Binscarth

The plan is for a day trip to North Ronaldsay today - an island I visited in the late eighties when I visited my friend Kevin Woodbridge, the local GP, founder of the bird observatory, and latterly councillor.

Fog delays departure, and persuades us to cancel our visit. We return to Kirkwall from the airport (extra), visiting the cathedral and palaces. Megan is happy to lunch at Archive & I’m not disappointed either.

Post prandial visits to Binscarth Wood (main) and Happy Valley (extras) - the two largest and most mature areas of woodland on Orkney - are refreshing and fun. Megs displays her inner child on the swings and logs of Binscarth. I’m more impressed by the stonework of Happy Valley.