One week old porridge..... (aka a trip to Orkney).....

[srw]

I'm going next month. Any recommendations for what to see while I'm there are welcome.

Everything. It's a magical place.

 

[srw]

Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, Yesnaby, Brough of Birsay, Italian Chapel, St Magnus Cathedral, TheTree, Churchill Barriers, Royal Oak wreck buoy. Skara Brae, Wideford Hill for an overall view, the Khyber Pass, Maeshowe, take time to explore old Stromness including the Museum, maybe fit in a flight to the North Isles or ferry trip to closer islands...Shapinsay or Hoy etc.
Sample the product from the Highland Park Distillery which is up on the hill behind the photographer in the pic of the Lidl Ladies
It's all on here...http://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/

Ness of Brodgar. The dig has probably closed down for the season, but there are now acres of stones in ditches.

 

[Globalti]

Fascinating place, especially Scapa Flow. I have a book called "Cox's Navy" about the Wolverhampton scrap metal merchant who bought the scuttled German fleet cheaply from the Admiralty and managed to salvage most of the ships. A few still remain, lying on the bottom because they were too difficult to salvage. Mrs Gti has dived them; she says you go down a few metres and hit what you think is the bottom then realise you're on the side of a mahoosive steel ship, with another 30 metres to go before you hit bottom. The remaining battle cruisers are one of the few sources in the world of quality steels and alloys that are not contaminated by radiation from Chernobyl, which is important if you want metal to build a delicate scientific instrument.

I have my Grandad's diary from when he was in the Navy in and around Orkney 1917 to early 1919 so he missed the scuttling of the German fleet in mid-summer 1919.

Here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coxs-Navy-S...TF8&qid=1442387411&sr=8-1&keywords=cox's+navy

 

[perplexed]

The photo on the beach reminds me of the old line (can't remember where from, possibly the 70s...).

To be said in a swarthy, Johnny Foreigner voice - 'Hey, how many Escudos for da Lidl gurls'...

I can see why the gag fell out of fashion...

 

[Brandane]

The photo on the beach reminds me of the old line (can't remember where from, possibly the 70s...).

To be said in a swarthy, Johnny Foreigner voice - 'Hey, how many Escudos for da Lidl gurls'...

I can see why the gag fell out of fashion...

Those particular "Lidl girls" are priceless. As well as the obvious attraction (if only I was 20 years younger of course ) they were great fun to work with. I honestly thought I was going to have to stop the bus on one occasion; haven't laughed like that for a long time. They are, from left to right, a born comedian, a former model, and a former Emirates flight attendant. Quite a team .

 

[annedonnelly]

If you are cycling Anne, on the island, the getting there is almost as important as the actual sites.
It takes about a week to see the whole island leisurely by bike.

If driving, there is, or used to be 2 weeks free parking at the JOG ferry, the cycle ride over the Churchill barriers from Burwick being an epic ride, at least for me.
I never visited the smaller islands until maybe my 5th visit post Shetlands, though obviously the bike filled up my time.

I'd never heard of the Churchill Barriers before this but it seems the place I'm staying is just round the corner from the one that goes out to Lamb Holm.

I'm not taking my bike or car. But I can hire both when I'm there. I'm putting together a list of things I *must* see and hopefully the people who run the accommodation can advise on how best to get around. I like the sound of riding across the barriers now you've mentioned it.

 

[snorri]

I like the sound of riding across the barriers now you've mentioned it.

It's all quite gentrified now with crash barriers to stop you cycling off the edge, but you could still get a good soaking if you time it right with wind and tide.

 

[annedonnelly]

Well, I have been and come back.

I saw the Italian Chapel, walked across the first barrier and drove across the others (didn't get a bike after all). Saw the Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness - they're massive!

Saw lots of exciting birds including my first Hen harriers.

Visited Stromness and the museum there. I was amazed that the tiny main street was still open to two-way traffic - luckily I had been warned that it is possible to get out at the far end if you keep your nerve. And being later in the year at least it wasn't thronged with tourists ambling about.

A lovely place and I had a great time. Didn't get time to explore as much as I'd have liked so I'll probably need to go back again