The previous time we visited the Brough of Birsay see here and here, the rain started to come in horizontally so we cut things short.

In June this year the weather was much more amenable.

On the way up we had stopped off at Marwick Head again.

Hoy from Marwick Head, Old man of Hoy just visible poking up at right hand end of island:-

Marwick Head from Brough of Birsay, Kitchener Memorial standing out on Marwick Head:-

Mainland Orkney from Brough of Birsay:-

Viking ruins lie close to the causeway from the mainland:-

This time we were able to stroll to the lighthouse:-

Stevenson Lighthouse, Brough of Birsay from path across the brough:-

Close up:-

From northwest:-

From South:-

Dunnet Head is the northernmost point of the Scottish mainland and hence of Britain.

Dunnet Head from distance, from a side road off the A 836:-

Cliffs at Dunnet Head:-

Lighthouse, Dunnet Head:-

Dunnet Head Lighthouse Foghorn, island of Hoy in background:-

Lighthouse and foghorn:-

Lighthouse Information Board:-

Lighthouse and Pentland Firth:-

Cliffs again:-

Hoy from Dunnet Head:-

Pentland Firth and Hoy from Dunnet Head:-

The Old Man of Hoy is just visible in this zoom (and in the previous photo if you squint a bit):-

So farewell, then Orkney. The Castle of Mey, formerly owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, was so close to where we made landfall on the Scottish mainland once more that it made sense to visit. It is, after all, far too far for a day trip.

Castle from car park:-

Going through the gate seen in the above photo leads to the side of the castle. The castle’s garden is behind you in this view:-

Front view of castle:-

I had taken the rear view before entering the castle proper. No photos were allowed inside:-

Castle from garden:-

Pentland Firth and Hoy from the castle’s garden:-

I took this to try to capture an image of the Old Man of Hoy. A telescope on the elevated platform the previous photo was taken from showed it, just, but it was too misty without sufficient magnification:-

This is Dunnet Head – the northernmost part of the Scottish mainland, from the car park at the Castle of Mey. (I managed to capture a bird in flight as well):-