Time grew wings and even went backwards! (Monday – Saturday 2 Part 2)

I failed to photograph Brunhilde at Skaill. That was a shortcoming. Here’s Nell inside Brunhilde at Skaill. Nell loves sitting on the bed or one of the seats and looking out at the world.

Not too high, nor too low, the bed is just the right height for a collie (says Nell)
Not too high, nor too low, the bed is just the right height for a collie (says Nell)

Walking the dogs was the first order of the day and this was swiftly followed by a proper camping breakfast of Scottish Morning Rolls and fried bacon, washed down with freshly-made coffee. Yum.

Properly prepared for our day, we drove the few yards up the road to the visitor centre at Skara Brae and Skaill House. I think it was a wise move to arrive at opening time as the place soon filled up thereafter. It was another still day of blue sky and hot sunshine – hotter, I think, than Monday even.

After a friendly greeting from the kiosk staff and a brief informational film we ambled down to Skara Brae via the modern reconstruction of one of the houses. It was here that I finally realised the low-light capability of the 6D – quite amazing.

Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Going back in time
Going back in time

The path from the visitor centre is punctuated by historical milestones marking the relative distance on the path of time and space. A reminder of just how short a period is our documented history.

Historical milestone
Historical milestone

The milestone marking the boundary between BC and AD being so much closer to the source than our destination really brings home just how ancient this site is.

Skara Brae now occupies a location close by Skaill bay, though when inhabited the sea would have been farther away. The encroachment of the sea makes this a picturesque spot indeed, especially on such a beautiful day.

Sited by the Bay of Skaill
Sited by the Bay of Skaill
Some visitors at this time of day, but not too many
Some visitors at this time of day, but not too many
The Original
The Original

I had a little giggle at one point when I suddenly visualised the site as being a little like a crazy golf course…

We were both a little disappointed not to receive any sense of the ancient nature of the place, no feel for the people who had lived here so very long ago. It was all a bit too well-kempt and somehow sterile.

Skaill House beckoned, with the promise of ghostly goings-on.

 

and things that go bump in the night
and things that go bump in the night

Unfortunately none of the ghosts came out to play.

Again the low light capability of the 6D came in handy and I managed some great detail shots in the house. No doubt they’ll turn up at Flickr at some point but I’ll not bore you too much now.

The dining table
The dining table

Upstairs, outside the Drawing Room, I found a spinning chair and yarn winder. This would have made a nice shot, had they not to share the alcove with a pair of fire extinguishers.

Clashing
Clashing

We did not tour the gardens, which were simple but well-kept, as I had my nose on the trail of coffee.

livingstone daisies

The tea room at the visitor centre serves a decent coffee and an extensive range of leaf teas. The cakes are more than generous in their portions. I had an enormous fruit scone, served with the instruction to take as much butter and jam as I needed. The scone was expertly executed and rated a full five stars in my opinion. Could not have done better myself.

There is a gift shop at Skaill House and another at the visitor centre. Save your money for the classier items in the visitor centre. We bought something for Gill at Skaill and in the visitor centre we went mad and bought ourselves a bottle of malt and a pair of crystal tumblers to put our nightcap in.

After coffee we set off northward, intent on visiting Kirbuster farming museum, where I took many photographs and so I think we move on to a separate post…

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