Rousay

We took ourselves and our bikes on the morning boat to Rousay where we cycled in the sun to 3 cairn burial mounds- Versoe Tuick with its unusual layout of two burial
Chambers set one above the other. This was a burial place for the inhabitants of the area over 4500 years ago. We were able to climb down by a metal ladder. Not much further along the road we arrived st Blackhammer Cairn, with its many sectioned off chambers. Further still we climbed up to Knowe of Yarso - a lovely walk with great views across the water down to our freedom camp at Broch of Gurness. Again we could climb down to see the chambers which had been subdivided into compartments by upright stones projecting from the side walls.

Next we visited Midhowe Tomb, the largest known stalled chamber. This had been protected from the elements by a modern building being built over it. Steel walkways had been suspended over it to allow viewers to look inside without further damaging the structure. We visited the adjacent Broch, built around the first century as a dwelling for a powerful family. It was protected by a ditch and rampart across a promontory - Scottish Heritage has built a sea wall to protect it as coastal erosion has made it vulnerable. This is all part of Westness walk which had been described as the most important archaeological mile in Scotland. It spans settlements from the first Stone Age settlers, the Pictish Age, the Viking invaders, the period of the Earls up to the clearances of the crofts.
Having decided to spend so much time exploring we had to forgo the cycle right round the island in order to get the boat back. We headed back the way we'd come but into a head wind and uphill, in time to have some delicious Orkney ice cream at the jetty.

Tonight we are parked in a quiet spot round the headland from Stromness at Warebeth, overlooking the hills of Hoy. There is no internet or phone service so I'll post this tomorrow when we are waiting for the ferry to Hoy. It is raining but hopefully will be fine again for our cycle and walk out to Rackwick beach and onwards to the Old Man of Hoy.