We left The Highlands behind to take a short trip across the water to the islands off the northern Scottish mainland, The Orkneys. These low windswept isles have a lot to offer, from some great walks, military history, and layer upon layer of archaeological sites.
We explored ancient Pictish settlements that were older than The Pyramids of Giza, Viking towns from the Dark Ages, medieval palaces, and manor houses from the Victorian Age. All within an hour's drive from where we were staying.
We hope you learn as much as we did travelling through thousands of years of history in this fascinating part of the world.
The Orkney Isles, Scotland
June 2023
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2 Comments
Another great insight into a part of the world few of us rarely get to explore. I’m guessing you were at Orkney at what should have been the peak of the tourist season (mid summer)? Were there many other tourists around or did you have island pretty much to yourself and the local townsfolk?
There were other tourists about, but it’s fair to say the massive overcrowding of Paris hasn’t made its way to The Orkneys yet. Scara Brae is a spectacular and important site. It was a lovely day when we visited, so the weather can’t be blamed, but we were there with perhaps only 20 other people. Same at the stone circles. There were a couple of dozen walkers on the track to The Old Man of Hoy.
Such a great place to visit, but the locals outnumber the tourists by a wide margin. I think that everyone in the pub at St Margaret’s Hope, apart from us, was from the village.