moss
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Cherished solitude
Sep 06, 2017, 14:09
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Today I read that the stoats on Rousay are to be culled because they are eating the eggs of ground nesting birds, well anything that destroys the beautiful song of the curlew is up for grabs - but sad for the stoat, why did they introduce the stoat though in 2010?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-41159978
But something else that needs culling? tourists are becoming a problem in the Orkneys, from the large cruise ships that pull into Kirkwall, to the ordinary person wandering around. 'Costing the Earth' investigated on their programme, you can pick up the relevant piece from 13 minutes in. The Stones of Stenness are in the firing line, just like Stonehenge.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b092mbhf
I suppose what I want to say is TMA the Rough Guide to the Megaliths?
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tjj
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Edited Sep 06, 2017, 15:16
Re: Cherished solitude
Sep 06, 2017, 15:13
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Moss wrote:
"I suppose what I want to say is TMA the Rough Guide to the Megaliths?"
I'm not able to listen to the 'Costing the Earth' piece at the moment as it seems you have to register an account with the BBC (haven't got time just now). I wouldn't call TMA a Rough Guide, though have found it incredibly useful as a resource. I usually try to plan my visits out of season - May is great for Scotland as you have long hours of daylight and no midges. True it can sometimes be a bit chilly but at least not too busy. Had a week in West Cornwall in April a few years back. Very memorable - it was the week all aircraft had been suspended due to the Icelandic volcano eruption so the skies were clear and blue. Sat at Boscawen-un on a sunny afternoon watching a ghostly moon overhead.
Make it special - go out of season.
Ps: Sorry to read about the stoats.
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ironstone
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Re: Cherished solitude
Sep 06, 2017, 16:16
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It seems almost unimaginable that only five years ago I went to Orkney in the middle of March and had The Ring Of Brodgar to myself for an hour in the morning, ditto Stenness for half an hour; there were only four of us visiting Maes Howe and no-one else at Skara Brae. I went back to Brodgar in the evening and spent another solitary half hour or so. These places are increasingly on the tourist trail and tjj is right; if you want to avoid the hordes you've got to go out of season and take your chances with the weather. I'm currently planning a return to Callanish in mid-October which I reckon should be ok for not having to share the monuments with dozens of others though the last time I went at that time the wind was so strong the return ferry crossing had to be cancelled.
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postman
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Re: Cherished solitude
Sep 10, 2017, 18:07
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I think what Moss meant was not "how to avoid tourists" but rather the carbon footprint of visiting such far flung places as Orkney, Lewis, Scillies and, well, Menorca is the furthest Ive gone from home to see stones. That's probably enough poison to kill all TMA'ers. Or Portalers if you like, either way I'm screwed.
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