North Ronaldsay Island

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North Ronaldsay

. . . The island time forgot


North Ronaldsay 18

A unique assembly – the ancient sheep court of North Ronaldsay

knot - charles tait


– elected by the traditional townships on the island, manages the
flocks of native seaweed-eating sheep.
Although North Ronaldsay is further north than the southern tip of Norway, its climate is far
less severe, having winter temperatures which are usually some 5 degrees centigrade higher Points of interest
than most places on this latitude. This is due to the influence of the warm Gulf Stream. 1 Standing Stone: This lone sentinel stone
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Since North Ronaldsay is the most remote of Orkney’s North Isles, life is in many ways stones in Orkney as it has a hole through its
different from the other islands. Old traditions prevail. Orcadian surnames predominate and upper part. Some think the stone was an out
the custom of communal sheep grazing on the seashore is still pursued. marker for a stone circle which stood on Tor
Ness.
Natural history 2 Holland House: Originally built by the
Traill family who purchased the island in
Though only a small island with a low profile North Ronaldsay supports an extremely rich and �������������������������������������������
diverse population of wild flowers, mammals and birds. It lies on the migration crossroads direct descendants. Adjoining gardens have
with birds heading north towards Iceland and Greenland as well as into Scandinavia pausing the only sizeable concentration of trees
or being grounded. and shrubs on the island; focus for bird
Thus from late March to early June and middle August to early November there are large migration and ringing.
concentrations of migrant birds visiting the island. All classes of birds are represented and 3 Old Kirk:����������������������������������
several national rarities recorded annually. In summer the island is alive with the calls of �������������������������������������������
breeding birds. Areas of land are left uncultivated and corncrake may call from the hayfield. 4 Muckle Gersty: According to legend, one
of two dykes built of earth and stone by
Common and Grey Seals are numerous, both breed around the island and are easily seen and three brothers who apportioned the island
have become quite tame since culling was banned. Other sea mammals are seen offshore amongst themselves. The dykes probably
and porpoises occasionally accompany the local lobster boats. date from before lOOOBC.
Inland the island can broadly be divided into four distinct habitat types: foreshore, grazed 5 The Old School: Evidence of education
links, marshland and agricultural land which together provide a wealth of opportunities for ������������������������������������
wildlife. though formal education with a resident
schoolmaster is only documented from
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6 Sites of Stone Burial Cists: A number of
burial cists have been found on the island,
the most accessible can be seen at Antabreck
and Senness.
7 Matches Dyke: The most northerly of the
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8 Turrieness: It is probable that at one
time a stone circle stood on this plateau.
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depressions measuring some nine feet in
diameter. They have been identified as either
barrow cemeteries or kelp burning pits.
9 Site of Store House: This may have been
used as a grain store up to the l9th century
when grain was exported from the island
as part of the tenant’s rent payment. It is
also associated with the rendering of whale
blubber and the storage of kelp.
10 Senness: Near this spot a stone cist
containing human remains was excavated
����������������������������������������������
and chapel known as St Giles in the area.
11 The Fish House: standing west of the pier
this former dwellinghouse once used for
curing fish.
old beacon, dennis taing - charles tait
old beakon at Kirk Taing - charles tait

