John O’Groats & the Orkneys: Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, Italian Chapel

John O'Groats, the small port from where you can take a ferry to the Orkneys, is basically shots of "The Last House in Britain", the old John O'Groats Hotel (Scottish Baronial influences, now closed) and the signpost giving the distances as the crow flies to various world capitals.  The ferry ride over to the Orkneys usually offers some photo opportunities whatever the weather. Once there, your first stop will be the "Italian Chapel" which consists of two Nissen huts joined together endwise.  … [Read more...]

Clava Stone Circles, Culloden and the Castle of Mey: Trip Notes

The Clava stone circles, neolithic burial sites, are not really circles but doughnut mounds with standing stones around them.  There are three of them in a small park.  Fortunately, we had some morning sun.  A wide-angle shot from inside a mound looking out through the entrance passageway was a little different.  A 3/4 aerial view would be best, but nothing was around to climb up on. The sun was shining at Culloden battlefield too, although it tended to be in and out as the clouds swept by.  … [Read more...]