Orkney
Touring Scotland with our caravan a few years ago we found ourselves at the most northerly point in mainland Britain, Dunnet Head. Although we had been thwarted in our ambition to visit Orkney by bad weather many years earlier it was more benign on this occasion. So it was with great anticipation that we purchased a pair of tickets for a "Highlights Day Tour" from the ferry office at John O' Groats and boarded the MV Pentland to cross the choppy waters of the Pentland Firth.
We transferred to a bus at Stromness and headed north towards the capital Kirkwall with our tour guide pointing out numerous interesting sights along the way to our first stop The Italian Chapel. This amazing building was created by Italian prisoners of war captured in North Africa and transported to the tiny island of Lamb Holm just off the west coast of Orkney. They had been sent there to construct the "Churchill Barriers" to defend Scapa Flow against German U boats. Their camp priest persuaded the authorities to allow the prisoners to convert two Nissen huts into an evocation of an Italian chapel and it is an incredible example of the painter's art.
Various relics of naval activities during world war two were observed as we resumed our journey to Kirkwall where we paused for lunch and an opportunity to visit St Magnus Cathedral established by a Viking Earl in 1137. The town was bustling with noisy tourists from a cruise ship moored in the harbour and there were long queues in the cafes and restaurants!
Our next stop at Skara Brae was another major highlight for me. This Neolithic village was established 5000 years ago but, having lain buried for centuries, was revealed during a wild storm in the 19th century. The collection of eight stone dwellings is very well preserved and many features such as fireplaces and beds are clearly visible. A modern museum at the entrance to the site has many artifacts on display and a recreation of a Neolthic family home was both entertaining and informative. Unfortunately our examination of the actual village site was rather hastily terminated by an Atlantic squall which sent us scurrying cold and wet into the nearby Skaill house for refuge.
On the return journey to Stromness our tour called at the site of a large Neolithic stone circle at the Ring of Brodgar but we declined to alight to walk around it in the wind and rain and made do with a photo from afar.
We had achieved an ambition to visit Orkney but the highlights tour had only served to whet our appetite for a longer visit to explore the many interesting places at a more leisurely pace. Perhaps when we next visit Scotland, whenever that might be....
Pete
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