Timeless - Skaill House

Both Gitama and I felt a little lethargic today, early mornings and late night nights finally taking their toll on old bones, so it was just a leisurely jaunt down to Skara Brae today followed by a wander round Tesco to pick up some supplies and a trip to the garage to feed the car.

It was another gorgeous start to the day with the sun beating down upon the mainland. A nice crisp breeze provided the wind power to help drying the clothes we hung before leaving for the day.

Skara Brae is a neolithic village that is believed to have been built around  3180 BC and occupied until around 2500 BC. It was discovered by the laird of Skaill William Watt on his property in Skaill Bay in 1850 following a severe gale on the island. He excavated the site himself until 1868, uncovering some 4 houses, but it wasn't until 1929 that professional excavations began in earnest.

This was my second visit to Skara Brae but it still fills me with wonder and awe at the level of craftsmanship in these dwellings that pre-date Stone Henge, the Pyramids and the Great Wall of China to name but a few. In fact, the site is the best preserved neolithic site in northern Europe. I've included a shot of the reconstructed house in my extras.

Skaill House is the ancestral home of the lairds of Skaill. The original manor house was built by the Bishop of Orkney, George Graham and the house has expanded down the years. Gitama suggested there was a Wuthering Heights feel looking back to the house from the excavation so I played with the shot a little to give it  period look. When we arrived at the house, there was an advert for a falconry display and for once we arrived on time. It looks like the family that are doing this are just starting up. The large holding cages for the birds were spanking new and the birds themselves were young and their training not quite complete. It was a lovely interlude all the same. Birds of Prey are always a good photo opportunity. I've included a shot of Lewis and his Harris Hawk, Derek in the extras.

The sun stayed with us through our visit to Skara Brae. The extras include a four shot pano of Skaill Bay and an external shot of the site, both in (shock, horror) colour - just to how I can and to prove that we do get some lovely blue skies and water up here. As we left though, low cloud could be seen forming on the horizon and while it looked beautiful draped over the hills I knew what it would eventually bring. We came out of the shops in Kirkwall to a grey sky. However, it soon cleared so we stopped off at Stenness to try and shoot the standing stones with the Ring of Brodgar (it was too dark last night) but as you'll see from the shot included in my extras another advancing cloud was consuming all in its path. Soon it would overtake the cottage after we arrived back and it has stayed with us since. It's supposed to clear again tomorrow, which will be nice for the wee blip meet Gitama has arranged with Freespiral.

Gitama's post for the day can be found here.