 The harbour shelters some small local boats together with those used for working the sheep on the off lying island of Stroma.In the right sea conditions the area is sometimes used for surfing.While Scrabster to Stromness is the longest continuously used ferry route to Orkney, started in 1856, historically the Gills Bay area has been the main setting off point from the mainland to the islands of Stroma and Swona and Orkney itself.