Orkney Islands, Scotland
Our day started with a guided visit to Balfour Castle on the island of Shapinsay in the Orkney Group. The grounds of the estate are a wonderful treasure trove of both wild and cultivated flowers. The understory of the woodland was awash with bluebells and ladyfern. We thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the Zawadski family who had organized a traditional Orkney tea especially for us. The afternoon concentrated on an exploration of Mainland, the largest island in this group. Here we first visited the coastal Neolithic village of Scara Brae dating back to 3100 BC. which came to light following a storm back in 1850.The wave erosion removed a section of sand dunes and exposed stone walled houses belonging to a small prehistoric village which has been excavated and is now on show to highlight the lifestyle of our forebears. These early farmers were the first to introduce the arts and technologies of agriculture to mainland Britain from about 4000BC and were to be responsible for the initial management of their environment and the removal of vast areas of the native forest cover. Armed with the simple but highly efficient polished stone axe they were to have a major influence across the continent of Europe. Other prehistoric sites we visited included the impressive chambered Neolithic burial chamber of Maes Howe and the stone circle of the Ring of Brodgar. Interestingly the Vikings broke into Maes Howe back in the 12th -century and left a series of graffiti on some of the burial chambers stones. The island is a veritable ancient landscape with an impressively rich array of remains. On our way back to the port of Kirkwall we passed the inlet known as Scapa Flow which witnessed the scuttling of a fleet of some 74 German warships at the end of World War One by its commanders.
Our day started with a guided visit to Balfour Castle on the island of Shapinsay in the Orkney Group. The grounds of the estate are a wonderful treasure trove of both wild and cultivated flowers. The understory of the woodland was awash with bluebells and ladyfern. We thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the Zawadski family who had organized a traditional Orkney tea especially for us. The afternoon concentrated on an exploration of Mainland, the largest island in this group. Here we first visited the coastal Neolithic village of Scara Brae dating back to 3100 BC. which came to light following a storm back in 1850.The wave erosion removed a section of sand dunes and exposed stone walled houses belonging to a small prehistoric village which has been excavated and is now on show to highlight the lifestyle of our forebears. These early farmers were the first to introduce the arts and technologies of agriculture to mainland Britain from about 4000BC and were to be responsible for the initial management of their environment and the removal of vast areas of the native forest cover. Armed with the simple but highly efficient polished stone axe they were to have a major influence across the continent of Europe. Other prehistoric sites we visited included the impressive chambered Neolithic burial chamber of Maes Howe and the stone circle of the Ring of Brodgar. Interestingly the Vikings broke into Maes Howe back in the 12th -century and left a series of graffiti on some of the burial chambers stones. The island is a veritable ancient landscape with an impressively rich array of remains. On our way back to the port of Kirkwall we passed the inlet known as Scapa Flow which witnessed the scuttling of a fleet of some 74 German warships at the end of World War One by its commanders.
