Later Norse Houses with 12^th century church in background:-

12^th century church. (See Pictish stone to left):-

Edge of 12^th century church complex:-

12^th century church remains:-

12^th century church information board:-

Sunken structure, possibly another Norse house:-

North edge of archæological site, Brough of Birsay:-

The Brough of Birsay is an island just off the north-east coast of mainland Orkney. I blogged here about the causeway you have to cross to access the island.

It is also home to some archæological remains (as well as a Stevenson lighthouse which we didn’t visit.) The weather was fine when we walked across the causeway to the island but while we were there it started to rain and the wind was so strong the rain was coming in horizontally, so discretion prevailed over perseverance. Even so by the time we got back to the car we were thoroughly drookit.

There was some nice geology just where the path from the causeway meets the brough proper.

The archæology on the brough comes from three distinct eras. First there was some Pictish occupancy. However this Pictish symbol stone is a replica, unfortunately. (Though there was such a stone found on the brough.)

There is a better photograph of the symbol stone on Historic Scotland’s Birsay webpage if you click through the pictures.

As the information board says there was later Norse – in two phases – and ecclesiastical building on the island.

Remains of Norse houses:-

A later Norse house:-

Another later Norse house:-

Birsay may have been the home of Thorfinn the Mighty.

The broch‘s entrance:-

Entrance information board:-

Interior from entrance:-

Hearth at centre of broch:-

Internal compartment with stone trough:-

Interior wall:-

Interior chamber:-

The Broch of Gurness, by the shores of Eynhallow Sound, near the village of Evie, Orkney, is quite remote, up a narrow winding road leading off the A 966. It is quite well preserved though and is in the care of Historic Scotland.

The day we were there it was driving rain. The attendant said he was on the point of giving up for the day although it was not long after lunchtime. Even so, as we were leaving another car rolled up to the car park. We had the broch to ourselves while we were there though.

Broch from site entrance:-

The first building you meet just inside the boundary, though, is called the Shamrock due to its shape. It’s the remains of a Pictish farm dating from much later than the broch and was moved to allow better exploration of the broch itself.

Broch of Gurness from west, showing outer rampart wall:-

Broch of Gurness from south, Eynhallow Sound in background and Isle of Rousay somewhere in the mists beyond:-

Broch of Gurness, plus part of rampart wall, Eynhallow Sound behind.

Broch of Gurness from southeast:-

Broch of Gurness, rampart wall and ditch:-

Broch of Gurness information board:-

On the way out from IJmuiden as well as the windsurfers (see previous posts) we passed a fortified island, which is named Fortress Island.

I assume the fortifications were built by the Germans during World War 2 as part of their Atlantic Wall.

Industrial IJmuiden in the background:-

A bit further on. I can’t decide if the rectangular array is a set of solar panels. I think it must be, so obviously a much later addition:-

Are the serrated things in this view tank traps?

We travelled back from The Netherlands last spring via IJmuiden.

It’s not as neat and tidy a place as Hook of Holland as it’s more industrial, witness this photo taken from beyond the end of the long breakwater leading out from the port.

On the way out we did spot a crowd of windsurfers, though, plying their hobby from the spit of sand at the edge of the breakwater:-

I even took two videos:-

More from our trip to The Netherlands last year.

Canalside (former?) warehouse. Roof under repair:-

Closer view. Note circular company information:-

Old building. Looks like 1641!

Modern Fountain:-

Hanging garden. Wisteria:-

Boat in a courtyard:-

In a Dutch town you’re never far from a load of bikes:-

Home of VV Surhuisterveen which plays in the “Fourth Sunday” of the KNVB district Noord after promotion from the fifth amateur level in 2015.

I couldn’t see an easy way to get close to the ground so had to photograph it from a distance. It looks a tidy wee ground.

From the link it looks like VV Surhuisterveen play in Sons colours!

For previous posts about Surhuisterveen see here and the links within.

Dutch towns have interesting architectural features. Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether a building is Art Deco or not. Others are distinctively Dutch/Low Countries as on the right here:-

The doorway to the middle building above has Art Deco features to it. Certainly there’s “rule of three” in the windows above it and the door itself has a very 30s feel. The ironwork on the gates is good too:-

The brickwork on the canalside house below is very distinctive and there’s more than a hint of Deco to the double doors in the centre. Also a Charles Rennie Mackintosh feel to all the doors:-

And is this Deco or merely Dutch style?:-

Note the squares in the window highlights. And there’s an Art Nouveau touch to the decoration just above the windows but below the brick arches:-

The Waterpoort is the old entrance to Sneek town centre by canal. I suppose it functioned as a sort of mediaeval toll gate as well as the entrance to the town.

Canal with Waterpoort in distance:-

Bridge and Waterpoort behind:-

Waterpoort from canal basin:-

View from Waterpoort:-

Waterpoort clock from town side:-