Orkney

turnipbmw

Registered user
Joined
Apr 28, 2006
Messages
4,120
Reaction score
1
Location
Aldbury
I visit Orkney for the folk festival and to see friends but it also has a great history

Main points of interest are Royal Oak war grave and Scuttled German WW1 fleet.
But it was also an Important Royal Navy base during both wars.

Lots of bunkers to visit and a good museum at Lyness on Hoy.

Accompanied dives to wrecks available from Stromness.

Stromness ferry is £56 bike and rider from Scrabster.

Books on Royal Oak make sad reading but hats off to German submarine, a very brave effort - especially when a U boat was sunk by electrically controlled mines in WW1 - they watched it come in, then pressed a button - everyone on board killed.
Also worth reading are Churchill barrier story, History of Scapa Flow and the man who bought a navy - about the salvage of the German fleet.
A great book of human endurance and leadership, intersting to note that the metal from these ships now has great value because it was made before the nuclear age and is therefore radiation free.
 
:thumb Very interesting, do you have the exact tiles of the books you refer too?

I have read some books on the area and the WWI / WWII role but not the ones you refer.

Thanks:beerjug:
 
The man who bought a navy is by Gerald Bowman
just checked on Amazon and its £30-75 second hand but am sure they are only £20 new in Orkney

I think the Scapa Flow book is by Malcolm Brown but will have to check when I get home tomorrow

Black Saturday: the Royal Oak Tradgedy at Scarpa Flow is by Alexander Mckee but there are a few books on this subject that are all pretty similar

The Churchill Barrier book is a paperback that is also readily available in Orkney but I cant see it on internet at the moment.

I may be able to get a friend to pick these up as she is coming down in 3 weeks time if you are really keen !
 
Have a friend who lives in Kirkwall been up there several times It's stunning.
 
If you fancy a cheap trip in a plane, take a return trip to one of the outer islands from Kirkwall airport.
Brittain Islander, twin engine, 11 seater, tell the pilot your coming straight back and you should be able to sit next to him.
40 mins for around £30 (£11 if you stay overnight !) land on grass fields and 500 ft max means good view of sea/wildlife.

they also let dogs on board !
 
Not a bad price for 40 minutes of scenery :thumb2

What about the Robbing ba5tards' (sorry - meant to say "Government's" - don't know how that slipped out)

Air Travel Tax?

Or are inter-island flights exempt? :nenau

(wish I'd known about the "dogs allowed" when I was married :rolleyes:)

Al :thumb
 


Back
Top Bottom