Orkney to Thurso Scotland

Day 42/Scotland 19/Orkney 5

Travelled: 90 Km plus 1.5hrs on Northlink Ferry Stromness to Scabster 4.45pm £103.37

Stay:Portskerra- free parking N58.5657 W3.9241

Visited: Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, Waulkmill Bay, Orkneyingo Saga, Unstan Cairn, Stromness

After a better nights sleep we started the day having a look at the Ring of Brodgar. This is a Neolithic henge and stone circle that is 104m in diameter and originally comprised of 60 stones of which only 27 stones remain. We managed to get there just before the tourist buses and the rain.

 Not far away were the Standing Stones of Stenness also from the same period but much smaller, only 4 stones left from the original 12. We were able to get close to these ones and so took the obligatory photos. 

We also had a quick look at the ruins of the Barnhouse Settlement.

 We then travelled down to the south coast and stopped to have a walk along the beach at Waulkmill Bay. 

A little further west we stopped at The Orkneyinga Saga Centre where we learnt about the ‘saga’ of the earls of Orkney during the Norse period. We went to have a look at the ruins of the Earl’s Bu ( a Norse farmstead) and the Round Kirk, Scotland’s only remaining circular medieval church from the 12th C.

 As we pointed Bluey towards Stromness we went to see the Unstan Cairn, a chambered tomb that has a ‘stall’ design inside. When it was excavated in 1884, lots of Neolithic pots were found.

 Our last place to visit on Orkney before catching the ferry, was Stromness, an old port town. We had a late lunch in a cafe and then walked along the main street following a map that showed various places of interest. 

Eliza had a very interesting story...true or false we may never know. A movie was even made about her.

We then lined up and waited to board the ferry and enjoyed a smooth crossing with great views of The Man Of Hoy stack and the cliffs.

 After our safe arrival at Scabster port we made our way into Thurso to do some shopping at Tesco and then our washing £8 wash/£6 dry at Jet service station.

 We then made our way to our sleepy spot for the night.