Orkney : Archaeology and Wildlife of a living Landscape (open to all)

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Orkney : Archaeology and Wildlife of a living Landscape (open to all)"

Dwain Sanders
5 years ago
Views:

Robin Sutton : Robin Sutton is Assistant Head of Malham Tarn Field Centre and has lead many trips to the Isles with Martyn.

1 Kindrogan 7 day 17 th 24 th May Sat - Sat 1445 Sole Occupancy Orkney : Archaeology and Wildlife of a living Landscape (open to all) Course Overview The course leaders will be Robin Sutton and Martyn Jamieson. Robin Sutton : Robin Sutton is Assistant Head of Malham Tarn Field Centre and has lead many trips to the Isles with Martyn. Martyn Jamieson : Martyn is the Head of Centre at Kindrogan and has led many groups to the western isles. Kindrogan Field Centre Enochdhu, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 7PG

Course Description The islands of Orkney have a green fertility bounded by dramatic red sandstone cliffs, gentle shores of ochre flagstones and yellow sands.

2 Course Description The islands of Orkney have a green fertility bounded by dramatic red sandstone cliffs, gentle shores of ochre flagstones and yellow sands. Countless generations of farmers since neolithic times have shaped the landscape and have left a rich legacy of well-preserved archaeological remains and an abundance of flourishing wildlife. Seen from Dunnet Head on the mainland of Scotland, the islands of Orkney appear as low-lying mounds rising from a steel blue sea. Close at hand, they have a green fertility bounded by dramatic red sandstone cliffs, or gentle shores of ochre flagstones and yellow sands. Countless generations of farmers since Neolithic times have shaped the landscape but have left a rich legacy of well-preserved archaeological remains. These lasting reminders of ancient peoples exist side by side with modern farms, with their ordinary buildings, where an abundance of wildlife still flourishes. Travelling around Orkney, it is impossible to escape reminders of the past. For over 5000 years the inhabitants or Orkney have left, and are leaving, a permanent imprint of their civilisations. Uniquely preserved Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements, impressive burial chambers and stone circles stand next to modern farm buildings. The defensive brochs of a more warlike Iron Age people stand guard over seaways carrying some of the biggest oil tankers use today. Those same seaways allowed Viking invaders to leave their own remains as they founded an Orcadian society with a distinctly Norse inheritance. The Earls of Orkney built castles, palaces and a magnificent cathedral. Martello towers from the Napoleonic wars overlook Scapa Flow in which lies the German fleet scuttled in the First World War. The Churchill Barriers helped protect that same anchorage in the Second World War, and Italian prisoners-of-war built the superbly imaginative chapel on Lambs Holm. The sea cliffs hold some of the important sea bird colonies of the Atlantic.. Marwick Head is home to guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and kittiwakes. Terns still nest in abundance on secluded headlands. In a good season, a colony of up to 25,000 breeding seabirds can be seen on this mile-long stretch of red sandstone cliffs. May and June are the best months to enjoy the seabird city. The moors of Hoy are home to colonies of gulls and skuas. Great skuas seem almost to have replaced crows and buzzards as scavengers on the hills. Hillside lochains have breeding divers; one on Eday reputedly has the highest density of red throated divers anywhere. The calls these birds make as they display on loch or sea are among the truly evocative noises which linger long in the memory.

3 Whimbrel, curlew, redshank and lapwing all breed here and add to the sounds of Orkney. Seals, otters, dolphins, porpoises and even whales inhabit the waters. Orkney harbours the continental common vole, found nowhere else in Britain. So distinct is the animal that it is considered to be separate subspecies, Microtus arvalis orcadenis. How it got to Orkney is another mystery; archaeological evidence suggest that these voles have been present in Orkney since Neolithic times and almost certainly arrived with new colonists during that period. The vibrant display of roadside verges on Orkney is a true delight, given the modern tendency to neaten, tidy and drain land to the detriment of our wild flowers. Many of the plants are not rare but their abundance is a sight not commonly seen in much of Britain. Up on the hills of Hoy and on some of the other moorland areas grow unusual plants such as cloudberry and bearberry together with the more familiar heathers. Some of the higher cliff tops will have least willow and spring squill, while carpets of sea pink clothe the more exposed headlands. With luck we may find the rare oyster plant or beautiful Scottish primrose. Proposed Itinerary during the week Travel to Orkney. Explore South Ronaldsay. Ferry to Lyness on Hoy; walk to see Old Man of Hoy and Scapa Flow visitor centre. Sea bird colony at Marwick Head, archaelogy and plants at Brough of Birsay. Ferry to Rousay to visit chambered cairns and brochs. Maes Howe chamber tomb and stone circles; visit Kirkwall. Skara Brae and coast south to Borwick, Stromness Depart for Mainland. What to bring Waterproof footwear is essential, walking boots are recommended. Bring a pair of lighter footwear (e.g. trainers) for travelling/general use. A good quality, completely waterproof jacket, with hood, and waterproof overtrousers are essential if activities are not to be restricted by the weather. Even in summer, the wind on the islands can be bitter, so you will also need warm outdoor clothes, a hat, a pair of lightweight gloves, a day bag, flask, drinks container and lunch box. For evenings, a midge-proof hat and effective repellent spray are essential. A small notebook and pencil may come in handy. Bring a supply of personal toiletries, a small personal first aid kit and any medication (including your favourite headache pills etc) that you may need.

