Month: March 2019

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Scotland – A Family and Photographic Adventure – Orkney Islands – A trip through the southern Isles

Today we took a run down through the southern islands that make up the mainland of Orkney. These islands were joined to the mainland through a public works effort by Italian Prisoners of World War 2. The work resulted in the Churchill Barriers – basically two lane bridges that connected all the southern islands to the mainland. These bridges also act as barriers to the entrance to Scapa Flow and so had a dual purpose of allowing the islands to be more accessible for the locals and keeping German Submarines out of the Flow. Scapa Flow is a huge natural Harbour and the British Fleet was often at anchor here.

In one of the prisoner of war camps, on the island of Lamb Holm, the Italians left behind a beautiful example of a chapel. They used whatever left over concrete they could find to make the front facade and a statue. They bartered with locals for paint and other items to finish the inside of the Chapel. This is a must visit if you go to Orkney. I am very please to say that I am friends with the daughter of the man who painted the interior of the Chapel. Truly a talented man.

We visited a beach below one of the barriers and searched for Groatie Buckies which are considered to be lucky. My kids found several, but I have yet to find one.

We then made our way over to the little picturesque village of St. Margaret’s Hope before we headed backed to our home in Orphir. The evening was so still that the local Loch was like a mirror. Then as we pulled into the drive way the moon was rising and I got a couple of shots of it. Truly a great day out.

  • The Italian Chapel
  • The Italian Chapel
  • The Italian Chapel
  • St. George Slaying the Dragon
  • St. George Slaying the Dragon
  • St. George Slaying the Dragon
  • Chapel Reflections
  • Scapa Flow
  • Block Ship by the Barrier
  • Churchill Barrier
  • Ocean Waves
  • Ocean Waves
  • Block Ship
  • Ocean Waves
  • Setting Sun on the Beach
  • The Family
  • St. Margaret’s Hope
  • St. Margaret’s Hope
  • St. Margaret’s Hope
  • St. Margaret’s Hope
  • Winter Skies over Scapa Flow
  • Kirbister Loch Reflections
  • Kirbister Loch Reflections
  • Moon Rising
  • Scorradale Road
  • Moon Rising
  • December’s Full Moon
  • December’s Full Moon
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Scotland – A Family and Photographic Adventure – Orkney Islands – A visit to the Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall

We had a some time to visit one of my favourite places to go in Kirkwall, the Highland Park Distillery. I have sampled almost every product they make and my favourite is the 18 year old Single Malt. I have 3 family members that are lucky enough to work for the Distillery.

  • Highland Park Distillery
  • The Main Entrance
  • Entrance to the Shop
  • One of the Drying Kilns
  • Main Courtyard
  • Sunset over the Warehouses


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Scotland – A Family and Photographic Adventure – Orkney Islands – West Mainland, Waulkmill Bay, Wideford Hill views and Kirkwall

We took a drive around the West Mainland. Partly to take some photos of my wife’s Aunt’s Bed and Breakfast and rental Chalets for her website. I used this opportunity to capture the beauty of the West Mainland of Orkney where they are located.

We then drove towards Kirkwall and stopped at Waulkmill Bay. We were fortunate to arrive just as the tide was going out. The low sunlight was spectacular in mid December.

From Waulkmill Bay we drove up to the top of Wideford Hill where we had amazing panoramic 360 degree views of all of Orkney. It was so clear we could see all the way south and see Scotland across the Pentland Firth. It was so clear we could see all the way south and see Scotland across the Pentland Firth.

We then drove into Kirkwall to run some errands and I quickly walked around the harbour and captured some photos. The UK Cruise community has voted Kirkwall the Best Port of Call this past year.

  • Orphir – Grinley House
  • Orphir – Scapa Flow
  • Old Orphir School and Sheep
  • Stromness
  • The island of HOY
  • Hall of Clestrain
  • Houton Harbour
  • Orphir Roads
  • Waulkmill Bay
  • Sands at Waulkmill Bay
  • Waulkmill Bay
  • Scapa Flow
  • Kirkwall
  • Highland Park Distillery and Kirkwall Airport
  • Scapa Bay
  • Kirkwall Harbour
  • Kirkwall Hotel
  • Ayre Hotel
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Scotland – A Family and Photographic Adventure – Orkney Islands – Standing Stones

We have been to the Orkney’s several times, but never with a DSLR and some camera instruction on board.

The sights of Orkney are in abundance. They say there are more archeological sites per square kilometer than anywhere else in the world. The light in December, while in short supply, is amazing. We had several days of amazing light and so I will break the Orkney portion of our trip into sections of the island.

A trio of the main archeological sites to visit are all very close to each other. These being the Ring of Brodgar, The Barn House Village, and The Standing Stones of Stenness. These sites are located just of the main Stromness to Kirkwall road in the West Mainland. Stromness one of the main ferry points into Orkney from Scotland. Kirkwall is main town and the capital of Orkney. The airport is located just east of Kirkwall.

  • Ring of Brodgar
  • Ring of Brodgar
  • Ring of Brodgar
  • Ring of Brodgar
  • Ring of Brodgar
  • Ring of Brodgar
  • Barn House Village
  • Barn House Village
  • Stones of Stenness
  • Stones of Stenness