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

[Brandane]

We thought the Nissen hut chapel was truly stunning.....

Have another photo then! .....

 

[annedonnelly]

If you are still looking for accommodation, I can highly recommend the Ayre Hotel in Kirkwall, overlooking the harbour. Not sure how much it costs as my stay was paid for by the nice people who run the Lidl bus .
Things to do and see in Orkney.
The beaches are amazing; even if the sunshine and the heat are missing. If you're lucky you might get to see the Northern Lights (I didn't). Just the whole ruggedness of the place is a joy to see. Are you planning on cycling? The roads are good and it's pretty flat; but like I previously said it is very exposed to the wind. The flatness and lack of trees don't help much in that regard. Enjoy it; I'm envious, and in fact planning a return in my own time for a better look.

Thanks. The one thing that I have sorted is the accommodation. I think where I'm staying is within walking distance of the Italian Chapel. I'm not taking a bike but there will be the chance to hire one & I plan to hire a car for some of the time. The people who provide the accommodation also have a B&B on another island so I have some flexibility to stay there for a night too.

I'd love to see the Northern Lights. They've been pretty good in Northumberland this year but I'd have to drive about 30 miles to get to a decent dark spot And I'm usually in bed long before they show up!

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Love seeing that Chapel again. Looks like it has had a bit of paint since I was there some many years ago.

Standing on the cliffs of Hoy by the Old Man is superb. Westray and Papa next door are great too. The ferry to Westray gives some super views.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

If you have time, do some of the Inter Island flights from - too Kirkwall (its a round trip), you will get to see oh so much more from the air!!

 

[snorri]

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

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/

 

[hopless500]

Shapinsay is lovely

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

If you have time, do some of the Inter Island flights from - too Kirkwall (its a round trip), you will get to see oh so much more from the air!!

If you do the Papa Westray - Westray one, then you can get a certificate saying you have flown in the shortest sheduled commercial flight in the universe and a miniature of Highland Park (at least I did at the time anyway):

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Apologies for the crap pics:

 

[Brandane]

If you do the Papa Westray - Westray one, then you can get a certificate saying you have flown in the shortest sheduled commercial flight in the universe and a miniature of Highland Park (at least I did at the time anyway):

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Here's hoping that Captain McAllister is better at filling in flight plans than he is at completing your flight certificate. Next time tell him not to get the flight number and date of flight entries mixed up .

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Here's hoping that Captain McAllister is better at filling in flight plans than he is at completing your flight certificate. Next time tell him not to get the flight number and date of flight entries mixed up .

Yes I remember that at the time.

Anyway, he was the one who said on taking off from Kirkwall as part of the usual speil:

'And today's inflight entertainment will be Ben Hurr'

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

To be fair, all a Britten Norman Islander is like is like someone's battered old estate car, but with wings, so even if he can't read/write properly, at least if he can fly it, who cares??

 

[annedonnelly]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions of things to do in Orkney. I'm only going for a week so I'm going to struggle to fit it all in!

 

[subaqua]

Surprised you didn't go for the obligatory picture of standing next to the sign for Twatt .

I have one with me pointing to Kyber pass in Stromness.

Did you go to the flattie bar ?

 

[albion]

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.

 

[Fubar]

......has just been found in my microwave.
It was put in last Monday, and cooked for 3 minutes. Sometime during that 3 minutes must have been the time I got an SOS call from work to pack a bag and head off to Orkney for the week. There followed a chaotic few hours arranging car hire, ferries, accommodation etc.. I got home on Saturday afternoon, and went to use the microwave this morning. It does not smell very appetising .

Orkney was great BTW; and "work" consisted of moving a bus a few miles in the morning, and again late afternoon. In between times I had a hired bike to potter about on; but Orkney is a bit exposed to the wind!

The bus.... (it tours primary schools throughout Scotland to educate on healthy eating, particularly eating fruit. Smoothies are made on board). There was 10cm of spare headroom getting on and off the Kirkwall to Aberdeen ferry!

The old clunker hire bike......

The Lidl girls, note the Orkney beach....

Random cliffs ........

"The Gloup", a sea cave formed by coastal erosion ........

The standing stones....

Some scenery! And the countryside ain't bad either...