G&B: 2015: Orkney

Geoff Brock & Bruce Gamble

Orkney: Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar
and St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall


	Tuesday 21st July 2015

The 219 nautical mile voyage from Leith to Kirkwall was scheduled to take nineteen hours, which meant that we had a morning at sea before our expected arrival time of 1.00pm. We were happy with that, because it gave us time to have a late breakfast, chat to our fellow travellers and re-explore the ship.

For Bruce, the day started particulary well. His biggest decision was whether to broaden his mind by attending the lecture about Scapa Flow, or to sit in the lounge, drink cappuccino and stuff his face with finest pralines. Those who know him well, will know what he did.

By mid-morning, we could see land ahead. We assumed that it was Orkney.

As we got closer to Kirkwall, we sailed past the islands of Copinsay (left) and the Horse of Copinsay (right)

Turning left, we were now only two or three miles from the port of Kirkwall.

About an hour before we arrived, a pilot ship appeared and a couple of pilots boarded our ship.

This isn't our photo, but it gives a good idea of the layout of Kirkwall. The centre of the town is a short walk from where our ship was docked at the end of the pier shown on the left.

By 1.00pm, exactly on schedule, we were docked.

The weather forecast for today wasn't brilliant, but it looked like we might just be lucky.

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, as seen from the ship.

It was time to get off and see Orkney!

This is the route we took during our afternoon excursion. After leaving the ferry terminal, the coach drove south past Scapa and then east, all the way to Skara Brae. On the return journey, we visited the Ring of Brodgar and drove past the Standing Stones of Stenness, before taking the northern road back to Kirkwall for our visit to the St Magnus Cathedral. From there we walked back to the ship.

Skaill house, which we would be visiting later.

After our visit to Skaill House, we went back to the visitor centre and then into this reconstructed version of Skara Brae's house number 7.

The new official Orkney Community Flag (since 2007)

The colours red and yellow are from the Scottish and Norwegian royal coats of arms, which both use yellow and red, with a lion rampant. The flag symbolises the islands' Scottish and Norwegian heritage. The blue is taken from the flag of Scotland and also represents the sea and the maritime heritage of the islands.

At this point, our luck with the weather ran out. Light, yet steady rain began to fall, but it didn't put us off. Geoff had waited a long time to visit this site and we were going to do it!

Bog Orchid

Ragged Robin

After visiting the ring of Brodgar, we got back in the coach and didn't get off it again before we got back to Kirkwall, which explains why the rest of the photos aren't that brilliant.

Ongoing archaeological digs, as seen from the coach.

The Standing Stones of Stenness

What passes for a forest on Orkney.

Bleak and beautiful!

Approaching Kirkwall (Hatston pier - not our ship)

The Island Sky at Kirkwall Pier

After visiting the cathedral we walked back to the ship via the centre of the town.
Luckily the rain had stopped by then.
It was 5.30pm on a Tuesday afternoon in the height of summer. Where was everybody?