Since my last post, walking and printmaking, painting and Hoy have been the highlights.
A day trip to Hoy to walk a circular route (in the other direction). Up the Cuilags, across to St Johns Head, down to the Old Man of Hoy then on to Rackwick before heading back through the Valley. Most of it was amazing – the climb up the Cuilags was hard, kinda struggled but made it to the top to enjoy the rest of the walk and take in the amazing landscape.
It is amazing up there and worth the hard bit!
If you’d like to do this, I suggest taking the passenger ferry from Stromness to Moaness (booking through Orkney Ferries) on a nice day, put on your walking boots, fill a rucksack with plenty of snacks and head off for the day. Plenty of time to stop at Rackwick to relax a little to make the day pretty perfect.
In between Hoy visits we’ve walked Skaill to Yesnaby. Time was spent finding shapes in the flagstones at The Hole o’ Rowe. So much Pattern and texture along that coast, could spend hours hunting. Was delighted to find an impression of the Hoy Hills in the rocks.
If you’d like to do this, I suggest doing it with a friend and take two cars parked at either side, unless you want to go there and back. It’s a fairly easy walk but time is needed to take time to look.
Rerwick Head is a favourite too – a walk past the gun battery camp to the coastline which is full of geos, cliffs and sea stacks. Rosa came with me. The colours that day were amazing which meant the light was even better.
If you’d like to do this, take a look at Orkney.com for more info.
Just home from an overnight in Rackwick, what a gift from October. Snowflake (Snowbunting), sunshine, soggy feet, a spectacular seat and slowing down for the weekend.
We took it easy this visit and didn’t go too far. A wander up to the Old man of Hoy – on the way up a peedie snowflake led the way, bobbing along the path foraging – I believe they have just arrived from the North? We found it on the way back too, so a delightful walk down the hill with it leading us back to Rackwick.
We were treated to double rainbows, a pitch black walk on the beach, a golden slow sunrise and the sound of the sea when sleeping and it was just wonderful! Keith and I celebrated our 20th Wedding anniversary this year and due to other things going on, we hadn’t marked the occasion. This was the weekend to do that and what a weekend it was.
At the moment – who knows when the tide will wash it away – there is a seat shaped stone on the beach. If we could have carried it home, it would have come with us. The most spectacular shape, worn and coloured by the sea. Possibly the best view in the world, well in my eyes anyhow.
If you’d like to do this, it’s worth looking at accommodation in Rackwick or take a sleeping bag/tent and some goodies to stay in the newly renovated Rackwick Bothy. Or a camper works too, there is a toilet next to the carpark. So many walks to do in Hoy but also a fab place to just relax and switch off.
Then the printmaking and painting.
Experimenting, learning, figuring out and thinking about all of these walks while doing so. Autumn so far has been beautiful. October arrived and it took amazing light.
Thank you Orkney.
