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Photography Group One 1st May 2024
Ten of us met at the roadside Car Park in Finstown on a day with little wind and some low cloud but with the sun trying to get through. We set off to the Community Garden where we found lots of lovely colourful flowers out as well as tree buds bursting forth. The Burn was a great source of images.
Jocky Wood was painting a new picnic bench with the appropriately titled Wood Stain! He does a great deal of the work on the garden as well as his own just up the hill opposite.
Six of us then headed for Binsgarth Woods.
The track was muddy in places but the spring flowers were out all the way. There was Pink Purselaine, Wild Garlic, Wood Anemone, and the invasive Salmon Berry. Since the tree leaves were not blanketing the light, one was able to get good photos close up. The Burn had lots of interesting tree roots and hanging tyres and ropes from the kids' dare devil antics. Then it was back to the shop for rolls and along to Tom's house for a cuppa and a nice piece of cake. Thank you very much for that Tom and all the stories too.
The next meeting will be going to Westray on Wednesday 29th May for the day. Arrangement will be made nearer the time.
All in all a lovely morning, taking time to look at the flowers and listen to the Wrens, Willow Warblers, Chaffinches and Robins singing in the woods.
Keep clicking.
Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
U3a Walking Group - July 2022
by Tim - 19:11 on 29 July 2022
Six energetic people met at the Community Centre in Finstown to walk a portion of the St. Magnus Way with a diversion to the masts at Keelylang. The weather was perfect with sun all the way but enough wind to keep midges at bay.
We set off promptly up to the stone stacks on Culween Hill. There we met an intrepid German family who were from the cruise liner looking at the Cairn. One of our group, an archaeologist, gave them a quick history lesson and we were on our way again.
We chose to go up over the moor by the fence to the old peat workings and then down to the track to Keelylang. The views from by the masts were stunning. We could see from Stenness to Wideford Hill and all of Finstown was laid out before us too. After a stop for lunch we walked over to the other side of the hill and we could see from Kirkwall to Houton Head with the whole of Scapa Flow bathed in sunlight. Down the hill and left turn through the peat workings again on to the St Magnus path that took us down to Kebro farm. It looks deserted with no farming activity visible.Then to the end of the road and to the previously stashed car for the return to Finstown. It was a stunning five mile walk on a perfect Orkney summer's day.
The next walk will be Thursday 25 th August with details closer to the day when we see what the forecast is like.
Keep moving, Tim.
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