19 North Ronaldsay
Seal Skerry
Trolla (seal and
Vatn cormorant
= WALKS Green colony)
Skerry 13

Garso
Wick
Lindswick 10 27
28 Bewan
Scottigar Loch Kirk
8 Loch Taing
11
Garso Scottigar 12
Turrieness Loch Pier
Taing Dennis Taing
Hill
9
31 16 Mill and Windmill Pillar: The new mill
29
����������������������������������������������
and was used for grinding corn; it was
0 reputedly one of the last working windmills
in Scotland. A mill at Verhouse Brae, which
Bay of
Ryasgeo 7 has now disappeared, predates the windmill
Ancum and water mill; it fell into disuse after its
Loch unhooped grinding stone split and killed the
miller.
33 17 Brae of Stennabreck: The Brae is a small
36
steep hill containing a cluster of small stone
Linklet
Bay huts on its summit. Relics found at this
New t 6 ������������������������������������������
Church 26
Doctor 1 ������������������������������������������
34 Antiquities in Edinburgh.
22 18 Site of Burial Ground and Kirk of St.
32 25
Burrian
Brides: Sparse traces remain of this kirk
Air Inn and which was contemporary with the kirk at
Field P.O. Senness and St Olaf’s near old kirk.
30 14
4 Hooking 19 Broch of Burrian: The Broch tower itself
3 Community
Centre Loch �����������������������������������������
35 5 piece of a very extensive Iron Age settlement
2 15 which stood on the shore of Strom Ness.
1 The settlement was evidently occupied
16 2 Km
���������������������������������������������
Gretchen among the relics were found several objects
Loch which were distinctively Christian. The
17 Burrian Cross found inscribed on a piece of
Bridesness 18 flat stone has been adopted as a motif in
21
Loch modern Orkney jewellery.
23 Toilets
Pier Bridesness 20 Store-House at Noust of Howar:���������
24 Nouster Point a grain store pending shipment to Kirkwall
Bay when grain was part of the rental payment
Brides Ithy �������������������������������������������
20
hiding place for young men seeking to evade
the Press Gang.
21 Howmae Brae:�����������������������������
12 Old Beacon: Made necessary by the high ������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������� 19 the Standing Stone and Muckle Gersty,
��������������������������������������������� �������������������������������
����� 22 13 mile Sheep Dyke.
Stromness
13 The New Lighthouse: ������������������������ Point 23 Bird Observatory:����������������������
tallest land based lighthouse in the British visitors welcome.
�������������������������
24 Pier
14 Water Mill: Ruins of a mill driven by an 15 Knowe o’ Samilands: One of several
undershot weir which ran concurrently with mounds made by the dumping of burnt 25 Airfield
the windmill near Peckhole, until they were stones used to heat water for cooking in 26 New Kirk: (North Ronaldsay Archive
������������������������������������������ ancient times. Exhibition).
Sheep
North Ronaldsay 20

GUEST HOUSE
There is little evidence of the true origin of North Ronaldsay’s seaweed-eating sheep. 23 - Bird Observatory, (★★★���� �� ����� ���� ������
Range of accommodation including dormitory, family
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� and en-suite rooms in solar and wind-powered
surrounds the island, being brought inside the wall only at lambing. When the clipping and ����������� ������� ����� ����� ���� ����������� ����� ���
dipping seasons arrive the sheep are herded off the beaches into the stone-built ‘Punds’ by ������������������������������������������
e-mail [email protected], www.nrbo.co.uk
the collective efforts of the island’s sheep farmers. The act of punding is perhaps one of the
last remaining elements of communal farming in Orkney. SELF CATERING
23 - Modern Hostel (★★★★�����������������������
Bird Observatory with self-catering kitchen, etc. Ten
bed spaces in three dormitories. Contact details as for
�������������������������������

HOSTEL
27 - Dennishill, Self-catering. (★★★SC) - Renovated
crofthouse, fully equipped. Ideal for a quiet stress free
holiday. Weekend lets available. Free cycles provided.
��������� ������� ��� ������ �������� ��� ���������������
hotmail.com, www.island-cottage.co.uk

Accommodation providers listed below are not


������������� ��� ���������������� �������� ����������
Scheme. Please refer to the disclaimer on the inside of
the back cover before booking.
28 - Garso Guest House, T & C. Muir, B & B, lunch and
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��������������������������
north ronaldsay sheep - charles tait
29 - Brigg Self-catering, fully equipped cottage. Mrs
Seaweed ����������������������
The scarcity of natural resources, together with the island’s isolation has taught the 30 - The Doll’s House, Roadside, Self-catering and B &
�����������������������������������������������
inhabitants the value of its abundant supply of seaweed, washed up on the shores by the
strong tides. Initially the only use made of seaweed was as a fertiliser (applied untreated to 31 - Quoybanks, Self-catering Croft or B & B, fully
��������� �� ���������� �������� ������ ���������
the land) and for burning when supplies of coal and peat were low. The kelp-making industry ��������������������������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Shops & Transport
your shore walks. It was further processed in the south to obtain chemicals. North Ronaldsay 28 - Garso No. 1 – taxi, self-drive cars, minibus hire
fishermen are said to have felt the aroma of kelp ‘half roads to Foula.’ and tours; lunch by arrangement. T. & C. Muir.
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Shipwrecks 32 - General merchant and North Ronaldsay woollen
��������� �� �������� ������ �� ���������� ������� ���� ���
There were many shipwrecks on the island and one of the first recorded was the Swedish ������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 30 - Burrian Inn and Restaurant, Orkney’s most
Four years later the Danish East Indiaman ‘Crown Prince’ was wrecked at Savie Geo; on this ���������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 28 - Calor Gas,�������������������������
Erin’ was lost with all hands off North Ronaldsay. The subsequent Board of Trade inquiry led ����������������
to the installation of the Post Office Wireless Station on the island within a year or two. 14 - Petrol ��������������������������������������
����������������
Fishing 30 - Off Licence/Tea Room, North Ronaldsay woollen
����������������������������������������
Before the trawlers came, good hauls of cod, ling and halibut were caught off the shores of
North Ronaldsay. In the Firth, saithe were frequently taken though this posed many dangers Tours
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 13 - The North Ronaldsay Lighthouse is the tallest,
today there is less fishing from the island. �������������������������������������������������������
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Services tours, available on Orkney Ferries’ Sunday excursion
trips to North Ronaldsay (see timetable) and at other
(see map for locations) times by arrangement. On the same basis, tours are
���������� ���� ���� ����� ���������� ���������� �����
Accommodation where fleeces from the unique, native sheep are spun
Accommodation providers listed below are members ����� ������ �������� ��� ��� ��� ������ ��� ������ �������
����������������������������������������������������� e: [email protected]. Credit card facilities available.
been graded as part of the national scheme. Please refer Bikes for hire on a daily or weekly basis. Contact W. T.
to the disclaimer on the inside of the back cover. ������������������������������������������
bird observatory - charles tait
seals, north ronaldsay - moya mckenzie mcdonald

