Day 4 Fortrose to Orkney

Dennis the cat oversaw our arrival and departure at Cathedral Square, Fortrose (the black dot in the picture), and thank you George for the recommendation. 

Eileen Campbell looked after us beautifully and checked the tide times for us to ensure we were on time for the dolphins at Chanonry Point... and it was the Anderson Bar we retreated to to warm up after dolphin watching George.
Fog or low cloud cover engulfed the north east corner of Scotland this morning. As this spectacular drive north along the coast road was a little slow we bypassed the Grey Cairns of Camster and Duncansby sea stack and we had difficulty finding the Whaligo Steps. There will be another opportunity on the way back we hope.
We did take a short detour to see Dunrobin Castle, a French Chateau style residence of the Sutherlands, right on the coast with no gate keeper and open gates which was a change from English stately homes.

With only a brief stop in Wick we were in plenty of time for the ferry.

The fog lifted as soon as we were at sea and the temperature is remarkably mild here on Orkney (hope I am not speaking too soon)! A Leicester couple, regular visitors to Orkney, gave us a potted war time history of the Churchill barriers on the trip over. A relative had been in the navy in WW2 and stationed here. Over the headlands and in the estuaries quite a deal of war debris was a reminder of the impact of both world wars on Orkney. We thought a large, isolated graveyard with no church in sight might have been war graves.
Unfortunately I missed my first sighting of a seal as we docked.
We loved the Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war who were brought to Orkney to build the Churchill Barriers. I have a little book about it for you Ann.

We noted the opening times of the two whiskey distilleries in Kirkwall. We are overdue for a taste now!
Well done Wendy for booking us into this lovely hotel on Loch Harray (and getting us off-season rates). Tomorrow we will leave early to see as many archaeological sites as possible and finish up at Marwick Head where we hope to see puffins.
Time now to share a picnic supper of the last of our Dunveld salmon complemented by Lidl salads. 

Doubtless Wendy will have some pictures of the night sky to add before the day is over.