Cava

Cava is an uninhabited island of around 264 acres in Scapa Flow, Orkney, lying just off the much larger island of Hoy. It rises only to 38 metres, and its name means “calf island”, a name often given to a small island beside a bigger one. Unusually, it has a calf of its own: a small peninsula joined to the main island by a narrow isthmus, called the Calf of Cava.

Landscape

Cava is low and green, with rocky shores and no good anchorages nearby. It sits in the western part of Scapa Flow, the huge sheltered harbour at the heart of Orkney, with the hills of Hoy rising to the west. Close by are the small islands of Rysa Little and Fara, and the skerry known as the Barrel of Butter.

History

To the south of Cava, between Fara and Rysa Little, lies Gutter Sound, part of the waters where the interned German High Seas Fleet was scuttled by its own crews in 1919, one of the most extraordinary events in naval history. In the 18th century the notorious Orkney pirate John Gow raided the Hall of Clestrain in Orphir and carried off two servant girls. One account says they were put ashore on Cava “so loaded with presents that they soon afterwards got husbands”. Gow was captured soon after, when his ship ran aground on the Calf of Eday.

Like several of the smaller islands in Orkney’s South Isles, Cava lost its population during the 20th century.

More about Cava

Like several of the smaller islands in Orkney’s South Isles, Cava lost its population during the 20th century. By the 1980s just two people were living here, and today there is no habitable building left. The island’s old farmland is now quiet grazing and wildlife habitat, looking out over the waters where some of the most famous wreck dives in the world lie.

Visiting

There is no ferry to Cava. It can be seen from the ferry between Houton on the Orkney Mainland and Lyness on Hoy, and from dive boats crossing Scapa Flow. You can collect Cava as a sighting in your Island Passport.

Wildlife and area

Scapa Flow is good for Grey Seal and Harbour Seal, and in winter for Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck and eider. In summer look out for Arctic Tern, Black Guillemot and great skuas over Hoy. Other islands nearby include Rysa Little, Barrel of Butter, Holm of Houton and Fara.