The Horses – a poem by Edwin Muir
One of the first times I heard of Orkney was when I read Edwin Muir’s poetry. It was so strong, so vivid …
One of the first times I heard of Orkney was when I read Edwin Muir’s poetry. It was so strong, so vivid …
I’m fascinated by this neolithic petrosphere, or stone-age stone ball, at the Orkney Museum. I lean forward and suddenly bump my nose on the glass looking at it. What is it? What was it used for?
Forty years ago I was busy lying in the grass looking at the clover. White clover is beautiful and highly productive because …
This Common Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) is a species of cormorant. It stands alone on the rocky shore.
Earl Sigurd the Stout was an Earl of Orkney. The Orkneyinga Saga says he fought with a Raven banner made by his …
A calm day flying over the coastline of Orkney is beguiling. Looking below at the beautiful fresh blue water there’s little hint …
The Bay of Noup looks to have beautiful sand on this rocky and rugged coastline.
The history of Westray is told in two small volumes. One is its telephone directory, with its handful of names, many of …
Friends and relatives often ask me whether Westray is a good place to visit and my answer is always very clear. “No,” I say. “I wouldn’t recommend it.” Here then are my top ten reasons why you should never visit Westray.
Every time I visit Papa Westray I say “Next time I visit Papay I must have a look at all those beautiful …
St Peter’s Kirk in Sandwick on Orkney looks so beautiful in the low sunshine, standing quietly alone in its graveyard. It’s now …
Westray still has several relics of a bygone era; red telephone boxes. There are weeds growing inside some of them as they …
I’ve got three cameras with me, sitting in the back of a four seater aircraft flying over the islands of Orkney. I’m …
Someone has been here before me.
Seeing birds close up, in the wind, with rain on the horizon and a glorious sunset in progress, sat at the top …