Stromness

With the wind much kinder today, we decided to go back to Skara Brae for a better look and to tour Skaill House. This is a sprawling home of the man who discovered Skara Brae. The oldest part of the house dates from the 1600's and has been the home of the Laird of Skaill until now when the present Laird lives in a different home near Finstown.

We had a good look around and then headed over to Stromness, the second biggest town on Mainland Island. It reminded us of a French village as it had steps leading up from the harbour and the corners of buildings tended to be bevelled on street corners. We had a good fish and chip lunch. Then we just wandered Victoria Street, the main street along the harbour. It a charming place with many little shops and galleries along the street.

The drive home took us through a rainy afternoon, and a back way past the remnants of a round church in the village of Orphir. It was a lovely day