Orkney | FindPenguins

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Trip start
April 28, 2025
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Day 1
Monday, April 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
☁️ 12 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Scotland Newton 58.44287, -3.09432258°26’34” N 3°5’40” W
Wick
April 28 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
We spontaneously decided to head to Wick on the train and get the bus to John O Groats from there, instead of getting off at Thurso and busing it from there.

After an enjoyable river side walk, we went to the bus station (just a bus stop by the entrance to a hotel) and waited for a bus that never turned up.

Hopefully the 77 will arrive and get us to our accommodation for tonight!Read more
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Day 1–2
April 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM - April 29, 2025
1 night
☁️ 11 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Scotland John o' Groats 58.643451, -3.06874258°38’36” N 3°4’7” W
John O Groats
Apr 28–29 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
The furthest north I've ever been...until tomorrow at least!

We originally couldn't figure out how to fit John O Groats into our plans, but happy we made the effort. It was fun to see the area, and have a drink in the last pub. A lovely start to our holiday, and as we stayed so close we got to see it in the evening and in the morning before the ferry across.Read more
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Day 2
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Scotland Kirkwall 58.981426, -2.95979558°58’53” N 2°57’35” W
St Magnus Cathedral
April 29 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
A nice cathedral right in the middle of Kirkwall, we enjoyed having a wander round on our first day.
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Day 3
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Scotland Orkney Islands 59.048763, -3.34210859°2’56” N 3°20’32” W
Skara Brae
April 30 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Probably the most famous of the tourist attractions we were going to see we were worried that it would be teaming with other tourists, but delighted when we realised we were there for opening with only 3 other people.

The site itself was much smaller than I imagined, and we walked around twice to make the most of it. I wasn't expecting the serene beach so close by as well, and with the bright sunshine the whole place seemed magical.

We really enjoyed looking around the museum, replica house, and actual ruins, before heading towards the Skailla House for a quick view. We realised just how lucky we had timed it when bus loads of tourists started arriving just as we were leaving!Read more
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Day 3
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Scotland Stenness 59.00166, -3.22928959°0’6” N 3°13’45” W
Ring of Brodgar
April 30 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
We originally got off the bus a bit further away from the Ring of Brodgar, but the other stone circle we wanted to see was on private land unfortunately. Weather made it a beautiful day for a wander though, so we walked down in the sunshine.

You can't walk too close to the stones currently, but close enough to appreciate the scale. I especially liked the view of the circle with the Loch and mountains in the background.Read more
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Day 3
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Scotland Stenness 58.994051, -3.20798158°59’39” N 3°12’29” W
Stones of Stenness
April 30 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Our final stone circle of the day, we stopped for a picnic lunch while looking over the Loch and then carried on over a bridge, past a flock of swans, and a large standing stone at the side of the road before finding the Stones of Stenness.

There was also a small settlement that could be seen just behind the stones so this was interesting to see so close to the circle.Read more
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Day 3
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Scotland Stenness 58.98644, -3.24921758°59’11” N 3°14’57” W
Unstan Chambered Cairn
April 30 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
A smaller cairn Luke found as we couldn't get tickets to Maeshow, we had originally decided to go back to Kirkwall after walking along the stone circles but ended up getting the wrong bus so made a quick decision!

We didn't get to stay here for very long as the actual bus we needed was due, so we briskly walked to the cairn. I managed to crouch along the opening but Luke had to go on hands and knees, much to my amusement. Really cool to see inside our first cairn, and we made it back to the bus in time as well!Read more
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Day 4
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🌬 10 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Scotland St Mary's 58.889893, -2.89000558°53’24” N 2°53’24” W
Italian Chapel
May 1 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
A very unusual chapel which was lovingly crafted by prisoners of war during WWII. The level of detail was astounding, with beautiful lanterns made from corned beef cans.

Really interesting to see, and learn a bit more about the camp that was made on the islands too. We stopped by a rum distillery while we were here, and got ourselves a treat for back at home.Read more
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Day 4
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM
🌬 10 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Scotland Birsay 59.129306, -3.31541959°7’46” N 3°18’56” W
Birsay
May 1 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
We stopped by Birsay before going across the Brough, saw the ruins of the Earls Palace and also a few cute ducklings swimming along the burn. Really cute spot to stop, there was also rabbits in the fields, chickens and a cockerell, and some feisty sheep to watch.Read more
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Day 4
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
🌬 10 °C
Altitude: 49 m
Scotland Birsay 59.1365, -3.336859°8’11” N 3°20’12” W
Brough of Birsay
May 1 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
Accessible only at low tide, and with having to time this with the buses, we had to go later in the day across to the island. It was extremely windy, so we couldn't get too close to the edge to spot puffins unfortunately - and the only birds on the land were oyster catchers pretending to be puffins from afar.

Scenery was stunning though, and the sun came out as well. The ruins of the pictish shelter were amazing to see, and we sat inside them to give us a break from the wind for a few minutes!Read more
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Day 5
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 12:15 PM
🌬 11 °C
Altitude: 73 m
Scotland Finstown 58.997324, -3.10788858°59’50” N 3°6’28” W
Cuween Cairn
May 2 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 11 °C
A bit of a walk from the nearest bus stop, then a short steep climb up the hill, over a style, and a crawl through the entrance leads you into this small cairn. Definitely worth the effort, and we were surprised to read that dogs had been interred within the cairn too, as they were so important to the local people.

The views from the cairn were stunning as well, and walking higher up the hill there was some more modern stones structures too which we believe are connected to a pilgrimage.Read more
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Day 5
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🌬 10 °C
Altitude: 21 m
Scotland Stromness 58.962797, -3.29841458°57’46” N 3°17’54” W
Stromness
May 2 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
A spontaneous trip to Stromness due to bus timetables, and we were happy to be able to wander around the cute harbour port without our luggage. We made friends with a couple of local cats, and enjoyed the shops before hopping back on a bus to Kirkwall.Read more
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Trip end
May 3, 2025