We've been doing so much I'm struggling to keep up with blogging about it all! After visiting Grain Earth House, and attempting to video the experience, we went to another, more impressive chambered cairn at Cuween Hill. If you know your archeology you may have heard of the aisle of dogs - that's in this … Continue reading Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn, Orkney
Author: patsy
Earl’s Palace
There have been quite a few Earls of Orkney, with marvellous names such as Thorfinn the Mighty, Thorfinn Skullsplitter, Sigurd the Stout, Harald Smooth Tongue, Harald the Old, Harald the Young, Einar Wry-mouth... Inheritance rules meant that rather than the title and all the dosh going to the eldest son, all siblings got a share. … Continue reading Earl’s Palace
Broch of Gurness
A broch is a very old kind of big round Scottish castle structure, with immensely thick double walls whixh have a narrow passageway between them. Nobody seems to know what that's for - it might be an early form of cavity wall insulation. People lived in brochs and it seems likely they were defensive structures.We've … Continue reading Broch of Gurness
A confession
The shells in Wednesday's post were not, as I claimed, groatie buckies. I should have been suspicious when I found some so easily... Anyway, I have now found one - it's the small stripey one, shown alongside one of whatever the others are to give an idea of scale.
Cake sheds, tea, and puffins
There are lots of mini sheds supplying cake, and sometimes lots of other food, drink and souvenirs too, on Orkney. They operate on an honesty basis - usually you leave cash, but some have the option to pay by card or other means. They're always open (unlike the post boxes!) but if you arrive just … Continue reading Cake sheds, tea, and puffins
Wednesday word of the week – Groatie Buckies
Groatie Buckies is the Orcadian word for cowrie shells. It comes from John O'Groats (a nearby point on the Scottish mainland) and buccinum, which is Latin for shellfish, apparently. I first heard the term when I spotted two young ladies clearly searching for something on the beach. Being a writer, and therefore nosy, I asked … Continue reading Wednesday word of the week – Groatie Buckies
Skara Brae
The first, orangey coloured, photos are from a replica house, which visitors could enter to examine the contents. The rest are of the real thing which you're not usually allowed to go into, in order to preserve the buildings – but can see very well from the surrounding paths. There's a lot I could say … Continue reading Skara Brae
Bishop’s Palace
The bishop in Kirkwall would have had a longer commute to work than I do, but not by much. You can see St Magnus Cathedral from his palace, and vice versa. Even I wouldn't have needed a cup of tea on arrival if I'd had one just before leaving home - although I'm fairly sure … Continue reading Bishop’s Palace
Broch of Borwick
Yesnaby was so beautiful, there was more to explore, and the weather forecast for the next day was good, so we stayed where we were. I did a little writing before cooking our dinner. The following morning, after a pot of tea and writing a few more words as Gary sorted out the camera stuff, … Continue reading Broch of Borwick
Comet and Watch Stones
Both the Comet and Watch stone are located between the Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness. It looks as though all the stones are part of the same extended monument, but apparently they were erected over a period of over 1,000 years. The Comet (shown first) is relatively small - not even my height. … Continue reading Comet and Watch Stones