Day 17: Neolithic crew!

A final day on the Orkney's, moored in Stromness, ahead of our plan to slip the mooring at 0630 in the morning to head west around Cape Wrath to anchor in Loch Laxford. About 80 miles, but none of us are confident of having any phone, let alone internet, signals there. Can't therefore say when next update will be; "bear with!"

In view of our Neolithic day on shore, I'll sign off and let Stella write the rest of this blog.

"We decided to hire cars to your the sights of mainland Orkney. the weather was forecast to be showery and it certainly was! Two Skoda Fabias were available so off we set. Four headed for Maes Howe, a neolithic buriel cairn and three headed to Tesco's!

The four of us did the 10 o'clock tour of Mars Howe and got very wet walking to it. But it was well worth it, ducking under a low entrance and through a low tunnel to an amazing chamber. There are three utile niches which would have housed skeletons of, it is thought, three families. The structure, built 2750BC, is incredible and still around. On winter solstice sun shines through the door passage and illuminates the far inner wall.

The roof was broken in by Vikings in C12th. They were seeking shelter and while there carved graffiti in the form of runes, some in code. Such words were "Ingigerd was the best of them all" and "I am writing this as high as I can," - which was a good 3m upon the wall!

The stone door weighs a ton and pivots on one point so well that a child could close it!

On from there past two rings of standing stones we were in Skara Brae; a Neolithic village that the sea uncovered in 1850. The houses were occupied from 3100BC to 2600BC. The village is so well preserved it is unique. On the edge of beautiful Skaill Bay it is a privilege to see. The houses are linked by passageways and have stone furniture, such as beds, storage boxes and dressers surrounding the central hearth.

On next to Skaill House, a C17th mansion owned by the 12th Laird of Breckness on whose land is Skara Brae (or should it visa versa?). Fascinating to see the rooms preserved as was in 1950's, very poignant, complete with a tiger skin rug. Of interest was a collection of James Cook's china dinner service which was acquired when, after his death, 2 ships came back to Orkney and sold artefacts in order to pay the sailors!

After lunch with the rest of the crew in the visitor centre, we set off north to walk up to the Kitchener Memorial Tower; he was drowned with the ships company when HMS Hampshire struck a mine here off Marwick Bay in 1918 en route to Russia. Then a quick tour around the north and east of the mainland with stunning views of Rounsay Island and a tidal race of standing waves before returning to the yacht."
Stella.