ISLAND HOPPING Day- Five
The forecast for today was very heavy rain all day.
Out of the B&B, early before breakfast was served, my plan was to take the car on the ferry from Houton to Lyness on the southern end of Hoy. Hoy is quite a large island and although I have cycled all over it before, I decided it would be easier and drier to use the car.
As it turned out, by about 10.00 the rain cleared and it was quite a nice day till I got back on the Mainland at tea time.
At Lyness there is the very good Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum, well worth a visit if you get up here. However I have been there before and I had other ideas for today. First I headed south and eventually reached South Walls, an island linked to Hoy by a causeway.
There is a lot to see down here including traces of visits by the Vikings back in 955. The Martello Towers, built in 1813 as protection for Baltic convoys and also used in the First World War.
Longhope Lifeboat station and museum, also a Memorial to the Longhope Lifeboat Disaster in 1969, when all eight crew died in a rescue attempt. They all came from one very small village, many actually related to each other.
Cantick Head Lighthouse, from 1858, at the southern entrance to Scapa Flow.
Then it was time to head north, watching two male Hen Harriers today, I think one needs to fly over to Flotta and find yesterdays female ones. I also had nice views of Red Throated Divers. I reached the cafe I had used earlier in the week, had lunch and then scones and some more of that wonderful Rhubarb jam.
Then it was over to the West coast and Rackwick Bay, fabulous place. I wandered around taking photos and just enjoying the place. Finally time to catch the last ferry from Lyness back onto the Mainland.
The ferry was full for vehicles, good job I had booked the car on earlier.
Then it was time to head south over the Churchill Barriers and to the island of Burray. From there, there is a long narrow causeway, don't try walking across on a stormy day, you WILL be washed into the sea.
This takes you out to the small uninhabited island of Hunda. I was told the only thing out here was sheep and goats, that seemed to be about right. There is a path right round the island, but my plan was to just walk up to the highest point on the island,138 feet, and enjoy the view over many of the islands. However because of the in coming mist and low cloud, most of them had vanished. On my return journey across the causeway, three seals came swimming over, I took some photos and headed back towards Burry, looking back I was very surprised to see the seals were following me back.
By now, I was hungry so back to Kirkwall for tea and to plan my next island.
The photo above is a pair of Great Skuas, or Bonxies as they are known locally. They terrorise other sea birds to steal their food and are real Pirates of the Skies. Although they were on the ground, as a pair, I know they were not near their nest. How do I know this ?
Well if I had been anywhere near the nest, they would have quite happily tried to drive me away, they would keep swooping at my head and quite commonly can cause nasty cuts to your head.
Not really a bird to mess with.
Islands Visited; Three
Total Visited; Eleven
Ferries Used; Two
Total Used; Eleven
Ports Used; Two
Total Different; Ten
If you wish to see the rest of todays shots just click on the link below..........
http://365project.org/markp/Alternatively/26-06-2015
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