Scotland may be famous for the Loch Ness Monster, golf and kilt-wearing highlanders but its dramatic landscape, colorful history and rich culture are some of its best features. The best Scottish city to experience this remarkable side of country is in the city of Orkney. It is one of the top tourist destinations in the area due mainly to its charming centuries old buildings, mind-boggling ancient ruins and a ruggedly stunning landscape.
You can spend as little as two days in the area or as long as a couple of months and still have something more to check out and discover. It is a rich locale for exploration, adventure and cultural excursion.
Here are just some of the interesting places to experience the magical past of Orkney:
Explore the ancient ruins of the past. If you are into ancient sites and interesting discoveries, you’ll find plenty of things to get excited about in Orkney. First, there is the popular Stones of Stenness, where you can tall stones in all shapes and sizes strategically placed to create a mystical circle. The dramatic effect is even magnified by the spectacular view of the landscape. Nearby is another interesting discovery, the Ring of Brodgar, where you can find 27 out of the original 60 stones in a circle. A short distance away is the Neolithic village on the shores of Harray. Speculation and theories suggest that this village could have been where builders of the surrounding magnificent ruins lived at that time.
Skara Brae Prehistoric Village is another must-visit site. For centuries it remained hidden under the sands. If not for the storm that uncovered and exposed some of the ruins, this prehistoric village could have remained hidden from the appreciative eyes of today’s visitors. It is interesting that these houses contain stone furniture and are connected by roofed passageways – kudos to ancient ingenuity!
Another fascinating prehistoric ruin in the area is the Broch of Gurness. This ancient fortress offers visitors a spectacular panorama of the shores of Rousay and features what remains of Iron Age buildings and the notable clever design of their earth ramparts. Other interesting ancient ruins in the area include the Blackhammer Chambered Tomb, the Pictish and Norse settlements in the Brough of Birsay, the Tomb of the Eagles and the 10th century chapel in Brough of Deerness to name a few.
Orkney is also home to several remarkable ancient cairns. One of the most significant discoveries is the Tomb of the Eagles where bone remains of about 340 individuals, sea eagles, tools carved out of stones, and ancient potteries and beads were found. Other such interesting archeological finds include the Chambered Cairns of Wideford Hill, Quoyness and Midhowe, all dating back to thousands of years ago.
Finally, although not an ancient ruin but still a fine example of Orkney’s magical past is the Italian Chapel that can be found in the mainland. Albeit small, it is beautifully constructed and the details of its interiors are simply stunning. What is more remarkable is the fact that this magnificent piece of artwork and devotion is crafted by the hands of WWII Italian prisoners out of wood and metal scraps.
Sunee is author of this article on Hotels in Thailand. Find more information about Phuket Hotels here.
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