Fall Walks

It is a wonderful treat in the age of climate change when we get the kind've beautiful 'Indian Summer' September like the one we've had this year. Isla and I have done 3 hill walks this week alone.

Orkney Farmhouse Museum

This house was occupied from sometime in the 1500’s until 1963. 

This is supposedly the last open hearth fire in Europe. There’s just a whole in the roof for the smoke. Nice for smoking fish. The elderly couple who lived there last were each in their 80’s when they died. The smoke seemed not too bad I guess. 

The rain from the hole in the roof dissipates through a cracked slate in the floor- aided I was informed by rat burrows. Yes, rats. Apparently the docent arrived one morning to find the hearth stone has fallen into a rat den that was made right under its warmth. 



There are two sheep on the farm which are sheeted each year. This is two years of fleece. 


The roof is slate rather than the thatch of the Shetland Croft I saw earlier. 





The little farmhouse ‘wood’. 

Orkney Skara Brae

Yes, a UNESCO world heritage site, although in my view, Jarlshof is better. 

Orkney Ring of Brodgar

Orkney Museum Spinning

The Orkney Museum has quite a collection of spinning wheels. They even have a two handed flax wheel and a stone spindle. 

This one is metal made by a blacksmith. 

Wool Week Finale

Saint Magnus Cathedral

The crows delighted in the winds around the cathedral tower today.