Orkney day 12: Megalithic

We had a wander around the cathedral at Kirkwall again, savouring the quiet after all the pomp of the Battle of Jutland commemorations. Then we met Gitama and Sleepyhead for lunch in a cafe overlooking the sea and much craic was had! They went off to Gurness and we walked out to the Head of Mawick - a pleasant cliff walk up to the Kitchener memorial. Lord Kitchener and over 700 men were drowned when a torpedo hit their boat just off the coast here. Now it is mostly the haunt of thousands of seabirds - fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots - and even two puffins whizzed by.

Later we walked up Wideford hill to see yet another chambered cairn - this one cut into the rock. There was a handy box complete with working torch and a steep ladder to the dank interior.  A wild spot with huge views and the sun finally appeared.  Back into Kirkwall for supper and we later dropped into the Reel for the fiddle and accordion song club - stately rather than energetic.

We couldn't resist one last look at the Stones of Stenness on the way back. It was arctic by this time but all was looking magnificent. I walked to  Brodgar too, the sky pinking.

Orkney day 11