Tuesday 4 June 2013 – Stromness and Kirkwall

The first warm (ie t-shirt) day of the trip, with no wind.  Fortunately we have not planned to go sailing.  We took the bikes on the bus to Kirkwall, where we visited the Earl’s Palace and the Bishop’s Palace.  These were already paid for on our “Explorer” ticket. Cycling back we visited Rennibister Earth House and Cuween Chambered Cairn. The Earth House is completely underground in a farmyard – just a little hatch in the ground surrounded by railings.  There was just a small chamber with a short tunnel leading off (possibly the original entrance).  It was a little disconcerting to hear a lorry pass over the tunnel when we were inside.  Cuween was better, a proper mound, part way up a hill. It had a main chamber and 4 side chambers which we could crawl into.  All the skeletons and other interesting stuff had been taken away.

Stromness main street

St Magnus Cathedral

St Magnus Cathedral

Memorial to the Arctic explorer John Rae

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, from the Earl’s Palace

Rennibister Earth House

Cuween Chambered Cairn

Cuween Chambered Cairn, entrance

From Cuween looking East