On the Tuesday we packed up the tent and headed for Eviedale Campsite on Mainland Orkney. On the way we parked up the car and set out on a walk to Waulkmill Bay, this route looks out onto Scapa Flow which had been the scene of the scuttling of the German Fleet in 1919.
Waulkmill Bay
Lonely rowing boat
Tanker waiting offshore
After our walk we stopped off at the Orkneyinga Saga centre to see the Earls Bu and Round Church in Orphir, which is thought to have been built by Jarl Haakon Paulsson as a penance for murdering his Cousin and co ruler Magnus Erlendsson.
We then stopped off in a rainy Stromness for tea and pieces and to book a table for later at the Ferry Inn.
An evening visit to Maeshowe, a Neolithic chambered cairn which is believed to have been built around 2800 BC.
The entrance passage is aligned with the setting of the midwinter sun so that its light shines into the tomb. On the day of the winter solstice, the sun sets between the Cuilags and Ward Hill on Hoy, over the Barnhouse Stone, a solitary monolith standing in a field near Maeshowe, then its last rays illuminate the inner chamber. I have planned this on the PhotoPills app and on 21/12/18 at 15.16pm it will all line up, amazing stuff when you see it in person.
It was Sitkas birthday on the Monday so we headed back down to Mull Head in South Ronaldsay for a walk in the sunshine, first was a stop off at a collapsed sea cave the Gloup, then onto the Brough of Deerness to see the remains of the 10th century chapel.
http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/broughofdeerness/index.html
After our walk we headed to the Kirk Gallery and Café, Lesley wanting a look at the Shelia Fleet Jewellery, me in need of a sandwich and the best cup of tea anywhere, tea from the tlc company in St Andrews. After we were fed we headed over to Kirkwall for a wander and a look in the St Magnus Cathedral then the Earls Palace and Bishops House.
Panorama of Wheems Campsite
Start of our walk
The Gloup
Cracking view
Happy Sitka on his birthday with his new frisbee
Rock formations
Not too near the edge
The outline of the path to the chapel ruins
Lesley and Sitka hiking up the narrow footpath, the rope was needed at bits
The remains of the 10th century chapel
Heading back down
The Kirk Gallery and Café, well worth a visit for the food and jewellery if that's your cup of tea
St Magnus Cathedral
Stunning vaulted ceilings and almost cavernous inside
Another Island holiday, this time we drove to Gills Bay near John O Groats to catch the ferry to the Orkney Isles. We had a good blether with a guy in his seventies from Dornoch who was on his way to the Orkney Classic Motor show, he was riding his 1919 Douglas WD350, not for the faint hearted as it had no front brake and the rear brake was just a block of wood with a groove cut into it to grip an inner steel rim. An hours fine sailing on the Pentalina catamaran got us into St Margarets Hope on South Ronaldsay. Our first three nights camping were at the Wheems Campsite and organic farm.
The Douglas 1919 WD350
The rear wooden brake
View from the Pentalina
Lesley and Sitka enjoying the fresh air
First view of St Margarets Hope
We did see three of the Perseids meteors but I wasnt quick enough to photograph them
Wheems Campsite, complete with organic farm, yurts and tepees
Braw campers kitchen and sit ooterie
Dan getting ready to go to the Classic Motor show, bike gear of wellies and several shirts and jackets all held together with one belt, this went on for what seemed like an eternity, tears of laughter from us two watching Dan and his last minute pillion get their stuff together, the pillion hadn't anticipated going on the bike, all his gear including his tent and flippers now packed in the saddlebags and his backpack.
"You're wanting to go to the show? Do you have any coffee? Well bring me some and I'll take you on the back of the bike then."
"No gloves? Fucking hell, well lets just not do falling off today."
"Have you ever been on the back of a bike before?" We didn't hear the answer
Our tent with the new zip, thanks to Alex for picking it up from the menders for me. Cracking scenery and blue skies
The scuttled SS Reginald, originally built in 1878 in Govan, purchased by the Admiralty in 1914 and sunk as a blockship on 15th September 1915 just off Churchill Barrier 3.
Churchill Barrier links
Clear water and colourful stones with Lamb Holm in the distance
Lesley and Sitka enjoying the sunshine
The Italian Chapel in what remains of Camp 60 which housed several hundred Italian prisoners during World War II, it was decorated by the Italian POW's as a place of worship during their internment, well worth a visit if you are over.
Tomb of the Eagles in Liddle, South Ronaldsay, a Neolithic chambered cairn
