Orkney June 2011 or "Not Bordering with the Insane"

[Mr K]

The apparrent cancelling of our local do made me think I needed to do something with days off I'd booked (BWTI was subsequently resurected on a smaller scale) and decided, along with Hairnet 600 to pay Orkney a visit.
He'd set off a couple of days earlier, so we arranged to meet en route.

Can't resist stoppping at the border for a snap:

Continued onwards and Northwards to Braemar where I stopped to refuel, grab a sarnie and meet Hairnet....

Whose helmet could this be?

Found our B&B:

and headed out on the town.

Castle Tavern first.

Then The Caledonian/Smith & Jones Bar for food and drinks.

Starter for Hairnet

...followed by mixed grill for him and large Meat Feast pizza for me:

The pub had a good, reasonably priced menu and a good choice of real ales and the usual keg beers. It's also one of the few pubs I've been in with a toilet attendant, keeping the place clean, flogging johnnies etc
Strangely the pub gets pretty crap reviews in online guides, but it was clean, prices were reasonable for a city centre pub and the staff were keen and polite. What more could you want?

Filled with beer and food we wandered back to the digs and took in the sights:

....and so to bed

 

[Mr K]

Sun was streaming through the curtains on Friday morning at an ungodly 05.20... but I managed a few more zeds before getting up and going down for breakfast...

Who ticked everything on the breakfast menu?

We had an easy 110 miles up to Scrabster on some lovely swooping and sweepin roads - even the A9 is pleasant North of Inverness

Arrived at the ferry in good time.

...and sat on deck in brilliant sunshine, enjoying the views.

The Old Man of Hoy

The Young(ish) man of nom, nom, nom.....

We docked and were at the B&B (Houton Bay Lodge) within 10 minutes. the landlady showed us to our room and pointed out the complimentary sherry (I think she checked it regularly for quality, meself )

It was still early so we took our gear off the bikes and went for a nosey.

Waulkmill Bay:

Hairnet went for a romantic walk on the beach with his toffees, so I left them alone together and went back to the digs to neck the sherry.

After a wash and brush-up we went a couple of miles up the road to The Noust Hotel/Bar/Restaurant/Post Office.
It was a bit far to walk and Hairnet said he wasn't bothered about drinking so gave me a lift up there on the back of his bike, something I've not done in ages... and me first pint went down well
Special was Chicken curry and chips, which was exactly what I fancied, so we both had that and the Mancunian Mastication Maestro also had the sticky toffee pudding and free haircut:

We went back to our B&B as the landlady said the bar would be open after 9
...and had a few bottles;

...and retired happy.

 

[Mr K]

A cooler morning, but still sunny, if a tad breezy.

Feeling guilty Hairnet chose the veggie option for breakfast

...and the we had to go out on them durned motorbikey things

First stop:

....and about a mile up the road...

After that we decided to sort of follow the coast. Next stop:

It was supposedly a 1km (uphill) walk to the tower and I'm still unsure why Hairnet chose to do it (there and back) with his lid on and listening to the radio.... okay, my conversational skils aren't the best, but it must've got a tad humid in there

Strange lad....

From there we headed North to this place:

...which also had a shop and toilets

I couldn't believe my luck when I managed to get a shot of this baby haggis:

On the way to Tesco in Kirkwall we managed to find a disturbingly named road.

After a bit of shopping we headed south:

The place is a dump.....

Just across the causeway, the Italian Chapel:

Gratuitous Wee Toon Army Lambs picture

We went further south to The Eagles tomb, but it was a fiver and looked like a long walk, so we headed back to base.....

.... where the sherry had been replenished ...

....which went well with my afternoon's purchases....

We went up to the Noust for the evening again fish and chips for Hairnet and chicken, chilli dip and chips for me.

Slept well, up earlier for breakfast. On the ferry and sailing by 9.

Home 384 miles later by 5.30pm, just as it started to rain.

Map of Orkney:

 

[rce]

Nice, we are making our way up there next week.

 

[Morticia]

Great pictures and write up Chris, looked like you and Hairnet did the best pub grub and beer tour north of the border.

 

[Mr K]

Nice, we are making our way up there next week.

Lovely place: Wish we'd been able to get lodging in Kirkwall as 2 pubs/music venues were recomended: The Bothy and The Reel.

 

[Buz]

Another fine report and pics Mr K

What did the landlady actually replenish the Sherry with?
Looks like pi55

 

[turnipbmw]

great stuff

glad you had a good trip

many fond memories

could see the stones from girlfriends bedroom window on a good day

 

[rce]

Lovely place: Wish we'd been able to get lodging in Kirkwall as 2 pubs/music venues were recomended: The Bothy and The Reel.

We are about 2 mile walk from centre of Kirkwall in a self catering place, so hopefully will be getting to enjoy a few evenings.

Not been for a few years, did work up there off and on for a year, and had a few days camping a few years back, which destroyed the tent ! Hence renting bricks and mortar

Never been on bikes before so looking forward to it, 3 day ride up (East side ish) and three days ride home (West side ish) to make sure we get the most out of the trip

 

[Mr K]

...and of course, the compulsory sticker.

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Mr K
Great write up and pictures , good weather , food and ale. Thanks for sharing

 

[Ash]

very good Mr K.missed this somehow

 

[Klanky]

If you have time whilst on mainland Orkney, go to Skara Brae and Maes Howe.

Skara Brae looks very touristy and does get busy - but if you like your history and archaeology it's one of the best sites going anywhere. Maes Howe is equally interesting - you can go inside with a guide....but could prove quite a challenge for some of the more rotund of our brethren......

 

[davidgibson999]

Nice report

 

[Toad]

Good one MrK.

 

[rce]

If you have time whilst on mainland Orkney, go to Skara Brae and Maes Howe.

Skara Brae looks very touristy and does get busy - but if you like your history and archaeology it's one of the best sites going anywhere. Maes Howe is equally interesting - you can go inside with a guide....but could prove quite a challenge for some of the more rotund of our brethren......

Both on our list, setting off tomorrow on Orkney from Saturday, can't wait