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Is Skarra Brae worth booking and paying for, or should we just visit somewhere else? There seems mixed views and there's a lot of archeology across the islands...
Yes - utterly amazing IMO. shed loads of stuff all over the islands s well of course so its not imperative but it is good
Yes! Go, it's amazing...and the stone rings, and Maes howe, it's all incredible.
A bit windy mind...
Its good!
Theres loads about though but its a good attraction
It's a bit theme parky by necessity of how famous it is, but it is the best example of what it is. It's worth following up with the Broch of Durness, which has a similar feel on a smaller scale but is much quieter and you can get in and amongst the stonework better.
Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn is worth a look too - there's just a torch in a box and you explore at your leisure. It's a nice contrast to Maes Howe.
Hell of a place is Orkney.
Visit skail house as its next to Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar is impressive, and the orkney brewery and Highland park
Been a few years but I recall the Maes Howe guide and talk was worthwhile, as without there’s not much to see and the guide added a fair bit to the experience. This was 10years ago and October so didn’t book just did on spec. I’d imagine busier in summer.
orkney brewery
We're staying next door. 😎
Apparently we have to book Skarra Brae now. So frustrating we aren't able to go with the weather - rides are planned. But we're having to book meals and visits in advance.
And Sheila Fleet is going to cost me...
We didn't go to Skarea Brae because of the pre-booking but instead went to Broch of Gurness (East of Evie), Brough of Birsay and the best one of all was Midhowe Tomb and Chambered Cairn on Rousay (got the ferry and cycled round the island).
Had a good walk at the sea cliffs & stacks at Yesnaby watching the climbers.
IMO the most impressive archaelogy is on Rousay, i enjoyed the low key and ability to climb in out of things. Nice day visit with bikes.
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Don't forget Hoy, stunning cliff top walks and of course the Dwarfie Stane.
We didn’t go to Skara Brae because of the pre-booking
Is that new? We went in Easter last year and had the place to ourselves. It's well worth a visit, as is the house next door.
There's a nice road loop that covers most of the archeological sites near where you a staying (we were in dounby)
Rousay and Hoy are planned as rides... They're on my must do list.
Pre book your evening meals. Orkney is a bit of food desert and everything gets booked up ridiculously early.
Is that new?
Aprently in summer, with a cruise ship in, it's a must...
Depending when you go, watch for the bonxies on Hoy
Food in the pub at St Margaret’s Hope was ok, but dining out in general was a bit hard work.
Amazing place though and my favourite of the Scottish Islands
Mind stop in and say hi to Donald!
The seafood co op place near stromness is fantastic for seafood to cook yourself - the best I have ever had.
We went last year, Scara Brae is good but was left in the sort of state you might imagine after Eddie Izzards Speed Time Team Gag. The house next door is on the same ticket and worth seeing if you like those things (and skeletons under the floor)
Ness of Brodgar though. That's several orders of magnitude next level, I recommend fully. The guide was so passionate about it and the history is mind boggling if you don't already know how smart and well travelled bronze age folk were. Also Ring of Brodgar next door (but definitely do it at sunset if you can) and the other one nearby that some victorian farmer broke (and got a kicking for)
Maes Howe is also pretty mindblowing especially when you get the viking graffiti pointed out that's closer to our age than the original builders. Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn was done that morning and we got it to ourselves, brilliant as well.
Away from the archeology the Italian chapel isn't all that, only worth seeing if you're passing. I had more fun climbing along the barriers and finding critters in the rock pools after I bagged a nearby trig point.
For entry and exit I'd recommend using both ferries for the different views, Northlink has great views of Hoy and Pentland goes through all the WW2 fortifications.
We didn't see everything we wanted to but definitely want to go back.
For the benefit of anyone wanting somewhere cheap but good to stay I'd fully endorse the Orcadian Hostel in Kirkwall.
Oh and ****t has no road signs pointing to it or telling you you're there. THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!
Following as I'm going to Orkney in July for my big birthday.
