It looked like heavy rain when we set off, so we sat and read the paper in the waiting room at the ferry terminal. When it cleared we rode via Finstown to Stenness to see the stones and the Brogar Ring and then on to Scara Brae. Scara Brae has a very well preserved group of round stone houses from 3000 BC with central fire places and built from flagstones. We visted Skaill House nearby - a very fine Georgian 17th century house built for a bishop and then inherited by his family. On to Stromness which we like a lot. It has a paved main street with old houses on both sides. Those on the shore side have ways down to the water. More houses are clustered on the hill above. There are fine views of the large harbour with ferries and fishing boats, Scapa Floe and Hoy's big dark hills.

Click on a photo to see an enlargement

Stenness Circle	Ring of Brogar
Ring of Brogar	Pyramid orchid
Scara Brae	Scara Brae
Scara Brae showing dresser	Scara Brae
Scara Brae

B&B: Venus Hourston, Ferry Bank, 2 North End Road, Stromness, Orkney KWQ16. 01856 851250.

Stromness

Back to the index