Scapa Flow Visitor Centre

[Scapa Flow Visitor Centre - main building and pumping station]

When alighting from the vehicle ferry at Lyness, Hoy, one of the first things you'll notice is a large white building backed by an industrial-looking metal cylinder. Not particularly promising from the outside, but these buildings (and a few others) are home to Hoy's best man-made attraction: a superb museum dedicated to Scapa Flow's eventful wartime history. The large site encompasses a trio of impressive buildings full of exhibitions, vehicles and boats of all shapes and sizes; a couple of hours here and you'll never look at this section of Orkney's inshore waters in the same way again.

[Exhibits in the pumping station]

 Name: Scapa Flow Visitor Centre ★★★★☆
Location: Close to Lyness Ferry Terminal, Hoy, G.R.: ND 310947 ///jets.whisk.recoup
Open (2018): Closed for refurbishment; probably reopening Spring 2019.
Cost: Free

[Ships on display]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Walk: Ceapabhal - on the edge of it all

Image
Jutting out prominently at the south-western corner of Harris, Ceapabhal is the highest point on a scenic, uninhabited peninsula only connected to the rest of the island by a sliver of machair in between sandy bays. The hill's isolated position makes it one of the best viewpoints anywhere in the Outer Hebrides: from where else are North Harris, the western beaches, the south coast, the Uists and even (on a clear day) St Kilda visible from a single spot? The approach has two contrasting halves: a glorious coastal stroll taking in two pristine bays of white sand, followed by a steep (though relatively short) slog to the summit cairn with ever-improving views. On the way to the car park you'll drive past both a cafe and Croft 36. The latter is a charming honesty shop selling pies and other treats, and the perfect place to stock up on supplies for your walk.


Name: Walk: Ceapabhal - on the edge of it all ★★★★☆
Length: 7 km / 4 miles
Ascent: 380 metres
Main summits: Ceapabhal (368 metr…
Read more

Hirta, St Kilda

Image
Hirta is the largest, most hospitable island of the St Kilda archipelago, and the only one you can set foot on during tours from civilisation, i.e., the rest of Scotland. It's several decades since the last Hiortans were evacuated in 1930 after years of decreasing self-sufficiency and increasing contact with a more comfortable outside world, and the island's since been left frozen in time. Or has it? Views of the fascinating old village (Am Baile) are interrupted by the incongruous presence of a missile tracking station belonging to the Ministry of Defence; meanwhile, the National Trust for Scotland has been gentrifying parts of Main Street, restoring cottages and the cleits which dot the island (stone stores built for preserving eggs, fish and other supplies). It doesn't mar the overall atmosphere; in fact, it creates a surreal mix of the ordinary and the extraordinary, and you'll appreciate such luxuries as a flushing toilet and small shop. Most of the rest of the i…
Read more

St Kilda boat trips

Image
Stranded in the North Atlantic Ocean 40 miles west of the main spine of the Western Isles, St Kilda's half-dozen islands and sea stacks form Scotland's most isolated outpost: the remains of an ancient supervolcano eroded by waves and storms over millennia. A trip to this remotest of archipelagos is a cultural, historical and natural spectacle to rival any, and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many visitors. Just look at some of the records this place holds: Britain's most remote islands, the UK's highest sea cliffs, its only dual World Heritage Site (natural and cultural), the world's biggest colony of northern gannets, the largest colony of Leach's Petrels in the Atlantic, some of the world's most primitive sheep, unique bird and animals species... the list continues. A fragile community called the largest island, Hirta, home for centuries until evacuation at their own request in 1930 - see the separate page linked above for more info. Hirta is t…
Read more