We made it to the Orkneys

This is mid summer week and on the Orkneys we have daylight saving on steroids. The official sunset is at 10.30pm with dusk at 11.45pm and dawn (as the rooster on the farm next to this campsite knows) is at 2.45am! The abundant bird life here is having a continuous all night party.  An amazing place with more to see than our 3 days here will allow. Still visiting Skara Brae (Neolithic village with the stone furniture still intact) and seeing Scapa Flow have been highlights so far. Marg’s Dad was here during the war and talked of how beautiful it is. It is also very peaceful (if you discount the rooster’s morning ‘greeting’).

We have had a great 2 weeks in the van traveling North. As we are caravanning and camper-vanning virgins we have had to quickly upskill on the use of chemical toilets, fridges that have 3 sources of power, leveling blocks so we don’t get roll together at night and remembering to empty and refill the various tanks as needed. We are loving the independence and flexibility. The height is great for seeing over hedgerows. It is fully insulated and has a great heater, just as well the maximum day temp in the Orkneys has been 15 degrees so far.

On the way North we visited Whitby and Robin Hood Bay, great old towns with winding narrow streets and interesting wee shops. Great museum to Cook in the house of the family he was an apprentice for. Popped in to see Durham Cathedral in the pouring rain taking shelter in a pub during a particularly heavy shower and we happened on the replay of the first rugby test 10 minutes before the end so were able to watch the cliffhanger. Had a night at Berwick on Tweed and a wander around the fortifications of this walled town.

Visited the Rosslyn Chapel of Dan Brown’s “DeVinci Code” fame and found it’s statues really compelling no matter what the theories behind their existence is. Great few days in Edinburg which is just as cool and quirky as we remember it in the 1970’s. Found Greyfriers Bobby this time and followed a walking tour suggested in the Lonely Planet that took us into interesting spaces off the Royal mile. We saw original 1500s houses and hidden small gardens. We spent a while in the Museum of Scotland on one of the days as it was raining really hard.

Stayed just south of Inverness and did some walking and visiting Speyside distilleries. Tasting and purchasing was done and we toured Glenfiddich Distillery.  A beautiful part of the world. The drive up to the top of the mainland had spectacular views of the sea and coast and when we cut in across the Highlands the mist cleared and we could see the glaciated mountains.