John Rae's House

This is the Hall of Clestrain, the birthplace of the Arctic Explorer and founder of the North West Passage, John Rae.

It's in a sorry and neglected state now but it must have been an imposing building in it's day.

Sir Walter Scott stayed here and John Rae as a youngster must have looked out over Stromness and Hamnavoe, seen the Hudson's Bay ships leaving and thought of all the amazing adventures he could have.

He took his opportunity to go out West to Northern Canada at the tender age of 19 and what a life he carved!

A brilliant explorer and mapper, there has now been a John Rae Society set up in Stromness to raise his profile and to get recognition for the achievements he made.

If you watched Who do you think you are this week with Sarah Millican, he was there when her ancestor was with the company! Now there's a fascinating fact!