OVERVIEW
Sandside was built in the early 19th century but has undergone some alterations and had been empty for around 15 years when I first saw it. [HISTORY] Not only has the main house been restored, but also the adjoining outbuildings to the West side, which were once used as washrooms and dairy, and on the East side an outbuilding which has been used as the Post Office for many years. To see earlier plans for Sandside click here.
Sandside is situated on Graemsay, one of the smaller islands in Orkney, at the Northern entrance to Scapa Flow between Hoy and the Orkney Mainland. There beautiful views all around. From the South I can see the Hoy Hills, which are ever changing with the clouds and light playing on their surface. To the North can be seen the Orkney Mainland, and the lights of Stromness town twinkling in the dusk. The "Hamnavoe" ferry sails through Hoy Sound on its way to Scrabster. Fishing boats, sailing craft, and diving vessels bob upon the waves. Sometimes, when the air is still, sounds can be heard from across the water, a dog barking, tractor engine turning - a link to the outer world, but separated by the water that flows through Hoy Sound.
Part of the beauty of the island is its response to the ever changing weather and the natural rhythms of the seasons. On a warm sunny day with a light breeze stirring the buttercups, Bees buzz, Swifts dart around, and the Finches busy themselves. The waves gently lap the beach, and the sea turns beautiful shades of blue and green, so clear you can see the rocks below. On a Winter’s day you can watch the wind stir up the sea, and the rain blow across from the West, hiding the Hoy Hills beneath cloud and drenching the earth.
Just a few yards from the house is Sandside Bay, a beautiful crescent of golden sand, frequented by Grey Seals. Sometimes as many as sixty can be seen basking in the warmth of the sun on the beach or the rocks, and in the evening many are seen around the Bay. Walk along the beach in the evening light and you will have around a dozen companions following you about 20 feet away. Stand still for a while and some will inch a little closer. Walk across the jetty and the fine golden sand is replaced with the most beautiful tiny shells and coral sand. The boulders and slabs of stone pile up around the headland, with nooks and crannies to settle into out of the breeze and contemplate the world. Or on windy days watch the waves crashing against the beach, the Atlantic rollers showing the power of the natural world. [NATURAL WORLD]