Just to wrap up our trip to Westray. We LOVED it.
The only place we ate our lunches & dinners was the Pierowall Hotel – someone mentioned that they couldn’t justify a ‘real chef’ there; it was the owners doing the cooking – well, those owners are pretty close to ‘real chef’ status – the meals were excellent, and the staff was great.
The scenery was spectacular – even though it’s only 20km from the Mainland, it is a different looking island. Cliffs to the north, huge snowy white sandy beaches at the southern end, sea stacks along the shore, and low rolling hills in between.
Their Heritage Centre was one of the most impressive community museums I have ever seen. Informative, interactive, and interesting. Noltland Castle, the Wheeling Steen Gallery, the lighthouse, – all more than worth the time we spent there.
No 1 Broughton Bed & Breakfast was the best B&B I can remember staying in. (I know, I know, I’m throwing al lot of superlatives around here, but they are warranted). The rooms were spotless and beautifully decorated, and the host Jerry made us feel most welcome. The remarkable, interesting, and very varied art on the walls was all done by him, as were the absolutely delicious breakfasts (LL’s first kedgeree – she loved it). I can’t wait to take more visitors to stay there.
We met a number of locals (pop. 588), many of whom are what Newfoundlanders would call ‘come from away’, and their stories are all very interesting: choosing to leave one life in England or Scotland, and create a new one here. LL is a much more spiritual person than I (not a high bar to clear, I know), and I am more pragmatic. But we both felt the pull of this island – I’m not sure I could make it my permanent home, but it is easy to see why these people did.
We were sad to leave Westray – I will be back. This is definitely a spot I will be taking any visitors coming to Orkney.