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.

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