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Still docking, Stromness offers itself to visitors, as the pier lays exactly in the middle of the Stromness waterfront.Nothing particularly interesting, not many people wandering around were visible from the ferry external deck.The only building that was remarkable was this one. It is particular because it was the only one not painted in grey.I don't know its function
The ferry docked in Stromness, about 9 PM.The first sight of the small town was not impressive, with the grey as the dominating colour.We had decided to make Stromness our base for our two days at the Orkney Islands.That choice because the largest island, called Mainland, and the Stromness area in particular, offers the best attractions for tourism.
The first sight was not so exciting.Oh well, it was late in the evening, and cloudy, and latitude was not a sunny one. That cloudy island, the mainland, was the first I saw while reaching the port.Prayers for the sun assistance for the upcoming days could be heard from the distance. No problems for that evening, but I truly hoped that luck would keep accompaning me the day after
The Italian Chapel is one of Orkney's most popular places to visit. It sits on the island of Lambholm, easily reached via the Churchill Barriers from the mainland. It is completely unique in that is was created from a hut by Italian prisoners of war who built the Churchill Barriers.The Italians felt a great need for a chapel to be in their camp, and so set about creating one. They were granted the use of two Nissen huts, which were joined together. They were incredibly creative with the tools and materials they had to hand and produced not just a small room in which to conduct their religious ritual, but a magnificent chapel, richly decorated and a sight to behold.Much of it is concrete, all moulded and painted. The windows are beautiful stained glass. There are wrought iron candelabra and a sanctuary screen. Wooden items were created from a shipwreck. Plasterboard was aquired and used...
This visitor centre, in Orphir, tells the story of Orkney's Norse history, as recorded in the Orkneyinga Saga. It was very interesting to read about the lives of the Vikings and the fights that arose in families due to claims over power. It was the Viking system for the title of "Earl" to pass to every son, not just the oldest, which caused huge problems and even resulted in murder.Those who run the museum have created a "family tree" of the Viking Earls, but have used the faces of various film stars, occasionally with beards and Viking helmets - there's so many, it's hilarious! I think you'd need to be there...It is well worth a visit to the graveyard behind the visitor centre, as there are the remains of Scotland's (and possibly Europe's) only circular medieval church. It was in use right up to the 18thC. It is thought to have been modelled on the rotunda of the Church of the Holy...
The Tomb of the Eagles is in South Ronaldsay, and easily reached by the series of bridges that make up the Churchill Barriers - only a 30 minute drive from Kirkwall.The tomb is situated on a clifftop, and is about 5000 years old - Stone Age. The visitor centre is run by the family that discovered the tomb on their land, and makes a really interesting visit, as you will be told all about the tomb and have the unique opportunity to actually handle some of the artefacts that were found in and around the tomb.The reason for the reference to Eagles rests in the fact that the tomb was discovered to contain a number of Sea Eagle talons, and it is thought the Eagle may have had some significance to the people who built the tomb.There is a short walk from the visitor centre to the tomb, and on your way there you will pass the remains of a Bronze Age house, where you will most likely be audience...
One of the best stone circles anywhere.The Ring of Brodgar Stones, together with the nearby Stones of Stenness and associated huge single standing stones are part of a strange "ritual landscape" possibly connected to seasonal and astrological geometry of great sophistication - it is mind blowing - trying to get inside the heads of ancient civilisations - realising how clever they were!!!The area is slightly surreal, with the light mingling with watery skies and two lochs, one freshwater the other a salty sea loch mingling too. A narrow neck of land between these lochs leads you from one stone circle to the other, in almost ceremonial style - it is hard not to be drawn into the aura this place has!The Stone Circles are free to enter and very spiritual. You can touch the stones, sit there, contemplate their significance and meaning ... and puzzle over just how these huge blocks of stone...
Link to Maeshowe Info ... MaeshoweAbout 5,000 years ago, the people living here constructed this huge burial chamber with stones weighing up to 30 tonnes.How would you do that??? No machines. A lot of brains. So these folk were not less intelligent than us - they are our ancestors and thanks to them we are here now.My Orkney tale ... I am in Maeshowe, all alone, mid winter ... Few people get to be in this burial chamber alone (usually guided tours only - by Historic Scotland) ... Somehow I am at the entrance tunnel, alone, this grey, cloudy winter day, all quiet, eary and still ...A golden bonfire bursts to flame on a distant skyline and grows to a huge fire ball ... then I realise, as it fades, that I was privileged to witness 5 minutes of setting sun, glimpsed between hill and cloud. The sun illuminated the back wall of the chamber, down the long entrance tunnel, like molten metal...
This gallery contains beautiful artwork in metals (both precious and base) created by the owner Sam Macdonald on the theme of fish. The work ranges from studies of single fish to shoals of fish against weathered metal backgrounds cleverly reproducing underwater effects.
Hoy is the second biggest Orkney island and it is also the most rugged.We did the 1 1/2 hour walk from Rackwick bay to see the old man of hoy, this is the only way to see it by land, the walk isn't too difficult, we are not really fit but being fit would help.This picture is of us inside the Dwarfie Stane, a 29 ft long monolith. Just one of the Historic Scotland sites in Orkney.
Smithfield Hotel Mainland Island
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Reviews and photos of Orkney attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Orkney sightseeing.
Q: I'm just beginning to plan a trip to Scotland and have decided on visiting Orkney. We will be there end of May beginning of June...
A: If you have a car then it will be extremely easy to travel around the islands...Mainland is linked by the Churchill barriers to Lamb Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsey....
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