A driving adventure today, south of Kirkwall to explore the southern islands after negotiating the one way system to find our route 🙄. Nowhere is very far so in around half an hour we were over the first of the Churchill barriers (causeways built during WWII) to the island of Lamb Holm and the Italian Chapel, built from two nissen huts and beautifully decorated by Italian POWs.
Then over the other barriers which connect another 3 islands for our first Orkney archaeological site – The Tomb of the Eagles, a Bronze Age tomb and other sites on a farm overlooking cliffs where various seabirds nest. The talk on what has been found in the tomb was interesting – it included eagle talons hence the name. The tomb itself is quite small inside and you haul yourself in through a short, low tunnel. The walk back along the cliffs was pleasant – and we spent a while watching the sea birds ride the thermals.
From there we headed for the furthest southern point of Orkney – Burwick, 40 minutes or so by ferry from John O’Groats on the Scottish mainland. There we had another pleasant cliff top walk birdspotting and succeeded in finding the puffins that had eluded us at Mull. Only a few but definitely puffins, as well as shags, oyster catchers, a range of other sea birds and a seal.
We turned back towards Kirkwall from there, calling into the WWII gun positions at Hoxa Head and visiting the studio of a tapestry artist. No room in the bag ☹️ but did get some lovely hand dyed wool.
mywalkingbootsarered 