Day 22 - Central Mainland

We had a bit of a lay in this morning and then did some packing.

We still had a few more places on our list of things to do. We started at Warebeth Beach, on the West Coast of Mainland, near to Stromness and a few kms south of where we walked yesterday. To our surprise, Stromness Cemetary is located there and it is huge. Some of the graves have enormous headstones. It is in sections and the older graves are in one walled area and the newer ones in another. There is a good coastal path walk. We walked both ways. The tide was out and the so called beach was made up of standstone rocks, most covered with seaweed. There was no real beach. On the headland to the north there are the remains of a 2 storey house built in 1633 for Orkneys last bishop. We didnt walk up to it as it was VERY windy.

Stromness Cemetary

Warebeth Beach

Young Pied Wagtail - parent had struggled to feed it in the strong winds

Breckness House - former Bishops Palace

There were 2 different breeds of horses in a field next to the footpath. The Shetland type breed (white) had something over their heads. We didnt think they could see but Paul thinks it was a type of mesh to protect their eyes. The other breed had blue coats on covering most of their body. It was clear they had walked or been ridden along the coast path due to the amount of manure we had to avoid.

2 Shetland type ponies and one larger horse

Horses in field

We went to a viewpoint on Loch Harray for lunch. We were the only ones there and it was very peaceful but again very windy.

Loch Harray

We then tried to visit Maeshowe which is a Chambered Cairn and owned by Historic Scotland (free for English Heritage Members). However we were told that only guided tours were available and we should come back at 9.30 tomorrow to get a day ticket for a tour at either 11am or 3pm. I dont think we will bother as we have been in several chambered cairns and the only difference with this one seems to be that the windows are aligned with the sun on the winter solstace. We watched a video in the reception area and left. It started raining so we went to get an ice cream and then returned to the lodge.

It was too wet and wild to go out again so we sat and watched the tide come in. The seal made a few appearances, but not for long. Then 6 Red Breasted Mergansers appeared from nowhere before being carried along with the wind. A bit later 2 female Eider Ducks, each with 7 ducklings passed by in different directions. And then, as the light started to fade and the mist rolled in again, an Otter appeared and gradually made its way across the bay, not too far from us. This time I did get a lot of still photos.