Stromness - Part 1

We spent 5 days in Stromness and really got to like the place.  It's a friendly marina and the Orcadians we met were so welcoming. 

This is what we did during our stay (apart from the very necessary boat clean-up after her time at sea).

We watched some of the events in "Shopping Week" - a week of fun held every year in Stromness.

The Daft Raft Race - part of Stromness "Shopping Week"

We visited the quirky Stromness Museum with it's displays on the Royal Navy and Scapa Flow, whaling, island wildlife, shipwrecks and the famous Arctic explorer, Dr John Rae who discovered the final link in the Northwest Passage and the fate of the lost expedition of Captain Sir John Franklin.

I had been reading up for the past weeks on the mind boggling extent of history and archaeology available to the Orkney visitor.  So we hired bicycles and set off in search of our first day's worth of sights.

The man at the hire-shop advised us to divert to the coast at Yesnaby as it's rather interesting.  So we added this to our already packed schedule!  

This is what we saw:

The "Yesnaby Castle" a Sandstone Stack

Some of the Beautiful Orkney Countryside

Scara Brae - unbelievable remains of a group of houses from 5000 years ago!

The Ring of Brodgar - A Neolithic Religious/Ceremonial Space (?)

The "Comet Stone" next to the Ring of Brodgar - maybe marking an entry path to the ring?

The Stones of Stenness 

The "Barnhouse" Neolithic Settlement Remains

We finally pedalled our weary way back to Stromness, deciding to leave other sites for a later day.  8 hours sightseeing was enough for us!  We would be back for more another time.

One day, in the marina, I found myself admiring this lovely boat to her owner, Rhod Daniels:

"Waterwitch" an Orkney Yole

Rhod very kindly took Doug and me out for a sail in Waterwitch into the waters of Scapa Flow.  

He explained how she is a local design, known as an Orkney Yole and that he had rebuilt her throughout.  His boat was used for fishing and could carry half a ton of herrings.  We felt very lucky to have this opportunity!