The Orkney Islands

 A cruise on Loch Ness was followed by a visit to Dunrobin Castle, as we made our way still further North. This Castle looks like a fairytale structure with the most amazing gardens, which have a backdrop of the North Sea. The gardens were inspired by the Palace of Versailles. This castle was once home to Clan Sutherland.

We then set out for the most scenic drive along the eastern coastline and had a perfect sunny afternoon for it. We saw offshore wind farms and the railway line that hugs the coast for most of the way (see Michael Portillo’s Rail Journeys series on SBS). We arrived at the old former Viking settled town of Wick. There we had a whisky tasting of the 200 year old Pulteney Distillery. Then on to Thurso for 2 nights. A pipe band was playing in the street outside our hotel at dinner.

This morning we also had beautiful sunshine to drive to John O’Groats, the most North Eastern point of Great Britain. I can now say I have been from Lands End (most South Westerly point) to John O’Groats.

Then to the ferry for the Orkney Islands from Gill’s Bay to St Margaret’s Hope. There are 70 Islands in this group of which only 20 are inhabited. Four are connected by causeways called “Churchill” barriers, built during World War II to prevent German submarines entering Scarpa Flow. Stopped in the Capital, Kirkwall for a coffee break. We visited Scara Brae, a site that was uncovered in 1850 when a massive storm took the topsoil and vegetation off the cliff top to reveal underground stone houses. These were constructed out of the local large flat stones and dates back 5000 years. On to the next wonder of the Islands - a Neolithic site of Standing Stones and the Ring of Brodgar. These massive flat stones form a circle, and to date their purpose is unknown. Last of all we saw the Italian Chapel, built using Nissen Huts and decorated inside by the Italian POWs who worked on the Islands constructing the Churchill barriers.

Time to return to Thurso on the Ferry, which was a little bumpier when crossing the so called Swilkie, where the North Sea tidal currents meet the Atlantic Ocean, causing the sea to rise with violent unpredictable waves. What a perfect day.