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Today I visited two of the smaller inhabited islands. Although the day had dawned wet, it was dry by the time I left after an early breakfast to enable me to catch the ferry. At the Tingwall Terminal I left The Minx in the car park and walked onto the ferry just as it started raining.
The ferry first stopped at Rousay, where everyone else disembarked. 15 minutes later I walked onto the island of Egilsay in near horizontal rain and, I suspect, the ferry crew were probably laughing - I certainly would've been! I made straight for the little waiting room. Within 10 minutes it had stopped raining so a few minutes later I started my walk. Fortunately, it stayed dry for the rest of my trip.
According to the 2011 census, the island had a population of 26, so it was very quiet. The main historic site on the island is the remains of St. Magnus Church, which has an unusual round tower.
St. Magnus is the patron saint of Orkney, and his tale is told in the Orkneyinga Saga. From 1105 to 1114 Earl Magnus, who was a very pious man, jointly ruled Orkney with his cousin Earl Haakon. Everything was going well until their followers fell out and the two sides met at The Thing (an assembly) ready for battle but instead peace was negotiated and they agreed to meet at Easter on the island of Egilsay. As agreed, Magnus turned up with two ships, but Haakon treacherously had eight ships. Following capture, Magnus was beheaded and became a Christian martyr and was sanctified as a saint in 1136. Subsequently, the church on Egilsay was built near where he was killed, and the St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall followed.
As I further explored the island I didn't see any of the residents. This was probably down to it being not particularly nice weather, but my sense of humour planted other thoughts in my head. It reminded me a little of Royston Vasey - if there'd been a Local Shop I'd have given it a wide berth! As it was, when I boarded the ferry for my next destination I had the feeling that the All Clear would be sounded and people would feel safe to go out!
My next destination was the island of Wyre. Although smaller than Egilsay, in 2011 Wyre had a larger population of 29. There are two historical ruins on the island - St. Mary's Chapel and Cubbie Roo's Castle.
The 12th century chapel was built by the Norsemen in a Roman style. Although now roofless. the small churchyard around it is still used.
Cubbie Roo's Castle was built about 1150, which makes it one of the oldest castles in Scotland. The name comes from Kolbein Hruga, who was known as Cubbie Roo and, according to legend, was a giant!
As I explored a little more of the island, the sun poked its head through the clouds.
Both islands were well worth exploring, with the interesting historical sites but also to gain a little taste of life on the smaller inhabited islands - quiet!
I then caught the ferry back to the mainland and made for Bruce's Stores in Kirkwall to get a sausage roll and packet of crisps for tea.
Today, we drove just 32 miles, and I walked about 7.
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