Orkney and Shetland August 2015

Orkney

Stones of Stenness
Stones of Stenness

For our summer holidays this year, Colin and I went to the northern isles – my second time to Orkney, our first time to Shetland.  The World Heritage site of the Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, Scara Brae and Maes Howe, which I had seen in May 2012, is always worth another visit!  Plus we were able to visit Taversoe Tuick, Blackhammer, the Knowe of Yarso and Mid Howe on the Isle of Rousay, and a number of other smaller sites around the mainland, such as Barnhouse Village, Cuween Hill, Unstan, and Wideford Hill.  Lots of photos of all these places on Flickr, as ever.

Ring of Brodgar
Ring of Brodgar
Scara Brae
Scara Brae


But coming here in the summer meant we were able to see the archaeological dig at the Ness of Brodgar underway – an amazing experience 🙂

Ness of Brodgar Archaeological dig
Ness of Brodgar Archaeological dig

We also drove down across the causeways that join the little islands to the south to visit the Tomb of the Eagles. A fuller description of some of these sites is in the May 2012 blog.

Shetland

Shetland is quite a different place altogether.  Because of the huge oil terminal the roads are probably the best of all the roads on all the Scottish isles – bar none – and better than many of the roads on the mainland!  There are lots of interesting little megalithic places to visit, too, including the Stanydale Temple, and a number of single and pairs of standing stones.  There is also, on the south coast, the extraordinary settlement of Jarlshof, and on the tiny island of Mousa, the best preserved Iron Age Broch in all of Scotland.  Here are some of the photos – more as ever on Flickr.

Stanydale Temple
Stanydale Temple
Single stone on Shetland
Single stone on Shetland
Jarlshof
Jarlshof
Mousa Broch
Mousa Broch

Best of all was a fabulous first anniversary dinner overlooking Lerwick harbour.

Anniversary dinner
Anniversary dinner

 

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