Orkney
A recent image on my Facebook page seemed to gather some interest, so I thought I’d share a few more on this blog, along with some short accompanying notes.
In addition to the images, I do have a YouTube video of scenes from the main island, the video can be seen here I’m fully aware I’m not a videographer and that I have a face for radio, but and channel subscriptions would be greatly appreciated - thank you!
If you are interested in photography around Scotland, I would recommend Photographing Scotland
The Orkney Islands lie around 20 miles north of the Scottish mainland - there are more than 70 islands in total, around 20 of which are inhabited. Just over 22,000 people live on the islands, 8,500 of them in Kirkwall, the largest town.
There is too much of interest for me to list in a short blog, but I’ll give some highlights!
Skara Brae, a neolithic village on the west coast of the mainland is one of the most complete European relics of the Neokithic period. Skara Brae and several other sites on the island were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999
Scapa Flow was the main naval base for the British Home fleet during both World War 1 and World War 2
The Churchill Barriers. It was the sinking – by German submarine attack - of HMS Royal Oak in October 1939 with the loss of 833 lives, that prompted then First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, to order the building of a series of causeways – the Churchill Barriers – to block off the eastern approaches to the naval anchorage of Scapa Flow (www.orkney.com)
The Italian Chapel. The Italian Chapel is a highly ornate Catholic chapel on Lamb Holm in the Orkney Islands. It was built during World War II by Italian prisoners of war, who were housed on the previously uninhabited island while they constructed the Churchill Barriers to the east of Scapa Flow (Wikipedia)
Ring of Brodgar. The ring was built around 2500-2000BC and covering an area of almost 8,500 square metres it is the third largest stone circle in the British Isles - just pipped by Avebury and Stanton Drew (www.orkney.com)
There are so many other things to see and do on the islands and I apologise for not listing more - please do check out the Orkney website for more information
In the meantime, some of my snaps…
“The Italian Chapel consists of two Nissen huts transformed into a beautiful chapel by Domenico Chiocchetti and his colleagues, prisoners of war captured in North Africa and transported to the Island of Lambholm in Orkney”. (www.orkney.com)
The interior of the Chapel
One of the Churchill Barriers, now a causeway between islands
The famous Ring of Brodgar. Billy Connolly once danced naked round these stones…
Beautiful beaches…but cold water!
Skara Brae…
In 1916 the HMS Hampshire sank off Marwick Head in mysterious circumstances with the loss of 655 lives. Among those who lost their lives was Lord Kitchener, minister of war at that time.
The Brough of Birsay is an uninhabited island off the north-west coast of of Orkney - at low tide it is accessible by foot.
Stromness is Orkney's second largest town and a main ferry port. It is viewed an architectural gem, an inspiration for artists and writers, and a firm favourite with visitors
The skyline of Kirkwall…
St Magnus Cathedral known as the 'Light in the North' was founded in 1137 and is Britain’s most northerly Cathedral.