Category Archives: Orkney

Circles, Rings & Stones

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

Sunday morning was bright and sunny; after we left Lana & Billy’s Orcadian Crafts shop in Kirkwall, we drove around the Mainland to continue our tour. The objective for the day was to avoid the tour buses which were out … Continue reading →

Posted in Maeshowe, Orkney, Ring of Brodgar, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Skara Brae, Stromness, Travel, Uncategorized, Winter Solstice, Women Writers | Leave a comment

Knitting Yarns & Weaving Tales

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

And so the long awaited evening at Lana’s arrived. After a little bit of confusion in finding her house, we were welcomed warmly by her husband, Billy. I immediately recognized him from my visit to their shop in Kirkwall nearly … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Kirwall Ba', Orkney, Orkneyinga Saga, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Leave a comment

The Mainland, Orkney

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

Orkney is a special place filled with ancient sites and the peacefulness that island life creates. Orkney gets its name from the Old Norse name Orkneyjar (Orc-nee-yahr), “Seal Islands”. When they arrived in the ninth century, the Norsemen heard the … Continue reading →

Posted in Eco-travel, Maes Howe, Orkney, Orkneyinga Saga, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Winter Solstice, Women Writers | Leave a comment

At Bencorragh House

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

We arrived at the front door of Bencorragh House in Upper Gills, near John O’Groats, and it was opened by Sandy Barton with a cheerful welcome that was quickly followed by the news that our luggage had not been delivered … Continue reading →

Posted in Eco-travel, Orkney, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Getting Stoned in Scotland

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

I was standing in the reception area of the National Wallace Monument, waiting for Liisa and Kyle to descend from the Crown. We had walked up the 71 stairs to the room where Wallace’s sword is kept, and I went … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Edinburgh Castle, Land trust, Orkney, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Wallace Memorial, Women Writers | 1 Comment

Northern Links

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

The last time I was on Orkney, I was making a video for my father and at one point the camera was nearly blown out of my hand by the ferocious winds. A photo of me standing at the Ring … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Ferry to Orkney, Land trust, Maes Howe, Orkney, Ring of Brodgar, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Skara Brae, Stromness, Travel, Uncategorized, Wick | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments