Houton

This article is about the village in Scotland. For the place in Belgium, see Houton, Belgium.

Not to be confused with Houston, the city in Texas, US.

Houton is a settlement 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of Stromness on the island of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. The settlement is within the parish of Orphir,^[1] and is situated on a minor road off the A964.^[2]

Houton
The Bay of Houton, showing ferry terminal and lobster pots
Houton Location within Orkney
OS grid reference	HY317041
Civil parish	Orphir
Council area	Orkney Islands
Lieutenancy area	Orkney Islands
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ORKNEY
Postcode district	KW17
Dialling code	01856
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Orkney and Shetland
Scottish Parliament	Orkney
List of places UK Scotland 58.918°N 3.186°W / 58.918; -3.186

From here, a ferry sails to Lyness on Hoy, Longhope on South Walls, and the island of Flotta, as well as a smaller ferry for workers of the Flotta oil terminal. Nearby are the remains of the Orphir Round Church, dedicated to St Nicholas (the only medieval round church in Scotland) and the Earl's Bu, the ruins of a former manor house of the Earldom of Orkney. These sites are in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.

The Holm of Houton is nearby.

RAF Houton

RAF Houton was situated nearby and was home to the following units:

• No. 306 (Flying Boat) Flight.^[3]
• No. 430 (Seaplane) Flight.^[4]
• 'F' Boat Seaplane Training Flight was formed on 15 August 1918 and operated the Felixstowe F.3 and the Curtiss H.16 before being disbanded on 25 November 1918.^[5]
• Orkney Wing.^[6]

References

1. "Details of Houton". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
2. "A964". Sabre. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
3. Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. p. 72. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
4. Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. p. 76. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
5. Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. p. 66. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
6. "Houton Bay (also Kite Balloon Base)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 29 October 2013.

External links

• Overview of Houton, Gazetteer for Scotland