Orkney U3A | Blog

Please take a photograph of your group "in action." Don't forget to ask for permission from everyone for the photo to be published on the web. Then email it to the address below and we will upload it to the gallery.

[email protected]

Walking Group One 25th April 2024

Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.

Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.

The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay

Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )

The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.

Keep moving.

u3a Photo Group One - April 2024 u3a Walking Group One - March 2024 u3a Walking Group 2 - March 2024 u3a Photography Group One - February 2024 u3a Walking Group One - February 2024 Index

U3A Walking Group - August 2018

by Tim Wright - 16:59 on 24 August 2018

Twelve of us set off from Marwick Bay in full wet weather gear to walk to Birsay Village. The forecast was for a very high risk of heavy showers. The cliffs at Marwick didn't detain us long as the birds had flown some weeks ago. A group photo at the Kitchener Memorial was taken in full sun.

The walk down to Birsay Bay was dry and we had terrific views of the surf around the cliffs and across to the Brough and Noup Head. Our coffee stop on the cliff was sunny. Heading past the Birsay Bay Tea Room a large black cloud heading across the bay sped us back to the cars. Three minutes later a torrential downpour occurred needing double speed windscreen wiper action on the cars returning drivers back to Marwick Bay. Then lunch for some of us at the Orkney Brewery, tired but dry despite the Rain Gods' plans for the day.

The next meeting will be FRIDAY 21st September to walk Wideford Hill to Wideford Cairn and back down the tractor path to Picky Centre. There will be a coffee stop at Westbank St Ola, with luck, on the way down. More details nearer the day when we get an idea of the forecast.

Add your comment

Please note that whenever you submit something which may be publicly shown on a website you should take care not to make any statements which could be considered defamatory to any person or organisation.