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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 furt…

As we couldn't get a ferry to Westray until tomorrow, we used today to visit Kirkwall museum (as it had been closed when we were here last Sunday). A great little museum albeit slightly confusing at the start. However, i…

The best-preserved group of prehistoric houses in all of Western Europe. Stunning to think that this group of houses is 5000 years old - older than the pyramids or Stonehenge. A coach load of American tourists disgorged…

A tidal island that can be reached by causeway +/- 2 hours of low water. Lots of Viking archaeology built on some Pict archaelogy. Was blowing a hoolie again today (F8 gusts) so had to keep well away from the cliff edges…

Standing stones - and lots of them. Round the truly impressive Ring Of Brodgar, passed the now re-covered Ness of Brodgar site and on to the Standing Stones of Stenness. Really impressive and I thought a good balance bet…

After hiding from the rain in the van for much of the day, we told the hound to "man up" and headed off to Kirkwall to look for some history and dog friendly cafes. First blow was that the museum was shut on Sundays. Liz…

Up from South Ronaldsway to the capital Kirkwall on the "mainland". Wandered round Kirkwall during the day and then back to The Kirkwall Hotel for a rather nice dinner. More drunk Scottish "hen" women being driven round…

Had our first sight of The Orkneys as we approached Duncansby Head. Had a short stop (as we were running a little late) to see some birds and sea stacks - and the most north easterly point of the UK mainland - and a ligh…

Up from Inverness to the north east coast of Scotland on the A99. A shortish stop in Lybster as Liz's family had friends there. Walked down to the harbour for our packed lunch and then the best ice cream of the holiday s…

From Stirling along the A9 through the Cairngorms and onto Inverness - where we took a little detour to Nairn to let the hound have his first off-lead session on a Scottish beach. Nairn is a bit like a posher Dawlish War…

A "day off" from driving north so we took the bus into Stirling and then wandered round the town being tourists. Then up to the castle. Liz had been before so that saved £20. All very interesting but a might overpriced f…

A shorter drive today from Carlisle to Stirling and the Witches Craig campsite. The campsite is nice enough but our pitch is a little municipal with us looking out at a sodding great caravan. Into Stirling tomorrow by bu…

Drove across the western part of the Peak District which was really quite picturesque. Round god-awful Manchester and then up the M6 towards Carlisle. Stopped at Englethwaite Hall campsite just south of Carlisle. Then of…

A long drive to get to the Peak District. Fine until we got to Birmingham and then it all got a bit gnarly. And the traffic slowed down a lot too. So about five and a half hours to get to the southern peak district. So j…