Thursday 29th August Day 12.
Dex and I walked out to the headland, our last opportunity as leaving Stromness today and heading for Kirkwall. It was a beautiful clear morning and the light was perfect to see the mountains on Hoy.
After our walk we set off towards Skara Brae.
After visiting the exhibition centre we entered a reconstructed house showing how it would have looked 5000 years ago.
Stone pots which are decorated
A stone dresser complete with pots and ornaments
We then went to see the actual village with everything in it as it was 5000 years ago. Amazing how intact everything was.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skara_Brae
The stone hearth centre with stone beds on either side. These would have been lined with fleece or animal skins.
The houses were connected by a series of walkways which would have been covered.
It was fascinating seeing these homes, older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids and in such amazing condition for their age.
They were right next door to Skaill Bay
Next we went to look at Skaill House next door to Skara Brae.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skaill_House
The Queen Mother and the Queen were visitors here.
After we’d finished looking around the house we decided to get lunch in the cafe. It was mobbed so we got takeaway sandwiches and soup and ate them back at the van. After lunch we headed off to see the stack rocks at Yesnaby. We had passed by earlier but it was raining. It was now dry so we drove back.
Amazing to see these old buildings with turf roofs
We had to wait for a herd of cows to swap fields
As an AC/DC fan I was thrilled to see this massive truck in the Carpark 😍
Dex and I set out to see the stack rocks. John gets vertigo so decided to stay in the van. We set off along the cliff path.
We could see the van high up on the cliff top.
We could just make out the Old Man of Hoy in the far distant mist.
The waterfall was being blown upwards by the strong wind.
It was so breathtaking seeing the wonderful bridge spanning the rock stacks.
Some people had taken photos of themselves on the bridge but I’m not that crazy! 🤣
Further on this impressive stack standing alone.
We got wet from the waterfall spray which was blowing upwards.
We could see the Brough of Birsay lighthouse in the distance.
I wanted to take a look at the Birsay Earl’s Palace but was very disappointed!! Palace?? I don’t think so!
We had to visit Twatt, just for the craic. There is nothing there just one church and the village signs have either been removed or stolen but we did manage to find this signpost nearby. Mr Brookes was happy 🤣
We could see this small island Eynhallow. Not inhabited now but is believed to have had a monastery on there at one time.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eynhallow
Most of the fields we could see were for cattle or sheep but cattle in the main.
We spotted a Belted Galloway, I have never seen one before.
On the way in to Kirkwall we could see a cruise ship in the harbour.
We could see the Cathedral spire in the distance.
The Kirkwall hotel
We arrived at our campsite. No one on reception but clearly we were expected 😃
There were views all around but it was incredibly windy and exposed.
The cruise ship was leaving town.
Later that evening the torrential rain came and with the high winds we were glad to be warm and cosy inside. The bad weather was clearly in for the night and so were we.
Wow Stormness looks breathtaking, the mountains are beautiful 😍 Considering the number of tourists they get the village ruins were in amazing condition. Love the Twat photo & the AC/DC van I wonder what it's like inside?! 😘xx
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