Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
Orkney Ferries (
Click here
)
operates a ferry from Kirkwall (passenger/car £4.15/13.20,
25 minutes). Services are limited in winter.
ROUSAY
POP 210
Off the north coast of Mainland, Rousay makes a great day trip, but you'll feel like stay-
ing longer. This hilly island is famous for its numerous archaeological sites, earning it the
nickname 'Egypt of the North' (perhaps pushing it a
bit
too far).
Sights & Activities
You can
hire a bike
at Trumland Farm (
Click here
)
and take on the winding, hilly
14-mile circuit of the island. It's also possible to
walk
from the ferry pier to Midhowe
Broch, taking in all the main historic sites (12 miles return, allow six hours).
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Prehistoric Sites
(HS;
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
; 24hr)
The major archaeological sites are clearly la-
belled from the road ringing the island. Heading west from the ferry, you soon come to
Taversoe Tuick
, an intriguing burial cairn constructed on two levels, with separate en-
trances - perhaps a joint tomb for different families; a semidetached solution in posthum-
ous housing. Squeeze into the cairn to explore both levels, but there's not much space. Not
far beyond are two other significant cairns;
Blackhammer
, then
Knowe of Yarso
, the lat-
ter a fair walk up the hill but with majestic views.
Six miles from the ferry, mighty
Midhowe Cairn
has been dubbed the 'Great Ship of
Death'. Built around 3500 BC and enormous in size, it's divided into compartments, in
which the remains of 25 people were found. Covered by a protective stone building, it's
nevertheless a memorable sight. Next to it,
Midhowe Broch
, the sturdy stone lines of
which echo the striations of the rocky shoreline, is a muscular Iron Age fortified com-
pound with a mezzanine floor. The sites are by the water, a 10-minute walk downhill from
the main road.
Sleeping & Eating
Taversoe Hotel££
HOTEL
