The GPS Blog| Activity | Activity date | Activity description |
|---|---|---|
| Across the Pentland Firth | 2026-05-07 | Took the ferry across the Pentland Firth from Gills bay to St Margaret' Hope.
All fine. Wind was F5 gusting F7 but it was neaps and not wind directly against tide. There was still an impressive "wall" of white water further off to the east.
Tye was a little bit of a wuss but happily didn't try to throw himself overboard.
Was expecting a little bit of to and fro squeezing vans in but wasn't expecting to have to reverse the van 100 yards and on to the rather narrow ferry entrance.
All good though.
Tags:
South Ronaldsay
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| Tomb Of The Eagles | 2026-05-23 | Off to the rather wonderfully named Tomb Of The Eagles. So named as the bones of about 20 white tailed eagles were found in the tomb along with loads of humans of course. In actual fact, the eagle bones seem to be much later that then 5000 year old human bones but it's such a great name I'd stay with it!
Now being somewhat of an expert on neolithic tombs, this was a bit of an odd one in that it had both "stalls" for interees as wall as three separate chambers.
The tomb has only just been re-opened by a local community group but is doing so well it felt a little crowded - at least compared to Rousay. By crowded, I mean that there were about 2 or 3 people ahead of me to go into the tomb on the slidey trolley (think "The Great Escape").
The later photos are from a nearby bronze age house with a large container for heating water in the centre of the room which has got people very puzzled.
Tags:
South Ronaldsay
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| First standing stone, first beach | 2026-05-07 | Down from our campsite for a quick walk.
First stop a really rather large single standing stone. Orkney farmers and Tye hound conspired to make it slightly difficult to get to. Still no injuries (people or hounds) and no ripped clothes on the reams of barbed wire.
Next up a walk along the beach. Tye in full-on delinquent teenager mode. Every bit of seaweed (and there was a lot) was doggie gourmet dining. Pulled like a bastard near enough the whole way.
Now curled up next to me like we've never had words - ever!
Tags:
Ronaldsay
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| ICC down to South Beach - Salcombe | 2011-09-25 | From the Island Crusing Club down to the South Beach and back again
Tags:
South Beach
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| South Uist | 2022-05-10 | A shorter ferry trip today from Ardmhor at the north of Barra to the ferry jetty on Erisksay.
The winds hadn't really abated that much and 24 hours of winds to build the swell meant I feared for the worst with Scooby and Liz. However, they both took the 40 minute ferry crossing in their stride. Yay!
When we landed the rain had stopped for a bit so we thought we'd find Scooby's next beach. And my did he love the beach near Gearraidh na Monadh! Liz still searching hard to find her three pieces of plastic to pick up from the beach.
Went in to South Lochboisdale to buy some 2nd hand books to replace the wholly inappropriate ones Liz had brought for me in the van "library". Very friendly shop keeper in the "bit of everything" store and very slightly stroppy teenager in Liz's card shop.
Then back to Kilbride Campsite in West Kilbride before the wind gusts upped a force and two and the horizontal rain brought the visibility right down. Very glad I'm too old and creaky for tent camping - nice and dry and warm in the camper van.
Tags:
South Uist
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| South Uist and Benbecula | 2022-05-10 | A bit of a road trip around South Uist and Benbecula.
The first "panoramic" photo is the view from the Co-op car park on Benbecula.
Top lunch at the "Marine Supplies and Seafood Cafe" in Kallin. £3.50 for an excellent salmon sea food chowder and roll.
Tags:
South Uist
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| Horgaborst on West Harris | 2022-05-13 | Ferry from Berneray (top of Uists) to Leverburgh on South Harris.
Wish I'd had the GPS on as the ferry took an amazing number of left and right turns to avoid the various reefs and rocks. Looking at the navigation buoys (and rocks) directly head of the ferry at times, I was amazed by the journey.
Then on to Horgabost campsite with views across to Taransay.
A late camper van arrival parked between Liz and Ben Fogle so she let the van's tyres down.
Beach good but not Scooby's best as we were right at the top of tide. Will be better tomorrow.
Tags:
South Uist
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