Orkney Islands

Friday 15 August

After an early breakfast we set off for John O'Groats to catch the ferry to Burwick on the island of South Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands.

The ferry left at 9.00 am and the trip to the islands takes 40 minutes across the Pentland Firth.

Once on the island we were met by a bus which was to take us to the various points of interest.

The Churchill Barriers, built during the Second World War as a naval defence to protect British vessels stationed at Scarpa Flow, connect the island of South Ronaldsay to the Orkney Mainland (the largest island) via connections to three other small islands, Burray, Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm.

Farming is the major industry on the islands.

Our first stop was at a small church on Lamb Holm which was built by Italian prisoners of war. The men lived at the prisoner of war camp while they helped construct the Churchill barriers.

Our drive continued to the main island through some striking scenery.

We stopped to have a look at the scenery at one point.

Masses of heather covered the ground.

After a lunch stop at the Standing Stones Hotel we drove to have a look at sites of standing stones dating back to Neolithic times.

We didn't stop at the first site known as the Standing Stones o' Stenness but continued over the causeway to the Ring o' Brodgar.

This site has not been fully excavated but is thought to have been built between 2500 BC and 2000 BC. Whatever the date they have stood for thousands of years and are a most impressive sight.

The stones are surrounded by a deep ditch

and masses of wildflowers.

 And more flowers were passed on the way to the next stop.

 The next stop was at the Neolithic village of Skara Brae.

This settlement is believed to be 5000 years old and has survived because it was covered with sand for thousands of years.

In 1850 a storm removed grass from a large mound known as Skerrabra revealing the outline of four buildings. Excavations over the years eventually revealed the buildings making up this early settlement.

Being able to walk so close to this settlement was a great experience.

A recent link to Skara Brae.

Kirkwall is the biggest town and the capital of the Orkney Islands.

St Magnus Cathedral can be found in the centre of the town.

Construction of the church buildings began in 1137 and it took more than 300 years to complete. At one stage the bishops of the church came from Norway. Since 1468 the buildings have not belonged to the church but to the burgh of Kirkwall. It is now a parish church of the Church of Scotland.

After driving back to Burwick we again boarded the ferry to return to John O Groats

where we were met by our coach to return to the hotel at Thurso. Visiting the Orkney Islands had been a wonderful experience - and it did not rain.