Sometime in May....

 

Yes I know it's June!  Just catching up!  These photos are taken on the West Mainland of Orkney.  It has rugged cliffs which I love.  First stop was Yesnaby, where the rare Primula Scotica can be found in May, and a second flowering in July.  Above, the cliff edge (2 people for scale).

Primula Scotica - key for scale....

And further along the coast is the north side of Birsay - more wonderful cliffs.  This is part of the St Magnus Way pilgrimage route. Worth walking at least part of it if you are on the Orkney Mainland.

Then over towards Birsay village to park up for a spot of lunch.  Right by the ruin of the Earl's palace.

A visit to a Clickmill....

 

On the Orkney Mainland, amid moorland and farmland, is a Clickmill.  This lovely old building was built in the early part of the 19th Century and is powered by water.  The name Click Mill comes from the noise it makes. More of an explanation is available here

The two photos below show some of the workings (the mill was temporarily closed when we visited so I didn't get inside).

A gentle burn outside....

A traditional turf roof thatched over flagstone slabs gives added insulation.

Marsh marigolds in a ditch.....

A trip out to Marwick Bay, West Mainland

 

Again these photos were taken back in March, so the grass will look much lusher now in May!  

Kitchener Memorial on Marwick Head

Goose barnacles on an old buoy....

Farmland around Marwick

The bay is a popular spot for (hardy) surfers.

Fishermen's huts at Marwick

And more surf on the way back!

You can just see two folk walking along the coast path about to go up Marwick Head - gives a perspective on size!

Hope you enjoyed your wander around the bay...

Ferry ride from Stromness

 

These photos were taken back in March. Fortunately Graemsay is looking a lot greener since with grass in the fields for the livestock at last!

Sailing out of Stromness harbour

Instead of heading straight home we will be going West via Hoy Low lighthouse on this trip....

Looking West - no worries we aren't going into those waves!

Into Burra Sound now.  Hoy Low light peering over the top of the shoreline.

Crofts on Graemsay

Currents meet here giving a whirlpool effect.  This can be a challenging bit of water to cross if you are in a small boat!  The ferry has not problem as long as it sticks to a narrow channel through and misses various wrecks that lie at the bottom.  Formerly part of WWII defences of Scapa Flow.  Now used for recreational diving.

Hoy.....

These are the remains of 3 gun batteries and camps from WWII that guarded the entrance to Scapa Flow.  This one is on Hoy, the others were on Graemsay and Stromness.

One of the farms on Hoy