OrkneySaga
This year it was Orkney, a third visit for us but a first with the van, reached in stages from the southwest via Cumbria, Aberdeenshire and Caithness. The ferry journey begins at Gills Bay (the shortest route) and the art of reversing onto a ferry marks the start of the adventure....vans first, then the delivery containers, lastly the motorbikes lashed to the open deck.
Our first stop was at the Stromness camp site. Don't expect the world of CC here, it's all very casual, we had made a booking and the warden just happened to be there but off he went and later arrivals had to fend for themselves. The site overlooks the whole of Stromness, we could ferry boat and ferry watch from one side and enjoy the beach and views to the island of Hoy from the other, a rather windy exposed peninsular but a great spot. just up the road are the WW2 huts, newly renovated for vistors to see what life was like for those posted to this bleak but strategic area looking up the water to Scapa Flow.
Being a fan of archaeology Orkney has plenty to offer, it was good to wander around the stones of Stenness one day and on another the Broch of Gurness, the centre of this broch is on one of the photos. A hoped for visit to the old Viking stronghold of Bursay was hampered by the tide, the short tidal path was under water so the island just stood tantalislingly at a distance with the ruins of the Viking longhouses in view. But the beautiful white sandy beach and clear water with views of Westray was just as enjoyable.
A trip to the towering cliffs of Yesnaby was another treat, with wild flowers underfoot and endless coastal walking.
We moved onto the next site at Kirkwall, met up with friends and enjoyed "town life" for a few days. A few problems on the site meant all was not perfect, we shared the site with travellers and police and the edgy feel to this meant we'd have preferred to be elsewhere.
We escaped to Deerness and the wild coastal reaches of this area before a stormy day announced it was ferry time again and another go at reversing from St Margaret Hope onto the "cat" and onwards with our travels southwards.
Comments
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Talking to myself now but I should add there is an edit button on here but if like me you've spent ages trying to get the story and pics on your time will be up and the edit feature seems to go too.
The photo of a blue ferry is the Hamnavoe, which goes from Scrabster to Stromness, a longer sailing but it goes past the Old Man of Hoy (rock stack.) The view was from our pitch in Stromness.
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It looks fantastic and sounds like you had a great time.
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The Orkneys are so worth visiting - I was there a few years back en route to the Shetlands. I actually made an off the cuff booking on that Ferry and was to be last in the queue - a very nice young chap directing the traffic said it was quite fine for one
of the "professionals to drive for me" my age and gender perhaps? I used to do that sort of backing regularly - but after watching two mini buses and a motorhome do the job incredibly badly I didn't fancy holding the boat up so I gave the professional the
job! I returned on the other ferry going past the Old Man of Hoy having spent the night in the car park after the trip from Shetland - another tale to tell there I will put it down in detail later. Cautionary tale in parts.I stayed on a CL that was for sale - very tempting - complete with its own Aquarium for visitors.
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Pippah45, that was good to hear someone will help get your outfit onto the ferry, I thought it was quite a task especially for the caravanners. Thanks for the nice comments from Ro and yourself, out of interest there was a pleasant small site near Birsay
(my spelling was wrong in the first write up!) I really liked that part of the island.0 -
Glad you had a good time Brue. We are very much looking forward to setting off ourselves soon but will not get as far up as Orkney, the top of Skye may be our limit. Regards, Roy
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Lots of places to visit Brue !! Can,t wait !thanks for all your help .
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