My fascination with Orkney started when I was a teenager after seeing a documentary on Skara Brae (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/skarabrae/index.html). I was determined I would visit one day. One day came about 15 years ago. it was everything I'd ever hoped it would be. you really have to want to get there -- overnight train trip from London to Inverness, another train to the tip of Scotland, a bus trip to the ferry that takes to Stomness, then another bus to Kirkwall. It's an amazing place that's just oozing history. not to mention my favourite jewelry designer hales from there -- Ola Gorie (http://www.olagorie.com/home.html). It probably won't surprise you to learn that in my mind, this is where Methos comes from [g].
There's a listing of historic sites here (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/sites.htm). I got to see a fair portion of them. One of them, the Brough o' Birsay (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/broughofbirsay/index.html), I had to wade out to while the tide was low enough to cross. Then there's the Viking graffiti inside Maeshowe (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/maeshowe/index.html), and climbing in on hands and knees to the inside of the Tomb of the Eagles (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/isbister/index.html). And if you like stone circles, they've got those too :) check out the Ring of Brodgar (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/brodgar/index.html).
Since my comment is turning into a post unto itself, I'll stop there :)
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chiming
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Date: 2006-06-27 03:25 am (UTC)From:There's a listing of historic sites here (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/sites.htm). I got to see a fair portion of them. One of them, the Brough o' Birsay (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/broughofbirsay/index.html), I had to wade out to while the tide was low enough to cross. Then there's the Viking graffiti inside Maeshowe (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/maeshowe/index.html), and climbing in on hands and knees to the inside of the Tomb of the Eagles (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/isbister/index.html). And if you like stone circles, they've got those too :) check out the Ring of Brodgar (http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/brodgar/index.html).
Since my comment is turning into a post unto itself, I'll stop there :)