Orkney – A Personal Visit

I had always wanted to go to the Orkney Isles and in October I finally got the chance to spend a few days there.  There is so much to say about the islands that I am going to write a few smaller blog posts now each focusing on something different.

In this post, I want to talk about the journey.  Orkney is a long way off – even from the Moray Firth!  We drove to the ferry terminal at Gill’s Bay, near John ‘O Groats, and sailed past the abandoned Isle of Stroma and on through Scapa Flow to the port of St Margaret’s Hope.  Then over the Churchill Barriers to our destination – looking over Loch Harray.

By the end of our first day we had already visited Skara Brae and the Cuween Hill Cairn (both 5000 years old), and seen a great sunset!  Here are a few images from that day (and a couple more).

Churchill Barrier, Orkney

Skara Brae, Orkney

Sunset Over Loch Harray, Orkney

Stone Wall, Orkney

Rust, Orkney

Inside Cuween Hill Cairn, Orkney

Skara Brae, Orkney