I previously posted the following articles about Orkney: Orkney Islands: Italian Chapel and Kirkwall and Orkney Islands: Birsay, Gurness, Brodgar and Cuween Hill. This entry focuses on the island of Rousay and the cairns (tombs), including a trip to an old water mill and farm on the main island.
One of the first stops for the day was a trip to the Farm Museum, which showed several of the rooms in a farm-house decorated as they would have been in the old days. This was a real house, so many of the items were authentic. The first room entered was the main room, which included the box bed in the wall, a fireplace and wardrobe. A peat fire was lit in this room with 'fish' hanging above the fireplace. This is what a traditional Orkney home would have been like.
Peat fire, kitchen area, and box bed in a traditional Orkney house
While we waited for the ferry to Rousay, we parked up near these fishing boxes and cages. Only one other car turned up to go on the ferry with us.
Fishing equipment at the harbour, waiting to board on the ferry to Rousay
A lifesaver on the ferry
When we arrived on Rousay, we enjoyed the nice views across to the main Orkney island. Rousay is a hilly island, and a circular road can be driven on around the island in about twenty minutes. The island has a population of approximately 200 people, and its nickname is "Egypt of the north" because of the historical ancient sites located in close proximity.
View from Rousay across to the main Orkney island
There are three main cairns (chambered tombs) on the southern side of Rousay, besides the large one at Midhowe. These are Traversoe Tuick, Blackhammer, and Yarso. We visited all three of these. The first two were located a short walk from the main road, but Yarso was higher on top of the hill and required a longer walk with breath-taking views.
Traversoe is a unique cairn because it is built on two levels. There is an underground level as well as the chambered level above it.
Traversoe exterior
Traversoe Tuick interior
Yarso cairn, located further up the side of the hill, has impressive views
The interior of Yarso, with the chambered areas used for storing bones
The most impressive cairn was Midhowe because of its enormous size. This surely held some significance or importance because the other cairns were much smaller in size when compared to Midhowe. Midhowe has a structure built on top of it to protect it from the weather, and it was impossible to get a complete photograph of the cairn. Apparently, it was 70 meters in diameter. Near the cairn is Midhowe broch, a Bronze Age settlement.
Midhowe broch main entrance
Interior of Midhowe broch
Other places to visit on the Orkney mainland include Click Mill, which is an old water mill that is still working and in use today and the earth houses, thought to be ancient settlements. The best one is Grainbank Earth House, located on the edge of Kirkwall.
Click Mill
Grainbank Earth House
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