Episode 89: ‘Through the Haar’ – Archaeology in Rousay (July)
Let’s take the ferry to Rousay and discover the island’s archaeology! Join me for a bike ride to Neolithic chambered cairns and a Bronze Age broch in Orkney.
‘Through the Haar’ is part of the series A Year in Scotland. This is the July episode.
In this story, I take you with me on the ferry from Tingwall to Rousay, the fifth largest island in Orkney!
We start with a mystical journey through thick morning fog called haar, before picking up bike and exploring the island. We visit several Neolithic chambered cairns and a Bronze Age broch. Along the way, I tell you about the history of this beautiful island and its neighbours.
After the story I share my top tips for a summer trip to Orkney.
Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.
Additional sound effects
- 160904 seals at low tide.WAV by Bluesy1905 — https://freesound.org/s/353439/ — License: Attribution 3.0
Resources
Use my Orkney travel guide to plan your trip
Listen to this episode of Scottish Digest for more about my first Orkney trip – thanks for the invite, Dawn!
Browse the Wild for Scotland Episode Map
5 Travel Tips for Rousay and Orkney
1) Hire bikes from Trumland Farm
On our first trip to Orkney, we brought our foldable bikes along, but really battled with the headwinds on Westray. This time, we left those bikes at home, and hired some for our day trip to Rousay. Trumland Farm is just a short walk from the ferry pier and hires bikes for a small fee. It still wasn’t easy to cycle on Rousay, but it was a great way to be immersed in the landscape. Find out more here.
2) Book a guide with Rousay Tours
I first learnt about Rousay Tours when I planned an itinerary to Orkney for an American couple. They didn’t want to do everything on their own, so they booked a guided tour of the island. Their guide has since retired, but the business has been taken over by a couple from the island, so nothing stands in your way of exploring Rousay with passionate local experts, Martin and Vivian. From standing stones to seal bays and nesting birds, there is a lot more to see in Rousay, than I managed to squeeze into my story.
3) Go for a dip at Evie Sands
It cost me a lot of self-control to stay out of the water at the clear lagoons near Midhowe Broch. The only reason I managed is that we had already sussed out another swim spot in the area.
Back in Tingwall, we headed a few miles up the coast to the Sands of Evie, a beautiful sandy bay with views across to Rousay. The sun had disappeared, so the colour of the water wasn’t as vibrant as we had seen over on the island, but it was still crystal clear and very easy to enter.
We ran out of steam, but if you have energy left, you can walk to the far side of the bay to visit the Broch of Gurness, another Iron Age broch with views across to Midhowe.
4) Immerse yourself in Orcadian stories
The islands of Orkney are shrouded in legends and stories. I’m working on a few Orcadian folktales and stories to share as a bonus episode for members of the Wild for Scotland Social Club next month – if you’re not a member yet, you can find the link to join in the show notes.
If you’re planning a trip to Orkney yourself, make sure you visit the Orkney Folklore & Storytelling Centre near Stromness. They host regular storytelling sessions and workshops for children and adults.
5) Use my free Orkney resources to plan your trip
I’ve been able to visit Orkney three times now, and each time, I discover something new. If you’re planning a trip to the islands, head to my Scotland travel blog WatchMeSee.com and search for ‘Orkney’ to access my free Orkney travel guide.
