That's really cool Winot. I'd like some of mine to be scattered there too.
I listened to thoseThe Orkney's is on my list of places I must visit. In the meantime Clare Balding did three episodes of Ramblings on the Orkneys...spent most of her time indoors sheltering from the wind and the rain Ramblings - To the Ring of Brodgar - BBC Sounds
I get that feeling too at certain places.
I'll have a listen to that, thanks. I like her.The Orkney's is on my list of places I must visit. In the meantime Clare Balding did three episodes of Ramblings on the Orkneys...spent most of her time indoors sheltering from the wind and the rain Ramblings - To the Ring of Brodgar - BBC Sounds
Yes my mum feels the same. It’ll be my Dad’s birthday while we’re there so could be quite emotional.
Ashes in the turnups of your trousers then dumped when nobody's looking?
We’ll be there at the same time. May try one of the festival events. Didn’t know about it before we booked
I didn't realise all my recommendations had lived up to your hopes, well that cheers me indeed.
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Blimey. Thanks for that. Really helpful.I didn't realise all my recommendations had lived up to your hopes, well that cheers me indeed.
Robertsons in St Margaret's Hope which everyone loves has good GF options- my GF friend sent this message in full
"Well if it’s a lunch you can get Toastie and nice cake in Trenabies or Robertsons have good gluten free options. Or if he/she likes Indian they can offer most things gluten free except naan bread. In Stromness the pier café sometimes has gluten free soup and the Toastie is fine or garden centre but I find them expensive. I don’t eat out much. Also Smithfield Hotel is supposed to be really good as they are coeliac so a lot of options thereif they like fish and chips the harbour fary have a GF menu and it’s lovely and they do chicken and other stuff. It is one of my favourites."
I think Robertson's is the best of that list. If you're there, I would recommend walking to the sands of wright esp if it's sunny. Last time I was there this seal came bounding up towards me, which was nice.
Trenabies is in Kirkwall, Smithfield is in Dounby and had a great menu last summer. It might be an idea to go there if you were doing the west mainland- Birsay, the obligatory twatt sign, skaill/skara brae, marwick head... as you could then go via the Smithfield and then the standing stones on the way back to Kirkwall. But Skara Brae has a cafe at the visitor centre too and there's Birsay Bay Tearooms (not sure what they are like for gluten free stuff but there's usually a menu on facebook.)
Puffins just absolutely must be seen in Westray, where you see them up close. On the mainland it's just shit seeing them on the cliffs miles away. They are tiny, you might as well be looking at sparrows. I honestly had a spiritual experience when I saw them in Westray. It's by far my favourite Island after Hoy.
Stromness pub and food scene is a bit shit these days contrary to earlier post on here, there's a place opening up for food here called Adam's place which looks promising, aside from that most of my older suggestions upthread still stand.
These guys are great, they are usually behind Ortak which is in Kirkwall
Orkney Street Food - Beiting & Brew | Kirkwall
Orkney Street Food - Beiting & Brew, Kirkwall. 5,168 likes · 51 talking about this · 122 were here. Restaurant quality food on a takeaway platform with a regularly changing menu.
This is 1st sat of June if you're here then
You miss folk festival by a few days which is a shame as it brings out the crowds we used to have in the pubs back in the day, but I think Kirkwall is probably still a good night out.
Great little book for walks (also available for other parts of rural Scotland, I have the one for around Torridon too)
Seriously important bump for your own safetyWhy after spending so much time here, would you refer to this place as “the Orkneys” Roger eh? So rude! I bet he also says LoCK Ness with massive emphasis on the ck but manages Bach no bother.
Jesus Christ give me one misstep with a Scottish placename and I’m basically Dexter
Sands of Wright are lovely, agreed. We had a wander with our friend Sue there. She lives on South Ronaldsay.
You can pay with cash money yo. Or contactless. However sometimes obtaining cash can be tricky if not in Kirkwall.
Thanks! I get paid in cash so spending it is more of a problem than getting hold of it now loads of places won't take real money...You can pay with cash money yo. Or contactless. However sometimes obtaining cash can be tricky if not in Kirkwall.
www.swandro.co.uk
Thanks. The first open day is the day we leave Orkney, which is a real shame. We'd have gone to that.Sticking this here under the guise of being helpful for anyone else planning to visit this summer but also so I don't lose the webpage myself - the Knowe of Swandro archaeological excavation in Rousay will be running from Monday 19th June until Friday 11th August this year and open to visitors from Wednesday 21st June until Monday 7th August.
More info here:
VISIT THE DIG | Orkney | Swandro-Orkney Coastal Archaeology Trust
Visitors are welcome during the dig, free site tours, workshops and activties for all
I'm not going with anyone else so I'm free to do whatever I want but one of the first things I checked was if there's a jiu jitsu club anywhere (there is!)
Pentland ferries isn't it? Apparently there was an engine fire and then it "very gently" ran aground and they had to evacuate everyone by lifeboat, without all the stuff they'd left in their cars. We were in Cromarty Hall when it happened and at the end of the film they rushed us out the fire escape so they could bring all the ferry passengers in through the front. They all seemed in good spirits tbf, everyone was making cups of tea and one woman was saying she'd tell all her friends what a good welcome she got
Yeah it's always been called Pentland ferries, but Banks doesn't run them any more? Edit, or he does and someone on Facebook is high ha! He's anti unionist twat anyway but orkney thinks he's amazing.Pentland ferries isn't it? Apparently there was an engine fire and then it "very gently" ran aground and they had to evacuate everyone by lifeboat, without all the stuff they'd left in their cars. We were in Cromarty Hall when it happened and at the end of the film they rushed us out the fire escape so they could bring all the ferry passengers in through the front. They all seemed in good spirits tbf, everyone was making cups of tea and one woman was saying she'd tell all her friends what a good welcome she got
Someone was saying they're fucked now coz the other, newer ferry that was doing the route has been contracted to another route, and now the old one that got brought back into service is out of action for now...
The Pentalina was only out temporarily and they were trying to give it to Calmac but Calmac wouldn't touch it. Apparently RMT published scathing reports of the standards on the boats last year. Eeek!Pentland ferries isn't it? Apparently there was an engine fire and then it "very gently" ran aground and they had to evacuate everyone by lifeboat, without all the stuff they'd left in their cars. We were in Cromarty Hall when it happened and at the end of the film they rushed us out the fire escape so they could bring all the ferry passengers in through the front. They all seemed in good spirits tbf, everyone was making cups of tea and one woman was saying she'd tell all her friends what a good welcome she got
Someone was saying they're fucked now coz the other, newer ferry that was doing the route has been contracted to another route, and now the old one that got brought back into service is out of action for now...