Crafts

21 North Ronaldsay
33 - A Yarn from North Ronaldsay Ltd�����������������
and yarn spun from the unique North Ronaldsay
Transport links
sheep available on the island. Contact Mrs J. Donnelly.
����������������
North Ronaldsay
Other Services ��������������������������������������������
34 - Doctor����������������������������������������� The services to North Ronaldsay are carried out by the vessels m.v.
���������������������������� Earl Thorfinn��������������������������������������m.v. Earl t: (01856) 872044
35 - Bank – Monthly, please inquire at Post Office. Sigurd����������������������������������������������������������������
30 - Post Office����������������������������� on all vessels at modest prices.
36 - Golf Course, nine-hole links course, clubs available ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������� Proposed Sailing Times from Kirkwall for North Ronaldsay and Return
35 - Community Centre. All departure times are estimates and are subject to alteration due to cargo operations. All arrivals in Kirkwall subject to change
due to cargo operations. All “weather permitting” and subject to confirmation on the day before sailing.
Further Reading
A Window on North Ronaldsay, by P.A. Tulloch. Island Tuesday Sailings
Saga, by M. Scott.
Kirkwall North Ronaldsay Papa Westray Kirkwall
Orkney Days, by C. Muir.
Depart Arrive Depart Arrive Depart Arrive
���� ���� ���� ���� ���� ����

Transport links However on the following dates: 12 May, 19 May, 26 May, 2 June, 9 June, 8 September and
22 Sepember 2009 it will be replaced by:
Kirkwall Papa Westray North Ronaldsay Kirkwall
Depart Arrive Depart Arrive Depart Arrive
���� ���� ���� ���� ���� ����
Sunday flights operate all summer

MONDAYS Kirkwall North Ronaldsay Kirkwall


Dep Kirkwall Arr Dep Arr Kirkwall Friday Sailings Depart Arrive Depart Arrive
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 08 May ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ����
15 May ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ����
TUESDAYS 22 May ���� ���� ���� ����
Dep Kirkwall Arr Dep Arr Kirkwall 29 May ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 05 June ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 12 June ���� 0955 ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ����
19 June ���� ���� ���� ����
WEDNESDAYS
26 June ���� ���� ���� ����
Dep Kirkwall Arr Dep Arr Kirkwall
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 03 July ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 10 July ���� ���� 0925 ����
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 17 July ���� ���� ���� ����
THURSDAYS 24 July ���� 0925 0955 ����
Dep Kirkwall Arr Dep Arr Kirkwall
01 August (Sat) ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 07 August ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 14 August ���� ���� ���� ����
FRIDAYS 21 August ���� ���� ���� ����
Dep Kirkwall Arr Dep Arr Kirkwall 28 August ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ���� 04 September ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ����
11 September ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ����
SATURDAYS 18 September ���� ���� ���� ����
Dep Kirkwall Arr Dep Arr Kirkwall 25-September ���� ���� ���� ����
� ����� ����� ����� ���� Sunday sailings�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
� ����� ����� ����� ���� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
� ����� ����� ����� ���� (via Westray).
SUNDAYS North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory: ���������������������������������������������������������������������������
Dep Kirkwall Arr Dep Arr Kirkwall and beer terrace, information; Visitors welcome.
� ����� ����� ����� ���� Burrian Inn Restaurant: Teas, Snacks. Visitors Welcome.
� ����� ����� ����� ���� NOTES:
This timetable is subject to contract. Visitors should check with � ��� �����������������������20 minutes before departure. Passenger check in time: 10 minutes before departure.
the Airline for full details and reservations. 2) No Show Charges��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
LOGANAIR 01856 872494/873457 charges may apply.
� ��� �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Loganair offer special low cost fares on their scheduled
services from Kikrwall to North Ronaldsay. For full fares please enquire at Orkney Ferries Offices

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