Orkney Things to Do Tips by scotlandscotour Top 5 Page for this destination

Ring of Brodgar - Stone Circle - Magical & Massive

One of the best stone circles anywhere.

The Ring of Brodgar Stones, together with the nearby Stones of Stenness and associated huge single standing stones are part of a strange "ritual landscape" possibly connected to seasonal and astrological geometry of great sophistication - it is mind blowing - trying to get inside the heads of ancient civilisations - realising how clever they were!!!

The area is slightly surreal, with the light mingling with watery skies and two lochs, one freshwater the other a salty sea loch mingling too. A narrow neck of land between these lochs leads you from one stone circle to the other, in almost ceremonial style - it is hard not to be drawn into the aura this place has!

The Stone Circles are free to enter and very spiritual. You can touch the stones, sit there, contemplate their significance and meaning ... and puzzle over just how these huge blocks of stone were manouvered and positioned, thousands of years ago ... it must have taken a lot of brain power and cooperation.

Forgotten Technology -
View this interesting website if you are trying to figure out how these huge stone slabs were moved, without modern tools and equipment www.theforgottentechnology.com/Page1.htm And a superb insite into the construction of pyramids. (give the site time for picture animations to upload - its way easier to understand the technology then!).

See my Stonehenge Page for interesting websites and info on Stone circles in Europe.

Address: Brodgar, Stenness, Mainland Orkney, Scotland

Directions: By Stenness Standing Stones, just east of Stromness.
Also close by is Maeshowe, Barnhouse Village, Watch Stone, all 5000 years old!

Other Contact: www.theforgottentechnology.com/P

Phone: +44 7921 383503

Website: http://www.allfivesenses.com

Maeshowe - Burial Chamber - And Viking Runes

Link to Maeshowe Info ...

Maeshowe

About 5,000 years ago, the people living here constructed this huge burial chamber with stones weighing up to 30 tonnes.

How would you do that??? No machines. A lot of brains. So these folk were not less intelligent than us - they are our ancestors and thanks to them we are here now.

My Orkney tale ... I am in Maeshowe, all alone, mid winter ... Few people get to be in this burial chamber alone (usually guided tours only - by Historic Scotland) ... Somehow I am at the entrance tunnel, alone, this grey, cloudy winter day, all quiet, eary and still ...

A golden bonfire bursts to flame on a distant skyline and grows to a huge fire ball ... then I realise, as it fades, that I was privileged to witness 5 minutes of setting sun, glimpsed between hill and cloud. The sun illuminated the back wall of the chamber, down the long entrance tunnel, like molten metal cascading into a stone mould, pouring into the chamber, filling it with vibrant life, then ebbing away taking the spirits of the dead with it, to peace, ... calm and still once more. Grey blankets of cloud were drawn over the landscape. I stood there, speachless with no one to speak with.

Witness to one of the most amazing phenonema - the winter sunset lighting the tunnel of Maeshowe. I shared this moment with those who built it, built it for this very moment.

Now part of me lives forever at Maeshowe, Orkney.

Other Contact: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Website: http://www.allfivesenses.com

St Magnus Cathedral - Kirkwall - Orkney

I cannot stop photographing this amazing sandstone cathedral - it is even more beautiful inside.

It is right in the centre of tiny Kirkwall (7,000 people) and free to go in, though donations for its upkeep would be good - the stone is very soft.

Here are the weblinks I find best cover researching and viewing inside:

http://sites.scran.ac.uk/stmagnus/
http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/stmagnus/magcath.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/society_culture/architecture/architecture_cathedral_06.shtml
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkwall/stmagnus/
http://www.ancient-scotland.co.uk/site.php?a=138

Address: Kirkwall, Orkney Mainland

Directions: Northern Isles, Scotland, UK.

