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Walking Group - 27th June 2025
by Roella Wilson - 16:29 on 02 July 2025
Dear Everyone,
The weather looked like it would let us down as we left Kirkwall for Marwick Bay as it was pouring down with a bit of wind too. By the time we got to the bay the rain had stopped and twelve of us set off up the hill to the Kitchener Memorial or should it really be called the HMS Hampshire Memorial? We stopped to look at the Bird cliffs where there seemed to be fewer Guillemots than other years but more than when I visited in early May. Noticeable was a complete lack of Skuas patrolling the cliffs throughout the walk. Then we went along the cliffs past the Rabbit Warrens which also had many fewer Rabbits than usual. We stopped at the very small memorial plaque to the Diver who died diving on the Royal Oak which is just north of the gate down to the upper Kitchener Carpark. Then it was downhill all the way to Birsay with a stop on the way to take some clothes off as it had warmed up a lot. A few people then turned right to go to their cars by the Cemetery while everyone else headed across the sands to the Pie shop at the Palace. Lunch was taken on the benches outside followed by a wander around Robin Barr's lovely seaside garden. He and his wife, who are members of our walking group, have a little garden sheltered from the sea winds to a degree and looking at its best at the moment. Thank you Robin for showing us around. So, a much better walk than anticipated with no rain however it started again just as we left to collect the last cars at Marwick Bay.
The next meeting will be Friday 25 th July. More information nearer the day.
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