Scotland's Orkney Islands

After leaving the Isle of Skye, Le Champlain rounded the northern tip of the Scottish mainland and came to anchor on the western side of the Orkney Islands. I had landed here previously in 1991 and held fond memories of the history and Bronze Age archaeological sites we visited on these windswept islands. I did not have as good of an impression from that visit of the Shetland Islands but that may have been due to the rainy weather experienced back then, because it was an outstanding visit this time.

The Orkney Islands

Stromness

Picturesque Stromness with a population of only 2,500

A view over the Stromness rooftops to a lighthouse - I walked through hilly neighborhoods in a light rain

I couldn't help but notice the tropical plants at this far northern latitude, the warm Gulf Stream in action

Driving along the shore toward Kirkwall, Le Champlain lies at anchor

Another view of the Mainland – yes they call the largest island in this chain the Mainland

Kirkwall

Kirkwalls' Cathedral of Saint George, constructed of the Old Red Sandstone

On the cathedral's arched doorway, note the alternating and  
beautifully colored sandstone blocks

On closer inspection, you can see what is likely salt-weathering
in the blocks. Salt mist blows in from the sea and is deposited on
the outer surface of the stone. Then salt crystals grow on the rock,
prying apart the sand grains - that is salt-weathering!

The nave of the cathedral

Near the altar, a tomb for famed Arctic explorer John Rae is found. It reads, "
Arctic Explorer Intrepid discoverer of the fate of Sir John Franklin's last expedition;
Born 1813; - Died 1893;
Expeditions -1846-47; 1846-49; 1851-52, 1853-54. Read more about John Rae here.

The tomb in the church is vacant - he is buried in the church graveyard

Late afternoon light in the Cathedral of St. George graveyard 

The Ring of Brodgar

Our last stop was to the Ring of Brodgar, a Neolithic stone circle and UNESCO World Heritage site

The stones used in the henge are upright slabs of the Old Red Sandstone - read more about this famed
rock unit here

The interior of the circle has never been excavated but it is estimated to have been constructed between
4500 and 4000 years ago, about the same age as the Pyramids at Giza

It was originally comprised of 60 slabs but only 27 remain standing

This is classified as a ritual landscape with other important sites nearby
that have been recently discovered

This concluded my one day visit to Mainland Orkney
and it was time to sail to Shetland!