Other Contact: www.orknet.co.uk

Website: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Skara Brae - Neolithic Village - 5000 Years Old

See the web links below:

Skara Brae Neolithic Village

Everyone gets excited because Skara Brae is older than Stonehenge and older than the pyramids of Egypt.

I get excited because Skara Brae preserves in stone the domestic houses and furnishing normally made from wood in this period (and hence mostly lost over time).

As wood was scarce here - and because the stone naturally forms into these easily worked slabs - stone shelves, bed frames and so on were made. And they survived, in place, as the site has been covered by sand and so protected from later human raiding until recently.

A site like this is a glimpse back in time - a link to 5000 years ago that is unspoilt by the intervening years, by war, reuse and adaptation. It has not been built upon, so only archaeologists can interpret ... everyone can see it ... walk amongst it ... and see for certain how skilled, creative and sophisticated people were 5000 years ago!!!

Assuming that similarly creative work was done in wood elsewhere, this proves we must give far more credit to humans back then - and stop imagining their living conditions to be "primitive" because of a lack of metals. They could do with wood, stone and plant what we now do with plastic and metal ... but we have a huge environmental mess as a result too.

Skara Brae is an amazing place - and an important lesson too - about life today!

Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/scotland/skara_brae.shtml

Broch of Gurness

This is a magnificent location - the best preserved Broch and well worth exploring.

The Broch remains standing to about 7 feet above ground, is twin walled with complex constructions built within, a guarded entrance doorway (possibly protected by dogs and a heavy hinged door) and steps leading to upper rooms.

Outside the Broch tower and within defensive ditches and dykes built concentrically around the whole site, huddles a crowded village of stone houses, similar in style to the earlier Skara Brae village. This seems to be huddled more for protection from enemies than sheltering from winter winds but I am sure both were true.

The feeling is of a tightly packed, close community, self sufficient, spohisticated and well organised. The designs are creative, pragmatic and bear the hallmarks of a society well equiped to live with nature, properous and vying for a hold on this beautiful place with other similar tribes.

The advent of technology (metal) and communication (shipping) meant high levels of trade and interaction across all Europe. This now remote island area was once far more central to expanding economic and political interests and its fertile lands and plentiful fishing (plus idylic setting) made it highly prized. Who knows what stories these stones hlde locked within!

This is a place to let your imagination run wild as you work out all the stone furniture and piece together the past life within!

Only 3 pounds to get in or less if you have Historic Scotland membership or Explorer pass.

Well worth seeing!

Other Contact: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/ancient/trails_ancient_brochs.shtml

Tomb of the Eagles - Exceptional and Fantastic

Different from all other archaeological sites on Orkney - very special, and highly recommended.

Family run Tomb Of The Eagles is a refressing change from stuffy, government run sites.

We arrived early and were welcomed by Kathleen. With real VIP treatment we were ushered through a delightful introductory talk before a coach party could decend. This gave us real "hands on" experience of life in pre-historic times and a chance to feel and touch finds from the tomb. Very special!

Visitors are then free to walk un attended to the Bronze Age House unearthed on the farm - and amazingly one is trusted to explore this un supervised - you are free to touch the stones and ponder the purpose of tools, the design an layout ... mulling over life thousands of years back. The puzzle is delightfully uncertain and you can derive your own theories to compete with academics.

This "trust" seems to work, as guests are in awe of the site and respect this privilege, instead of damaging or stealing. It is quite exceptional though - long may this continue.

After the bronze age, you head back further in time and walk a further 5 minutes to the cliff edge and the burial tomb. The location is breathtaking and one is instantly connected with ancient civilisations who valued and respected this feeling too.

The Tomb is not the star, so much as the mood and the spirituality of the setting, looking east over the water. It is easy to imagine the bodies of the dead, laid out for Sea Eagles to "pick clean", before the bones were laid to rest in chambers. This whole process of death and ceremony, spirit and nature fascinates me - this site will surely capture your imagination too!!

