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Flagstone

Seal on Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Seal haul

In Pierowall on Westray in Orkney, the seals haul themselves up onto the rocks in the Bay. They lie scattered like the …

Sea Slater - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Flagstones and Slaters

Looking into the cracks in the flagstones I see what looks to be a freakishly large Woodlouse. It’s a Sea Slater…

Cracked rocks - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Cracks in the paving

I could stand and stare at the stone Orkney beaches for hours; and I sometimes do.

Collapsing Roof - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Collapsing roof

With the weight of flagstones on the roof timbers, a Westray roof needs love and attention to keep it keeping the rain …

Wrinkled and cracked - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Wrinkled and cracked

The exposed rocks of Westray are endlessly fascinating even if you’re not a geologist.

Pave your roof - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

In Orkney, you pave your roof

I love the beautiful pattern and texture of this perfect flagstone roof on Westray. The chimney pot, however, may need a little …

Breck o' Aikerness - photograph (c) 2016 David Bailey (not the)

Breck o’ Aikerness

The language that estate agents speak is not English as we know it. Breck o’ Aikerness was for sale recently. It may …

Making waves at the Brough of Birsay - photograph (c) 2016 David Bailey (not the)
Making waves at the Brough of Birsay - photograph (c) 2016 David Bailey (not the)
Making waves at the Brough of Birsay - photograph (c) 2016 David Bailey (not the)

Making waves at the Brough of Birsay

The Brough of Birsay on mainland Orkney was a Viking stronghold 1,000 years ago. 380 million years before that it was a huge inland lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Here are the fossilised ripples to prove it.

Pavement

They call it flagstone…

… because it’s stone and breaks naturally into flags. The whole Island of Westray is made of it. Perfect flagstone paving everytime. …

Westray Flag

Westray Flag

Despite the wind the Westray flag resolutely refuses to flutter in the breeze. The people of Westray didn’t choose it but they …