Orkney Journey

The journey north from Edinburgh today was the most spectacular one I think I have ever made. There was little or no traffic and the weather was glorious with superb visability and loads of colour. The best part was over the Black Isle and up the coast to Wick. Although John O' Groats is a bit seedy on a day like today it even looked ok.

Castle of Mey just a few miles from John O Groats was spectacular and the walled garden excellent.

Dunnet Head which is the most northerly place on the Mainland looked superb with loads of birds about. We had only just got onto the road there when we witnessed a spectacular display by a male Hen Harrier.
The ferry over to the Orkney Mainland took an hour and with the sea like a millpond we had some glorious views from the upper deck of the Catamaran Ferry. One we arrived on Orkney we had a lovelty 30 minute drive over the Churchill Barriers to our B & B overlooking the runway of Orkney Airport. No sooner had we arrived when we saw an owl flying into the garden just as it was dusk. The owner of the B & B tells us there are 11 pairs of short eared owls in the immediate vicinity.