Set off from B&B towards Kirkwall, the capital. The route passes the four Churchill barriers and the Italian chapel. At the start of WW2, the gaps between the islands were filled with block ships to protect the navy ships in Scapa Floe. But in October 1939 (one month after declaration of war), a German submarine managed to get through and torpedoed the Royal Oak. So the barriers were built with the help of Italian POWs. The southernmost barrier now has extensive sand dunes to the east. The Italian prisoners converted a Nissen hut into a beautiful chapel, mainly due to the efforts of one very talented painter and sculptor. We found that all the Kirkwall B&Bs were full up so we decided to take the boat to Eday where a B&B was available near the ferry landing. The owners of Redbanks (the B&B) came from Brighton to Orkney 12 years ago. He makes furniture and does interior decoration. Our bedroom is oak panelled with stained glass cupboard doors and a limestone shower. After a meal we walked to the beach where we saw two big groups of seals on the shore and some black ducks and ducklings in the sea.

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Churchill barrier no 4 at Burra	Churchill barrier no 3
Remains of block ships	Crystals in fossil museum
Italian chapel	Italian chapel
Ferry to Eday	Lambs in Eday

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B &B: Mrs. Sherry Kerr, Redbanks,Eday, Orkney KW17 2AA. 01857 622219

Day 13: Eday - Kirkwall

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