, as of 2004, the station has received 26 bravery honours. [cite web| url=http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/scotland/stations/LonghopeOrkney| title= Lifeboat Station : Longhope| publisher=RNLI| accessdate=2007-07-13]

Due to its proximity to the former Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow a coastal artillery base, Hackness Gun Battery, was established near Longhope at gbmapping|ND338912. It was built between 1813 and 1815 in response to a perceived threat from American privateers. The base was constructed alongside one of only three martello towers in Scotland. [cite web| url=http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst10725.html| title=Leith Martello Tower| publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland| accessdate=2007-07-13] [cite web| url=http://www.headlandarchaeology.com/Projects/Hackness_gun_battery/Headland-Archaeology_Archaeological-Excavations_Building-Recording_Hackness-Gun-Battery_main-page.html| title=Coastal artillery details| accessdate=2007-07-13]

External links

* [http://www.longhope.co.uk/ Longhope's website]
*cite web| url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/hoy/longhope/index.html| title=Longhope| publisher=Undiscovered Scotland| accessdate=2007-07-13
*oscoor gbx|ND303907