More Orkney

Before we boarded the ferry back to the mainland we stopped at the Italian Chapel. It was an old Nissan hut in the second world war which a group of Italian prisoners made into a chapel. It was restored several years ago and was very impressive, the bricks looked really but was an optical illusion and just very clever painting.

This was the outside of the chapel.  After a night in a B&B we headed home along the top coastal road and visited Smoo cave (below)

Orkney Day

Our ferry left JOG at 10.30am, not too early and we had a view of the JOG hotel as we made our way into the Pentland Firth, very strange colour scheme and it looked shut up.

We boarded a coach for the day trip and were soon passing Scapa Flow before an hours stop in Kirkwall nice narrow windy streets full of character and St Magnus Cathedral above.

Our second stop was Skara Brae the ancient village before another stop at the Ring of Brodgar

Trip up North

Last Wed we headed up north to John O'groats for a day trip to the Orkneys

Our first stop was Lybster to see the little well sheltered harbour.

Then it was a stop at the Whaligoe Steps, 365 originally (we counted 330 as some of the steps were now a grassy slope). At the bottom of the steps was an old harbour.

After the steps we carried onto John O'Groats  (JOG) and walked out to Duncansby Head to see the lighthouse and the sea stacks

Weekend in Beauly

We had a trip to Beauly on Saturday and a walk in Glen Affric in the afternoon. Below is the Glen Affric Lodge estate.

The river running out of Loch Affric

And looking west into the Glen

More of the river

Climbing on Friday

Lovely day and Andrew invites me out for some local climbing, only a couple of miles from home and a crag known as Aztec tower. Here is the view from the foot of the crag looking back to Gairloch and the sea.

As I'm new to this Andrew goes first to put in the protection, I go second and take it all out as I climb past it. First climb set ready for me to go up.

At the bottom of our third climb, it will be my hardest yet, glad I go second, can't see many good hand or foot holds here.

Ready to go again, my first HVS  (hard very severe), not really that hard in climbing terms these days, but I would not want to do anything harder until I'm more experienced.

The top, just need to abseil to the bottom again. A grand afternoon out and so near to home.

The Tall Ships come to Ullapool

Last Saturday we drove to Ullapool after Margot had finished work and mingled with the large crowds who had also come to see the tall ships pass through. We had a few big storms, rainbows and a nice chippy tea.

If you enlarge this pic, look at the crew draped over the ?crossbars? of the masts, colour co-ordinated with the flag at the back.

Last few days of Hols

Excellent weather, we got a tan and had an air display right of the tent



We had a last day on the island of Berneray which is now linked to Uist by a causeway, it rained for the first half of the walk but then the sun came out and we had huge white beaches and more machair. If we had stayed another day we could have run the Berneray 10k race. Last night back at the B&B we used earlier then a ferry to Skye and home by 6pm. Holiday over but who minds when you also live in such a wonderful place anyway,