Tell me about Orkney!

[Farmer Palmer]

Having a week on Shetland at the end of the month and instead of sailing home to Aberdeen I thought i'd give Orkney a visit!

Never been to Orkney before except when the Shetland ferry stops at Kirkwall so though i'd maybe have a wee look round...........What would you recommend if I had three days on the islands?

Thanks FP.

 

[Jon]

It's been a good few years since I've been there, but........

Skara Brae or however it's spelt (Tomb of the Eagles I think it means) Neolithic settlement.

Lyness museum - part of the old navy base with a communications building up on the hill. Also the location of the navy cemetery. German sailors killed during the scuttling of the fleet are buried there, as are other nationalities killed during Jutland. The Muslims are buried facing Mecca. Always windswept whenever I went there

There's a museum in Stromness I think, that has stuff bought up from the wrecks.

Visit the cathedral in Kirkwall and see Eric Skullsplitters headstone

The Italian Chapel, looks like marble until you get really close.

I'm sure others'll suggest more

 

[gerarddwatts]

Even if you are not particularly interested in archeology, some of the sites/history are/is amazing and should be on everyones bucket list. To be honest, as far as biking is concerned, there are better places, but I thoroughly enjoyed a few days there a couple of years ago. Doubt I would go back, although having said that, they had ferry issues and we couldn't get to Hoy, so might go there to see some of the more recent/WW2 history.

If you can...... do....

Good beef and lambs too!!

 

[Schtum]

It's very different from Shetland - flatter, greener and even has one or two trees. Do some of the usual tourist things - Maeshowe, the Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, St Magnus Cathedral, the Italian Chapel and maybe even Tomb of the Eagles if you're really keen.

There's one bike shop, if you need one -

http://www.192.com/atoz/business/or...3f2482bd0b43fbdff19a1e91f8403922112b92b/comp/

 

[gerarddwatts]

Scara Brae AND Tomb of the Eagles BOTH worth a visit......

Maes Howe also.

 

[Hairnet600]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2745254

was all up for kirwall but was recommended houton bay

just about the only place we didnt go

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Thanks for the excellent replies..........I knew about Scara Brae and the Itlalian church nissen hut and had seen some of the others on the BBC Coast programme!

What i'd really like to see is Orcadian John Rae's memorial and tomb and the ruined house he lived in........It was featured recently in a Ray Mears documentary about arctic explorers in Cananda and the search for the Franklin Expedition and discovery of the North West Passage!

 

[Northern jock]

Stromness is a nice wee town, plenty of hotels etc plus a well situated campsite.

And some cracking pubs

And as said about the obvious things like Skara Brae

 

[jonnyingram]

Thanks for the excellent replies..........I knew about Scara Brae and the Itlalian church nissen hut and had seen some of the others on the BBC Coast programme!

What i'd really like to see is Orcadian John Rae's memorial and tomb and the ruined house he lived in........It was featured recently in a Ray Mears documentary about arctic explorers in Cananda and the search for the Franklin Expedition and discovery of the North West Passage!

I.ii point you in the right direction when you come up to Shetland

 

[Blackal]

Kirkwall cathedral is the oldest in UK

Orkney is full of "Twats" ,

but many changed their name to "Tait" (for obvious reasons)

Al

 

[von K]

Good pub in Kirkwall: Albert Hotel (Crofters bar)

Good pub in Stromness: Any.

 

[rce]

Most you know about.

The stone circle is defo, even has neolithic M/C parking.

To be honest wouldn't bother with Tomb of Eagles, first time we went loved it, the old feller telling his yarnes. The last time we went it had lost a lot, and they pack you in the room to hold some of the artefacts, nice to hold some of the stuff but they drag it out with crappy stories now.

Brough of Birsay worth getting to, even if it is only to get breakfast from the van in the car park.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Excellent.........I like it when a plan comes together!

I must have been to Orkney at least ten times now on the Northlink ferries and always been on the way somewhere else and never got off the boat.........!

 

[rce]

And for a different way back to the mainland

http://www.pentlandferries.co.uk/

Andy caught it back from Orkney after our trip up when we met you.

 

[Cook1e]

Sold a camper van to a nice lady in Orkney a few years ago. Photos of the trip north here:

http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/IanCook/slideshow/Orkney Camper Sale

 

[Yodagoat]

Lots of photos and a video from our trip to Orkney here.

http://yodagoat.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/winton-massif-raid-north-2012_9.html


The campsite at Stromness is pretty good. All the touristy things are worth a visit. We get the ferry from Gills Bay as its a bit cheaper than the Scrabster one.

 

[Fluffmeister]

I love Orkney, Pentland ferry is a great alternate route back as well. Couple of pics from my last trip I think everyone has got your bases covered for you