Orkney, 03-07 March 2025

We caught the train from Pitlochry up to Inverness and then a cab to the airport hotel as our little flight was at 0730 next day. It was lovely flyng along the north coast and then a sharp turn to port to arrive in Orkney for the first time. What adventures awaited us!

I ran out of counting the number of times we crossed over the Churchill Barriers with the waves crashing on our hire car. Although it was dry and sunny the images do not capture the gale force winds that blew throughout our visit. High on my list was a trip to Skarra Brae which I adored.

I had remembered the black and white drawing on my S1 history book from school showing the shell midden of the village, and there it was for me to see.




It was quite an emotional visit and we learned a lot about the existence of the ancient people 5,000 years ago and why they came here (great pastures for wheat) and why they left after a few thousand years (too cold for wheat). The other Neolithic sites are spectacular, especially in that northern light, such as the Stones of Sternness, Ring of Brodgar and Maes Howe.





Above is Fiona about to double up and enter Maes Howe for the excellent talk on the structure and use and translation of the grafitti!

More Orkney images