Day 15

I called in at the nearby bakery to stock up before heading to the Stenness standing stones for a guided tour at 10am. With a strong northerly wind I only just made it in time. The tour started with the reconstruction of the Barnhouse village.

We then moved on to the Stenness stones. They are at the heart of a natural amphitheatre with hills surrounding. They have the Loch of Stenness on one side and the Loch of Harray on the other.

This stone has been placed to look like an altar but isn't in its original position. Unfortunately, several of the stones have been destroyed in the last century or so before they were protected.

There were only 5 of us on the tour as the wind was cold with occasional showers. I headed to the nearby Maeshowe visitor centre to warm up. You have to book to see the burial chamber and it is almost fully booked so I probably won't get to see it. After warming up over lunch, I headed back past the Stenness stones and over the Ness of Brodgar, a narrow strip between the two lochs. There is a single stone called the Watchstone.

With the strong wind it was again hard work to make it for the guided tour of the Ring of Brodgar.

21 of the original 60 are still standing with another 13 on the ground.

The free tours were great and helped understand a lot more of the possible history. After warming up in the hut looking at their leaflets, I then headed back past the Watchstone and the Stenness stones.

It was another hard ride back to Stromness. I've picked up the tent with a temporary repair and after a meal in the local bistro will check it out on the campsite.