4 Useful reading and maps Orkney by Patrick Bailey ISBN an excellent book full of pictures and very informative with 112 pages. (Pevensey Island Guide) The Natural History of Orkney by R.J. Berry published by Collins ISBN This is part of the New Naturalist Library series of books number 70 with 304 pages. A revised version of the above book by R.J.Berry and Frank R. Crisp published in 2000 by Poyser Natural History ISBN Maps : ( The leaders will have a good selection of maps and books for general uses ) Ordnance Survey Landranger series 1:50 Number 6 (Orkney - mainland) & 7 (Orkney - South Islands) Ordnance Survey Explorer series 1:25 Numbers 461 (Orkney - East Mainland), 462 (Orkney Hoy South Walls & Flotta), 463 (Orkney West Mainland) Course Fees 1445 Sole Occupancy 1375 shared room Travel Options : Meet at Gill s Bay Ferry Terminal KW1 4YB The ferry departs Gills bay at 16:30 and the crossing is about 1 hour arriving at St Margarets Hope, Orkney at about 5:30pm, travel to the hotel is around 1 hour and evening meal is arranged for 7pm. Departure from Kindrogan: Depart around 8:45am Saturday morning after breakfast and drive to Gills Bay (about 5 hours 30 minutes). An overnight stay at Kindrogan on Friday May 16 th and the night of 31 st for the return trip can be arranged at per person per night for Dinner bed and breakfast. RETURN trip : Depart St Margerts Hope at 11:15 am and arrive at Gills Bay at 12:15pm then drive back to Kindrogan, arriving back in time for evening meal at 6:30pm. Fly into Kirkwall (meet at hotel or arrange pick up) If you wish to travel from Kindrogan and wish to stay overnight on the Friday and are travelling by train we can arrange a lift from Pitlochry station at 6:30pm. On the return trip if you wish to stay at Kindrogan on the Saturday night and are travelling by train we can arrange to take you back to Pitlochry for the 11:23 Southbound train.

Accommodation: Standing Stones Hotel Stenness Stromness Orkney Islands KW16 3JX http://www.standingstoneshotel.co.uk/ Telephone 01856 850449 When you stand in the garden of the Hotel and look across the loch, you stand on the edge of one of the world's most beautiful and unique landscapes.

5 Accommodation: Standing Stones Hotel Stenness Stromness Orkney Islands KW16 3JX Telephone When you stand in the garden of the Hotel and look across the loch, you stand on the edge of one of the world's most beautiful and unique landscapes. The image of this will stay with you forever. Overlooking the Loch of Stenness, the Standing Stones Hotel offers the ideal starting point for exploring all of Orkney. Set back from the main Stromness to Kirkwall road, the views overlooking the loch are absolutely stunning, from the midsummer the sunsets to winter horizons. From the beautiful gardens, you look across to the Loch of Stenness, and see the heart of Neolithic Orkney. Recognising its outstanding universal value and heritage, the principal archaeological sites in the area were inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1999.The hotel being just eleven miles from Kirkwall and three miles from Stromness, make us your choice with 17 excellent, well appointed bedrooms, offering you the comfort and service you are looking for.

Birdwatching on the Isles of Scilly Trip Itinerary 2018

Birdwatching on the Isles of Scilly Trip Itinerary 2018 Operated by Wildlife Tours & Education Thursday 11 th October to Thursday 18 th October 2018 1649 This is a trip focusing on seeking out migratory