My cousin has lived up on Papa Westray for years and so we are staying a couple of days on Orkney mainland and then heading up to Papa.
Can't wait. 😊
Oh and ****t has no road signs pointing to it or telling you’re there
Damnit, a friend and I are the childish ones sending rude place name photos to each other.
****t does have a pointer sign if you go down the coast road from Birsay towards Evie. I have a photo of my then 10 year old daughter to prove it, she took one of me too.
are just cycling? some of these attractions are best seen in the evenings.
some of these attractions are best seen in the evenings.
Definitely not Scara Brae or Ness of Brodgar, opening times only.
****t does have a pointer sign if you go down the coast road from Birsay towards Evie.
I'll look out next time!
Ness of Brodgar definitely during the day it is great , ther is no other way but you wouldn’t want it to be different, the guides are brilliant and it changes every year.
if you just want to quietly take in the scenery then you can see skara Brae at a respectful distance and have a nice walk on the beach but not visit the exhibition, same goes for gurness and of course ring of brodgar
Scapa museum is brilliant too!
Scapa museum is brilliant too!
That's happening on the Hoy cycle loop day.
Don’t miss out on Eviedale bakery, if timings work out book pizza and banoffee pizza will keep your energy up. They also have a shop with all sorts of pastries, I promise they are world class
The Orkney Backyard ultra is taking place at ****t again this summer, 8th July and organised by some pals. I've still to get there; planned for last year but scuppered at the last minute by a dose of covid acquired while working at the West Highland Way race. ****in' manky runners....
We are on holiday there atm. The path to Brough of Gurness is closed due to a landslip, or was three days ago. But the walk around the cliffs is good specially if you like birdwatching. Skara Brae and wotsit house are good, we booked but didn't pay as members of Cadw (English/Scottish Heritage would also do nicely).
Agree re eating out, don't expect a handy cafe for a cuppa while on your travels, they are few and far between with variable opening days/hours.
I went to look for the ****t sign on streetview and it is actually highlighted on the map
If in a car you really need to park past that bungalow and walk back because it is on the brow of a hill
There's 2 surf spots on the bay next to it and you have to walk through the site to get to them, was empty when I went (December though)
@5lab How was the surf? I have seen some amazing waves run across the Bay of Skaill but they were beyond my skill level
I am not sure direction signs count?
You want the arrow pointing at you surely
I am not sure direction signs count?
They do if you're stood where the arrow points.
other road signs are available
When we visited Hoy there was a guy doing a solo ascent of the old man which wa pretty amazing to see. I'm not sure I'd do a Jig on top, even I could climb it (which I can't)
the best place we found for food on the west of mainland was the Eviedale bakehouse - great takeaway pizza and bread.
https://www.eviedale-cottages.co.uk/bistro
We have booked Eviedale already - and pre-ordered two lots of bread 🙂
****t does have a pointer sign if you go down the coast road from Birsay towards Evie
A recent Google review (a week ago) indicates it's been removed by the local council as it kept being stolen. https://goo.gl/maps/FaeUaxoN8CRM7ojDA
Take a photo = you're up for a bit of a laugh.
Take the whole sign = you're a thieving ****(t)
A recent Google review (a week ago) indicates it’s been removed by the local council as it kept being stolen.
Damn those University of Highlands and Islands students...
@jp-t853 it was a really cool, fun session. Wasn't massive, or working as well as it might, but one to experience for sure. Fairly shallow, there's a book from a guy who learned to surf there..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Board-David-C-Flanagan/dp/1905916930
if you just want to quietly take in the scenery then you can see skara Brae at a respectful distance and have a nice walk on the beach but not visit the exhibition, same goes for gurness and of course ring of brodgar
That's why you do the Ring at sunset, the pay booth is long since shut and as long as you obey rule 1 (stay within the barriers) nobody will care.
Pretty sure he abseiled off. His whole family was watching from our side and they'd already been there ages waiting for him to climb.