Yesnaby Coastline

The Yesnaby coastline is a dramatic stretch of sheer Old Red Sandstone cliffs on the west coast of  Orkney. Besides spectacular coastal scenery, there were remnants of a WWII gun battery.

Lively water

Red sandstone

Closer

Dramatic seaside scenery

Tada!

Zoomed in

Bluer than blue water

During WWI and WWII  a large number of coastal defense stations were built along the cliffs of Orkney. Most were armed with anti-aircraft guns and with searchlight towers to pick out enemy aircraft. The cliffs at Yesnaby were one such site. is a dramatic stretch of sheer Old Red Sandstone cliffs on the west coast of Mainland Orkney.

Gun mounts

Structure left over from the war

The Brough of Birsay

The Brough of Birsay is an uninhabited tidal island off the north-west coast of the Mainland of Orkney. The island is accessible on foot at low tide via a largely natural causeway. It is separated from the mainland by a 790-foot stretch of water at high tide: the Sound of Birsay. The Norse settlement has been partly removed by coastal erosion.

Welcome to the Brough of Birsay

Picturesque cove

A bit of seaweed

Rocky shore

Red rocks

Border Collie

Me posing

The island

Lively water

The settlement

The lighthouse

In the sand

Coastal path

Where's Nessie?

What would a trip to the Scottish Highlands be without looking for the Loch Ness monster?  I thought our tour would do more than just a photo stop along the lake. But what else could you do? It's not like Nessie's going to pop her head out of the water. I suppose we could have taken a boat cruise on the lake, but we didn't have time. We drove by the lake and a had quick look. No Nessie!

Loch Ness

Loch Ness is a fresh water loch in the Highlands. It is one of the largest lochs in Scotland and the whole of Great Britain. It has the greatest volume, and is the second-deepest and second-largest by surface area. The lake is 23 miles long by 1.5 miles wide.

Parked along the loch

Looking for Nessie

The Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, is a mythical creature in Scottish folklore.  The monster has ancient origins, first written about in 565 AD. The first modern sighting was in 1933. No monster has ever been found. But Nessie's great for tourism.

Quiraing: an ancient landslide

Located in the northernmost part of the Isle of  Skye, Quiraing (Gaelic: Cuith-Raing) is a massive landscape made up of towers, needles and plateaus. To truly appreciate its grandness, you need a couple of hours. Unfortunately, we did not have that much time to explore the area. That was a reoccurring theme. Not enough time. The downfall of group tours. Plenty of time to pee and drink coffee, but not enough time to enjoy some of the attractions. 

Signage

A spectacular landscape

Formed by a landslide

Rock formations

Iconic location

Horseshow turn

The Quiraing was formed by a massive, ongoing landslip where heavy volcanic rock slowly slides down over soft, ancient sedimentary layers. The ground is not finished moving and still shifts a few centimeters every single year.

Dark skies

Quiraing walk

Dramatic landscape

Lone tree

Pointy hills

Always sheep

A long hike

Plateau

Up close

Viewpoint

Always plenty of heather

Scotland's fairy-tale church

St. Conan's Kirk is a picturesque, but unusual church on the shores of Loch Awe. Considered one of Scotland's top 10 buildings, it's known for mixing nearly every style of Scottish church architecture into one fairy-tale building. Self-taught architect Walter Douglas Campbell built the original small church ) so his elderly mother could attend services without having to travel too far.  

St. Conan's Kirk, c. 1881-1886

A fairy tale church

Eclectic Architecture
Window

Fully completed in 1930

Campbell heavily relied on historic, recycled, and salvaged materials to build St. Conan's Kirk, most notably incorporating massive timber beams from two decommissioned Royal Navy wooden battleships. The Bruce Chapel inside the kirk was specifically designed to commemorate King Robert the Bruce’s victory at the Battle of the Pass of Brander in 1308. Beneath the floor of the chapel lies a small ossuary (a stone casket) holding an actual skeletal remain of Robert the Bruce. Unfortunately, I didn't go into the Bruce Chapel. The St. Bride's Chapel contains an effigy of Campbell. 

Effigy of Campbell, c. 1929-1930

Inside the church

Big pillars

Wooden carvings

Landscaping

Courtyard

Out back

Church view: Loch Awe