Looking for Castles - Yesnaby and Ring of Brodgar (Part 1)

Callum was so excited to go out on an adventure this morning. 


He had looked up Yesnaby Castle on the map and he couldn't wait to discover what it might look like.



It was a long journey, but once he found the map - he was sure he was on the right track. 


Yesnaby has lots of rock and land forms along the cliffs, which look amazing and are great places for birds to nest.

And even tiny purple flowers to grow. 

What strong flowers to grow on sea beaten rocks!


There are all kinds of birds that live along these cliffs: Puffins, Terns, Arctic Skua, Gannets, and even Fulmars.

Fulmars are funny birds. 

Did you know that if you sneak up on a fulmar they will projectile vomit at you!

Fulmars like to sleep on the ground, and vomiting is their way of saying, ''Don't step on me!''



400 million years ago, 150 million years before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the north sea - the water behind Callum - was partly desert!



During the Second World War an anti-aircraft battery was built on the cliff top at Yesnaby as part of the defences of the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow. The battery was manned by the Royal Navy. Callum had to get a closer look.

It didn't smell very nice in there! Someone left a very stinker sneaker!

So, Callum took in the views and continued to search for the Castle.




Found on the west coast of the Orkney mainland, Yesnaby has some very neat sea views. During a westerly gale you can expect huge waves crashing into the cliffs.




Thankfully, today was not a storm.

Callum really wanted to get a closer look...


And he needed to find this castle!


Yesnaby Castle!

Callum was a little disappointed... this was not the castle he was expecting!

Two men were preparing to climb Yesnaby Castle, it is a very popular place for rock climbers. 

They must be so brave!


Callum was determined that today, he would find a proper Castle!



Callum is a little bit short, so he climbed up onto the roof to get a better look.



He climbed a tree to scan the woodland.




He climbed the biggest hill he could find!


Far across the water he could see a big rock sticking out. 


Maybe that would lead him to a Castle!


One rock does not a castle make, but it is a start!


Callum found the path to the Ring of Brodgar!


Dating back from 2,500 to 2,000 BC, the stone ring was built in a true circle, 104 metres wide and originally contained sixty megaliths; today only twenty-seven of these stones remain. 


The reason for the creation of the Ring of Brodgar, which would have been a considerable amount of work in that time, is not known for sure, perhaps as an astronomical observatory, religious shrine or rituals. 


The stone circle is practically in the centre of a massive natural "cauldron" formed by the hills of the surrounding landscape. 


Like the nearby Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar has been classed as a henge.

Enclosed by a massive rock-cut ditch, it has two entrance causeways, one to the north-west and the other to the south-east.


Callum sees the Standing stones!


Almost there!


Haha! Callum is King of the stones!

Wait!


Now, Callum is King of the Stones!

The standing stones at Brodgar are really, really big and thankfully, if you fall off big stones there is springy, bouncy heather to catch you!



Callum enjoyed the standing stones, but he still really wants to find a Castle.

So, he decided to make a phone call - and book the ferry!

Off to Cubie Roo's Castle!







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