Holm (pronounced /hæm/ [1]), also spelled Ham, is a parish on Mainland, Orkney.[2]
An adjacent Sound, running between Mainland, and Burray, is named after Holm.[2] It has since been blocked up by the Churchill Barriers.[1] The parish flanks the north side of the Sound and extends to within 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of Kirkwall, and contains the village of St Mary's Holm, as well as the island of Lamb Holm. The Mainland section is 6 miles (9.7 km) by 2 miles (3.2 km).[2]
The shores are mostly rocky, and the interior consists of light thin, loamy land.[2]
Orkney F.C., the island group's main football club, played its home games at The Rockworks Community ground near St. Mary's Holm until the pitch was wrecked in 2023. The pitch has just been replaced ahead of the island games in 2025.
- ^ a b Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ a b c d Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone