travel united kingdom scotland orkney islands around mainland island
We visited the Mainland Island in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, on a gloomy, misty day in May.
We rented a car and drove across a good section of the relatively small island on narrow almost paved roads to visit several historic sites.
The gloomy weather, the mostly flat land, the lack of trees, and the wind-swept waterways all added to the atmosphere of a place to visit history, not to live.
I'm sure the people of the Orkneys are as pleasant as any others, and we met a few and saw some interesting sites... but we were glad to be traveling south again.
This "end of the earth" was a perfect setting for neolithic stone houses and legendary tales of Norsemen and solitude.
LINK TO WIKIPEDIA'S PAGE ON THE STONES OF STENNESS
TRAVEL: 2019
This location has earned an over-all three-and-a-half stars (good+) rating from
Travel Fanatics Unlimited
***1/2
unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
Typical stucco covered house along the road, Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2019.
Detail of beautiful stone wall, Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2019.
These are found all over the island.
Lone fisherman tries his hand on a local lake, Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2019.
Friendly natives, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2019.
We stopped along the road to get a better look at the local livestock and these guys came running to greet us.
I don't know if they expected us to feed them, or they were just hungry for company.
These guys, different from some of the sheep we saw at the Standing Stones of Stennes, looked healthy and happy.
Local cemetery, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2019.
Crown Princess lies off shore, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2019.
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised november 2019