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Orkney Mainland, Page 3

Petrosphere - photograph (c) 2016 David Bailey (not the)

A petrosphere at the Orkney Museum

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?

Beguiling - the cliffs of Orkney's coastline - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Beguiling

A calm day flying over the coastline of Orkney is beguiling. Looking below at the beautiful fresh blue water there’s little hint …

St Peter's Kirk in Sandwick - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

18 inches of pew

St Peter’s Kirk in Sandwick on Orkney looks so beautiful in the low sunshine, standing quietly alone in its graveyard. It’s now …

Carved egg - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Serpentine egg

A trip through the Orkney Museum in Tankerness House in Kirkwall is an essential part of any visit to Orkney. There are …

Orkney Seal Rescue - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Practical help for Orkney seals

Orkney Seal Rescue works to protect seals: they rescue sick, injured and abandoned animals. Here’s one: Orkney Seal Rescue founded their registered …

Fiat Lux - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Let there be light

The stained glass windows in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall are beautifully done. This is one of them, Fiat lux, or ‘Let …

Ezekiel in St Magnus Cathedral - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Ezekiel in St Magnus Cathedral

In St Magnus Cathedral they have a beautiful stained glass window dedicated to Ezekiel. Nowadays he would probably have a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a psychiatric nurse and a social worker on his team and be treated with antipsychotic medication to control his symptoms.

The whites of their eyes - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The whites of their eyes

Humans have evolved as social animals and we pick up on incredibly subtle non-verbal cues from each other. Unlike most other primates …

Yesnaby Castle - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Yesnaby Castle

Yesnaby Castle is a proper sea stack. Many people seem to think that Yesnaby Castle is a smaller version of the Old …

Old and new carvings at St Magnus Cathedral - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Old and new carvings at St Magnus Cathedral - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Old and new carvings at St Magnus Cathedral - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Old and new

St Magnus Cathedral is slowly weathering away. Beautiful new carvings have been inserted to replace some of the most weathered parts. Their …

A world in miniature - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A world in miniature

If you’re ever struggling to think of a present for a young child, buy them a bug pot and a magnifying glass. …

Macehead - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

One of my favourite objects

One of my favourite objects in the Orkney Museum is this neolithic pestle mace head. It makes me wonder just how fabulous …

Map of Orkney - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

An early map of Orkney

I’ve been looking at too many early and unscientific maps of Orkney because as soon as I see this moss on a …

Orkney Museum Staircase - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Orkney Museum Staircase

I love Tankerness House which houses the Orkney Museum. Here are a couple of views of the staircase.

The P&O cruise ship Arcadia - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

All aboard

The P&O cruise ship Arcadia in the Hatston terminal at Kirkwall in Orkney. The cruise visitors are a mixed blessing for the …