Pierowall, the largest town, of a morning.
Bank!
The Lady Kirk was built in the 13th century, but most of the building is from the 17th century, what’s left of it.
I’ve seen these headstones around a lot, and it occurred to me they might come from grabbing a handy pice of stone and using that.
This light is odd. It’s well after 10 am (that’s when I left for my walk) but it looks earlier.
Photos like this make me wonder why I bother taking photos 🙂 Made small and the flat, the view loses so much it’s hardly worth sharing
Walking along the coastal path.
The rocks along here are hard to see because of the waves, unless they’re out of the water.
Heading inland now.
Noltland Castle. It’s massive. Not big, but massive. Dominating. Another failure of photos 🙂
It’s another 16th century tower house, but obviously built for defence.
Its builder was Gilbert Balfour, son of Balfour of Mountquhanie and brother-in-law of Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney. Balfour was sheriff of Orkney, constable of Kirkwall Castle and master of Mary Queen of Scots’ household. The inscription he placed over the outer entrance into Noltland Castle is drawn from Exodus, the second book of the Bible. But somehow it sums up his character: ‘WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD I WILL PASS OVER YOU IN THE NIGHT’.
In 1546 he was implicated in the murder of Cardinal Beaton in St Andrews, and in 1567 helped murder Lord Darnley, Mary’s second husband. Following Mary’s arrest in 1567, Balfour took refuge on Westray, where Noltland Castle’s significant defences would have offered some reassurance. He later returned to the mainland to campaign for the exiled queen, but fled the country in 1572. Balfour died in Sweden four years later, fighting for King Johan III.
Historic Environment Scotland
It’s a hall, with a kitchen/storage under and other chamber above, and stairs at both ends. So many stairs. You can only really get an idea of the stairs and the atmosphere from the video. (It’s the worst one I’ve done, mostly because of the light, but that’s the point.)
Kitchen/storage area.
Kitchen fireplace.
Upstairs, the never completed great hall.
The outer chamber.
Entrance to the inner chamber (right) and stairs (left).
Stairs.
Top of stairs!
