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Innan Neb is a Second World War coastal defence site situated on the Orkney mainland, comprising coast batteries, barrage balloon emplacements and an associated military camp. The monument occupies land underlain by Middle Old Red Sandstone bedrock, formed during the Middle Devonian period approximately 385 to 380 million years ago, composed of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone which provided a relatively stable foundation for military construction.
The site reflects Orkney's strategic importance during the Second World War, when the islands formed part of Britain's northern defence against potential German attack and naval operations. The combination of coast batteries, anti-aircraft balloon defences and camp infrastructure demonstrates the integrated approach to coastal protection developed during this period, with guns positioned to defend against surface vessels whilst barrage balloons offered defence against low-flying aircraft.
Innan Neb is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13555, recognising its significance as a well-preserved example of wartime coastal fortification. The site remains visible in the landscape today, preserving evidence of the civilian and military mobilisation that characterised Orkney's role in defending British waters during the Second World War.
Innan Neb, coast batteries, barrage balloon site and camp is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13555. View the official record →
Innan Neb is a Second World War coastal defence site situated on the Orkney mainland, comprising coast batteries, barrage balloon emplacements and an associated military camp. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM13555.
Innan Neb, coast batteries, barrage balloon site and camp is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM13555.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Hackness, Battery and Martello Tower (1.5 km), Stanger Head Battery,Stanger Head (2.6 km), Buchanan Battery,Stanger Head (2.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Innan Neb, coast batteries, barrage balloon site and camp's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Innan Neb, coast batteries, barrage balloon site and camp stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.