Day 17

While waiting for the ferry, the owners of the cafe came down to the pier and quickly returned with two buckets. A local diver had left some scallops for them in the water. The scallops I had yesterday were excellent, now I knew where they came from.

The ferry passed Graemsay lighthouse after picking up two lads with a golf club. That added to the two young climbers, cycling round to some cliffs, and a man going to church in Stromness.

I followed a mountain bike route to Skara Brae that was a bit of an obstacle course. First up a hill that lead to a closed path to have to go back and climb the hill on the road. I was rewarded by this beautiful old arch.

The worst obstacle was a gate that I couldn't untie. It looked easier to go over the wall after taking off the panniers. I ended up balancing on the wall with the bike trying to negotiate the barbed wire!

Finally I got to approach Skara Brae and Skaill House by a different route to the coach loads.

Time for lunch of Cullen Skink soup and look round the visitor centre before viewing the remains of the village. I was joined initially by a couple I met on Hoy and then by three cyclists I'd met in the hostel three nights ago. Tables were in short supply! 

I liked this photo of the early excavations of the Neolithic stone age houses (from around 3000BC).

The houses had a central hearth, stone beds either side and a dresser opposite the entrance door. The houses were linked by passages.

One of the buildings was a different shape, possibly used as a workshop.,

Afterwards I visited Skaill house, the historic manor house overlooking Skara Brae.

The route to Kirkwall had views over Loch Stenness to Hoy,

And reflections on Loch Harray.

It rained most of the afternoon but cleared by the time I got to Kirkwall.

It was great to meet a couple of the local Samaritans volunteers over a meal and to hear about life on Orkney. Many thanks.

Tonight I was treated to a sunset.