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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 One - Aug 2023
by Tim - 19:25 on 04 August 2023
Fourteen of us met at the Fourth Barrier on a slightly cloudy but essentially dry morning .A 20 mph North Westerly was blowing as we set off across the sand .No Little Terns were seen but a number of Ring Plover were on the beach . Up past the concrete remains of a block ship that 40 years ago had our children jumping off it into the water and onto the road to Honeysgeo .There we looked at the Oyster Plants on the beach with their lovely blue flowers .Then up the road past the Head to the cliffs .We stopped and looked at the "Irene" wreck remains, infamous as the ship involved in the Longhope Lifeboat disaster .Further along the cliff we passed the Lead mine shaft ,now filled in .Then it was a short walk to Eastside Church . Half the company went back to the 4th barrier to reclaim their cars whilst the other half went to view the Millennium Stone on the shore . An excellent walk in reasonable weather for Orkney .
The next walk will be Thursday 31st August .
Keep moving ,
Tim
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