The 5000 year old village of Barnhouse in Orkney, is one of the finest examples of neolithic settlement in the UK. Situated on the shore of Loch Harray, archaeological excavations in the 1980's … [Read more...]
Standing stones of Stenness
July 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The imposing neolithic standing stones of Stenness in Orkney are thought to have been erected between 3000 and 2500 BC. Twelve standing stones originally formed the stone circle at Stenness but … [Read more...]
Groatie Hoose, Kirkwall
May 3, 2010 By 624 Comments
Within the high walls at the rear of Tankerness House, the home of the Orkney Museum, is the unusual building called the Groatie Hoose. Set as a focal point to the well manicured lawns and tended … [Read more...]
Arable farming on Orkney
April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The windswept lands of the Orkney Isles lend themselves to limited agricultural practices. Apart from the raising of beef cattle, the only arable crops likely to be grown in Orkney are Oats, Barley … [Read more...]
Kitchener Memorial, Marwick Head
April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A long, narrow grass footpath wends it's way to the imposing stone Kitchener memorial at the top of the Marwick Cliffs on the West Mainland. The grand, square stone tower was erected by the … [Read more...]
Earl’s Palace, Birsay
April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The ruins of the Earl's Palace in Birsay, are a mere shadow of a grand reformation residence that once stood oppressively over the local Orcadians. Around 1565, Robert Stewart, the illegitimate son … [Read more...]
Kirbuster Farm Museum
April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Orkney life has always centred around the farming and fishing industries and a fine example of a typical croft house of the 16th century, is the Kirbuster Farm Museum in Birsay. Kirbuster Farm … [Read more...]
North Ronaldsay Sheep
March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The North Ronaldsay sheep is small sheep belonging to the northern short-tailed group of breeds. Bones of similar animals have been found at Skara Brae dating from the Bronze Age and a recent … [Read more...]
Stromness ‘Liberty’ Cannon
February 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Rusting at the edge of the sheltered harbour of Stromness is a cannon said to be a relic of the Anglo-American War. Trade routes and access to the vast grain fields of Canada became the trigger for … [Read more...]
Stromness Parish church Barometer
Housed within a concrete and glass frame outside a church in Orkney, is a public barometer. Standing around 1m high and kept under lock and key the scientific equipment is an unusual sight to see … [Read more...]