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Look, a picture says a thousand words, so I'll shut up and just let you look.
Brough of Birsay - A Small Headland seperated from the Orkney "Mainland" by a Tidal Causeway, which has some of the most beautiful seaweed and stones.
As well as the Birds on the cliffs and seals basking in sun, there is the remains of a sophisticated Viking village, built around a 10th century church.
Close by is the ruined Bishops Palace. Leave a Comment
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The highlight of a visit to Orkney has to be Skara Brae, it is fantastic. Its situation - overlooking the sea and its history.
It was unearthed in 1850 during a storm, it had been buried for 4,500 years.This has to be one of the best known prehistoric monuments in Britain, this is because its astounding state of preservation allows us a extraordinarily evocative glimpse of times long past. Some of its houses stand to eaves level, whole stretches of passage way are still roofed and a lot of the stone furniture is still in place and easily recognised as furniture. Skara Brae is a small village consisting of 6 to 8 houses which were built, modified and rebuilt over a period of some 600 years between about 3100 and 2500 BC. Today it lies exposed on the shore of the Bay of Skaill, that is the result of marine erosion. It position today is very different from its original one when it lay in fertile grasslands well away from the sea. It lay in what was then an ideal situation for agriculture, animal breeding, hunting and fishing.
Most of the houses show a remarkable uniformity of design. The best preserved (also the last to have been built) stand 3 metres high at roof level. Basically each house consists of a single squarish room, up to 6 metres across with 2 metre thick walls. The corners are rounded and there are small cupboards built within the thick walls. There is a single doorway which has barholes to secure a wooden door. Opposite the door is a shelved dresser built of stone. Remains of decorated and plain pots have been found on the site and they may have stond on the shelves. It the rooms centre is a large slab-lined hearth and on either side is a stone-panelled bed. Leave a Comment
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The Brough of Birsay is a tidal island. accessible by causeway at low tide (pedestrians only). A Pictish community settled there from about the 6th century, and later the Vikings built a community. there are extensive remains of the latter......Birsay was a very important place. Walk further, across the island or along its edge, and you will come eventually to the lighthouse. Watch the birds (I saw a great skua bring down and drown a young gull when I was there) and the seals......if you are really lucky, you may even see whlaes. Bring your binoculars! Leave a Comment Directions: North-west coast of Mainland. Open daily 11th June - 30th September, depending on tides. Check tide times with tourist information first.
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To get to Yesnaby you'll need a car or bike (thoughOrkney is one of the few places I'd feel safe hitchhiking), but it is well worth the effort. On the west coast of Mainland, it is simply spectacular. The Atlantic boils and booms below sheer, towering cliffs, cutting its way into the land to form stacks and geos. Birds are everywhere. To the north, walk across the bare rock headland (topsoil removed to fertilise the fields)........watch out for bullocks and expect the local birds to be a bit cross in the nesting season! To the south, more gentle, green paths lead around the coastline to a tiny bay with boat nousts, and onwards to Yesnaby Castle, a stunning stack. Try to visit in the week, as Yesnaby is popular with local folk at weekends. Better yet, watch the sun go down over the sea and acknowledge the beauty of nature. Leave a Comment Directions: Mid-west coast of Mainland, between Stromness and Bay of Skaill.
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The natural harbour created by Scapa Flow has been in use for centuries .....records date from the Vikings in the 13th century to the present day. In the First World War it was the fleet's northern base and the German fleet was scuttled there in 1919 (8 vessels remain submerged). In the Second World War it was equally important. In October 1939 a German U-boat managed to pass between Mainland and Lamb Holm, torpedoing HMS Royal Oak with the loss of 833 lives (the wreck is a war grave). This led Winston Churchill to order the building of concrete barriers between the islands (now known as the Churchill Barriers) to prevent any further attacks. Scapa today is beautiful, full of wildlife and interest. The Stromness Museum has many relics and much interesting information about its history, and is well worth a visit. Leave a Comment
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Of course, you must visit the Neolithic village of Skara Brae (3200 BCE to 2200 BCE), but try to go before or after the coaches!
A world-heritage site, the village was first exposed by a storm in 1850, but was excavated between 1928 and 1930. the houses are built in similar style, interlinked by roofed corridors and set into deep mounds of rubbish (middens) which helped to keep them warm. They all have the same interior style....a 'dresser' facing the main entrance, two beds on either side and little niches in the walls (presumably for personal belongings). The visitors' centre is extremely interesting, the guides are friendly and knowledgeable, there's a good cafe and a full-size reconstruction of a roofed house to explore.
When Skara Brae was inhabited the sea was further away, but now it lies on the shore and precautions have to be taken against its erosion. More settlement is being exposed by the elements, so take the time to walk along the beach and see what you can see before you leave! Leave a Comment
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From 1942 - 45 there was an Italian prisoner-of-war camp on Lamb Holm, a tiny island now linked to Mainland by the Churchill Barriers. It was decided that 13 huts of Camp 60 were missing one thing..... a chapel. Two Nissen huts were joined, initially to form a chapel and 'schoolroom'. Out of this ordinary beginning came a masterpiece. The chapel was decorated by Domenico Chiocchetti, who stayed on after the war had ended to finish his task. he returned to the chapel twice more, in 1960 (to restore it) and in 1964 with his wife, before dying in 1999 in his home village of Moena at the age of 89. The chapel looks interesting enough from the outside, but the interior is truly stunning. Visit and wonder at the skill and dedication of those who built it. Leave a Comment
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Everyone visiting Orkney Mainland must see Maes Howe, but try to be there when the coaches aren't .....early or late. It's so much better if there are only a few people inside....or just you! The construction of this tomb is stunning.....the corbelled roof and the 'swinging stone' at the entrance show the incredible skill of its prehistoric builders. Set in a ritual landscape of massive importance, the care taken over its siting is still clear today......facing the Sun as it sets between the far hills. The website below gives a live feed when the Winter solstice sunset occurs, and the rays light up the entrance tunnel of the tomb. Inside, you can see the graffitti left by Vikings who broke in ( boasting of 'carrying away treasure for four days'). The visitors' centre is informative, the guides knowledgeable but, unfortunately, access to the interior of the tomb is only for those who can move easily when crouched. Leave a Comment Address: Stenness, Mainland.Directions: Can't be missed......follow the road from Kirkwall to Stromness.Website: www.maeshowe.co.uk
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You can't avoid travelling over the Churchill Barriers if you want to explore the islands linked by them to Mainland. Built in the Second Wrold War, by the Italian p.o.w.s based in Orkney, they were intended to prevent U-boats accessing Scapa Flow. Huge 'blockships' carrying tons of concrete blocks were used to seal the channels between the islands, and the ships themselves were then sunk Initially, the prisoners refused to build the barriers, but were persuaded when they realised that the road laid across them would be vitally important to the islanders. The road is still the only route to Mainland from the islands to the south (although it is dangerous to cross if the sea is very rough) and some blockship wrecks are visible even now. A wonderful achievement. Leave a Comment Address: From Mainland to South Ronaldsay
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The italian chapel was built by italian POWs in an old hangar. When you stand right in front it looks really beautiful like a 'real' chapel but when you take a few steps to either side you can see the side of the hangar and it just looks so weird.
It is beautifully decorated inside too. Leave a Comment Directions: South from Kirkwall to the ferry to John O'Groats
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