Today was finally the day to go to the Orkney Islands. Lanita and I had been looking forward to going back for a long time!

We had a 2.5 hour drive to the ferry terminal, and since we had to be there by 7:45 we woke up soon after 4:00. Our group is a wonderfully prompt one, which is nice since there hasn’t been any stress about leaving in the mornings.

Our ferry tickets included breakfast on the way over and dinner on the way back. We only had around 6 hours on the island, so we decided to make the most of it and skip lunch.

The breakfast was delicious, and included lots of options. We remembered a few of these from the last time we went, and made sure to grab them again. I got a few pieces of bacon and two tattie scones right away, as well as eggs, fruit, yoghurt, and toast. The meal also included tea, coffee, and juice. The trays and the bars to rest them on were very helpful, since the ship was rocking before we even set sail.

We really enjoyed the 1.5 hour journey through the North Sea to Stromness. The ferry route took us past the island of Hoy and its famous sea stack that is 450 feet tall. The views were beautiful so we spent quite a bit of time out on the deck.

When we got to Stromness, our first and most important mission was to get to the sea cliffs of Yesnaby. We took our car across this time, so it was only a 10 minute drive to get there. They were stunning, and are still one of my favorite places in the world. Such a large, beautiful area with so few people, signs, fences, or guardrails is one of my favorite things. The weather was sunny, chilly and windy. We walked along the cliffs for an hour or so, but I think I could have kept on for a few more. The sound of the beautiful clear water, the wind, and the gulls is so relaxing and refreshing. We were there at low tide, so the waves weren’t crashing quite as high as when we were there last, but there were some beautiful tide pools and waterfalls.

While we were off exploring the cliffs, The Parents met some friends who told them they must see Skara Brae, a village that was possibly covered when the flood came in Noah’s day. It wasn’t discovered until 1850 when a major storm uncovered part of it. Lanita and I had already seen it and didn’t want to again, so they dropped us off at a beach just down the road. We relaxed awhile before walking over to meet them back at the van. We saw this disturbing creature on the rocks there. If anyone knows what it is, let me know. My best guess was a mussel, and I’m not even sure if the singular use of that is proper.

After that we drove north to the Brough of Birsay which looked beautiful, but most people were too tired to get out of the van. We just drove by and onward around the island. There were some beautiful views along the little one track roads.

We also stopped at another adorable honesty shop and bought some more local goods. This one was on a dairy, and they had the most delicious rhubarb yoghurt. We also got a slice of lemon cake, some banana bread, and other foods and gifts there.

We walked around the town of Stromness for a while, but it wasn’t quite time for our ferry to leave, so we went to see the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar.

At 4:45 our ferry sailed back to Scrabster. We had a delicious dinner on the ship and were once again surprised at how many options there were to choose from. We tried several different things between the six of us – fish + chips, caprese salad, and mac + cheese are a few I remember. Dessert was included as well, so I had a satisfyingly lemony lemon posset with fresh raspberries and shortbread crumbs on top.

We still had to drive 2.5 hours back to our cabin after we left the ferry. Those were the most dreaded hours of the day, but it was all worth it and at least we had lovely showers and beds waiting for us.

Love and goodnight.

x Ella