Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
David Batty

Mayday Stinky Bay: places’ nicknames added to UK database to help rescuers

People wave on a harbour as RNLI craft and a Royal Navy rescue helicopter pass by in Newquay, Cornwall.
Rescue services in Newquay, Cornwall. OS has taken in thousands of unofficial names for cliffs, caves, sandbanks, coastal car parks and buildings. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

From Stinky Bay to Sausage Island, local nicknames for UK landmarks have long been a source of amusement. But in an emergency, the last thing rescuers need to grapple with is how to find Crazy Mary’s Hole.

Fortunately Ordnance Survey (OS) has added thousands of these unofficial names for cliffs, caves, sandbanks, coastal car parks and buildings to a database for the emergency services.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.