Inverness and the Orkneys 18-8-10

The Ferry to the Orkneys.

On the Orkney Road

We had a big journey to the Orkneys. Hope you are all following your map of Scotland---especially grandchildren!!   The bus travelled to John O'Groats in the North of Scotland. This was a three hour bus trip but great scenery. John O'Groats is the longest land distance from Landsend in Cornwell in Britain. There are 20'000 people on The Orkneys and 70 islands. Only 20 of these are inhabited! We caught the ferry here to the Orkneys. This island is on the same latitude as St. Petersburg in Russia and Greenland so imagine how cold it was---and this is summer!! I wore as much as possible and topped it off with a rain coat!! Sure were icy blasts as we made our way to the ferry. Had a photo taken here but it really was too awful---we look so cold and fat with clothes!! So imagine! There are no trees on the island but it is very green and lush!! the main industry is cattle, sheep and barley(for the whisky that's made on the island!)

Magnus Cathedral

Our first stop was Kirkwall and we found a beautiful Cathedral here called Magnus, I loved this place. It was very spiritual and a man was playing the organ for a service while we were there so that made it very special. there is a strong association with the Vikings here that my brother David would love. They have a Viking ship on the Altar and a statue of an Artic explorer---theres a story here but no time to tell!!
I must say that its very hard picking the photos tonight as I  have so many I love!!! Oh Dear!!!
Also for David--- there were 40.000 stationed here during the war and a prisoner of war camp and ship wreck that I'll have to tell you about when I get home!

Skara Brae 5,000 years old.

Next amazing stop was Skara Brae. Here a farmer discovered the roof of a Neolithic house and a whole village was unearthed that is 5,000 years old. We walked a time line to get to it that had markers such as Great wall of China Stone Henge The Pyramid at Giza but this village at Skara Brae was before them all!! This place was truly amazing---like a family home in stone It is the best preserved Neolithic Village in the world.

The Ring of Brodka

Next we travelled to the Ring of Brodka, This is 4,000 years old > There were 62 standing stones in a circle but only 62 are standing. It was an incredible experience walking around this circle of stones. As in stonehenge you ask Why did they build it and who built it---same problem moving stones as Stonehenge. What made it rather beautiful was the masses of heather growing in the circle and around the base of the stones. I must say this had me painting late at night as the colours were so beautiful.

The Italian Chapel--The Orkneys.

Lastly (a 6 hour trip around the Orkneys!) we viewed the Italian chapel---built by Italian prisoner of wars in the second world war----built around a tin hut and from scaps they could find.
We arrived back after the ferry trip for another very long bus trip home---didn't arrive till 9 then had a 20min walk!! So although very exhausted we both had an amazing day on the Orkney islands  and saw not only their lives now but also there lives 5'000 years ago!!  Great Day!!