After visiting the chambered cairn on Cuween Hill, we carried on up to the top, where we found some piles of stones, which were possibly a ruin recently rearranged, and some orchids. After that, we returned to the van for a cup of tea and piece of cake whilst we decided what to do next … Continue reading Cuween Hill – and Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn, Orkney
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Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn, Orkney
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
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.
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
On Orkney
We intend to see as much of Orkney as possible during our trip. One of our first stops was St Mary's Hope on the island of South Ronaldsay (reached by a causeway). We photographed a ferry, than had lunch watching ducklings bobbing about in the bay. I think they're eider ducks. After that, we headed … Continue reading On Orkney
On the ferry
We had a really smooth crossing on the Hamnavoe from Scrabster to Stromness. What with almost surreal calm, minky whales gently rising into view, and tantalising mist, we couldn't help believing this trip will be worth the five year wait.
On the way
Here are some photos taken, at RHS Harlow Carr, on our way up north. And here are some taken at the nearby Brimham Rocks, (and not Birnham stones or Brinkham Rocks, as we've been calling it!) If words are more your thing than pictures, you might like this book of mine, which is currently on … Continue reading On the way