We picked up a rental car in Glasgow and headed north. We visited the Isle of Mull. We also toured Mainland, one of the Orkney Islands. We lucked out having sunny spring days for most of our road trip. Notice I left out warm. It was very cold and windy in northern Scotland, but at least not much rain. I had expected wind and rain.
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| Our road trip rental car, Mini Cooper Countryman. Nice car but a bit large for the narrow roads on the islands. |
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| There were lambs everywhere. They seem to be escape artists, I guess because of their size. Even though the fields were fenced there were hand painted signs on all the roads to watch out for lambs. |
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| Tobermory - a colorful town on the Isle of Mull. |
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| Dunstaffnage Castle - built around 1220. The castle is near Oban. |
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| Inside Dunstaffnage Castle walls. |
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| The grounds of Dunstaffnage Castle. It was spring time in Scotland and the wild flowers were blooming. |
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| View of the coastline at Skara Brae in the Orkney Islands. |
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| Skara Brae is a 5,000 year old neolithic settlement. This is a replica of what a complete house would have looked like. |
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| Inside one of the excavated houses at Skara Brae. |
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| Excavated site at Skara Brae. |
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| Yesnaby Cliffs - We walked along the cliffs on a very scenic coastal path. The wind was so strong it was hard to stand still and enjoy the view, the wind just moved you along. |
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| More of Yesnaby Cliffs. |
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| Marwick Head - Another coastal path hike with fabulous views. |
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| Causeway to Brough of Birsay. The small island can be accessed only at low tide via the causeway. You have to be sure you watch the time or you could be stuck on the island. There is a sign on the island side of the causeway with the Coast Guard number for rescue. |
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| Cairn marking the causeway on Brough of Birsay. |
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| View on the Brough of Birsay. |
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| Ruins of Earl's Palace built in the early 1570's. |
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| Broch of Gurness - an Iron Age tower that originally stood about 30 to 40 feet tall. |
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| The ruins of the village surrounding the Broch of Gurness. |
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| View looking out of the tower through the village toward Eynhallow Sound. |
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| Standing Stones of Stenness - thought to be the oldest henge in the Bristish Isles. |
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| Ring of Brodgar - a neolithic stone circle. |
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| Ruins from a circular viking church at the Orkneyinga Saga Center. |
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| Headstones covered in lichen at the Orkkneyinga Saga Center. |
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| This is the kind of coat you need to stay warm in the Orkneys. |