Address: Liddel, South Ronaldsay

Directions: Southern tip of South Ronaldsay Island, near to the Burwick Ferry (if coming from John O Groats). Well worth any effort to get to. Beautiful location. Wonderful people!

Other Contact: www.multimap.co.uk

Website: http://www.tomboftheeagles.co.uk/

Churchill Barriers - Sunken Ships & Scapa Flow

Orkney Islands' Mainland is connected via a series of small islands (Lamb Holm, Burray, Glims Holm) and causeways, "Churchill Barriers", to South Ronaldsay Island.

During World War II, ships were skuppered and sunk in the narrow channels between these islands to block access into the protected waters of Scapa Flow, where the British navel fleet gathered.

The rusting hulks of many of these ships can still be seen and are a poingent reminder of the war.

Nowadays, Scapa Flow is a divers' paradise, where you can explore the many wrecks.

In 1939 the British fleet was moored within Scapa Flow, like ships have always done, for safety from weather (and enemies).

HMS Royal Oak was a "sitting duck" for a German U-boat submarine which cleverly navigated through the sunken block ships, cables, and defenses.

833 men died that night in Scapa Flow, as the Royal Oak turned upside down and sank. The U-boat slipped back out, unnoticed.

Originally, the block ships had been filled with balast and deliberately skuppered in the narrow channels, during World War I. These obstacles were later manouvred to allow fishing boats safer movement, and it seems this had been overlooked by the start of World War II. The British defenses were incomplete and this weakness was utilised by a brilliant young U-boat commander.

The Italian prisoners of war could not be used for military labour, but could work on "causeways" connecting these islands to the Mainland, and so the "Barriers" were completed in 1945 as road links, just in time for the end of the War.

Only in stormy weather does nature really remind us of the causeways linking islands - the low lying causeways are closed as winds and waves smash stones over the sides, sweeping the road with a frenzy. A 'gentle' reminder of life before the barriers, when boats were the only transport.

Address: South of Kirkwall - between East Mainland and Sout

Directions: Note: Also be aware that 'locals' in a hurry use these short but straight road sections as overtaking strips, leap frogging the slower caravans of traffic off the ferry from St. Margaret's Hope. This can be more dangerous than bad weather!

Italian Chapel - Prisoners of War - Peace symbol

Visit this tiny gem, when crossing the "Churchill Barriers" to the islands south of Kirkwall (main town on Orkney). No charge.

During the second world war, Italian prisoners from Africa were brought to Orkney to labour on the Churchill Barriers, connecting the small islands and blocking the channels to German U-boats seeking to destroy the British Navel fleet in Scapa Floe.

The Chapel is exquisite and a powerful symbol - the only remaining hut from the prison camp.

Click on the weblink below to see the incredible interior decor. Alternatively, to retain the element of delight and surprise, wait until you visit!

This is a perfect example of those little things on a journey that make it special - so please take the time to stop and look, if only for 5 minutes. It will stay with you forever.

Directions: On the tiny island of Lamb Holm, 7 or 8 miles south of Kirkwall.
Take A961 from Kirkwall, towards South Ronaldsay and St Margaret's Hope or Burwick (both ferry ports to Scottish mainland)

Website: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/eastmainland/italianchapel/

Stromness - Orkney's Lively & Cute Town

Stromness is wonderful and deserves a page to itself!

Follow this link to my Stromness Page

Viking Village - Brough of Birsay

Cross over the tidal causeway to the headland of Birsay, upon which the remains of a viking settlement (of some sophistication) shows how our appreciation of beautiful places to live has changed little over the years - This is idylic!

Highly recommended!!

Check to tides first and allow time to explore the rock pools - maybe the cliffs too (amazing aerial acrobatics by flying Fulmars). If you have a sense of adventure, be there when the tide is comming in!!

See also the remains of the Bishops Palace.

Directions: North West Mainland

Other Contact: www.orknet.co.uk/wildabout

Website: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk