St. Magnus Cathedral, Orkney

The incredible Neolithic sites on Orkney were our next stop, but first we had a chance to check out the 1000 year old cathedral.  We docked this time, at one of the only two docks on our entire trip, and were able to walk off right onto the dock in Kirkwall.  Here we were greeted by a piper no less!  We had read a little about what we'd see on Orkney, and I knew some of the history, so we were looking forward to it.

I think he was a passenger on the trip!

I payed around down in the harbour trying to get some artistic shot of the fishing boats with the sparkling clear reflections.

There were two lifeboats tied up at the docks.

Lobster pot buoys I believe.

We had awhile to wander around the old downtown before our bus left, so we wandered up to the cathedral.  this is St. Magnus Cathedral, built starting in the 1100s, apparently with its own dungeon.  The peace-loving Magnus Erlendsson, was Earl of Orkney from 1104 - 1115, ruling peacefully with his cousin Haakon until Haakon accused him of treachery and had him executed.  He was canonized as a Saint in 1136 and his relics were moved to the cathedral when it was complete.

The cathedral is built of red and yellow sandstones from Orkney, often used in an alternating pattern as shown around the window and door here.   Sandstone is a very soft rock, so it's not surprising that some pieces have worn away a little in 1000 years!  This cathedral escaped the worst of the Reformation and retained its interior largely intact.

Unfortunately there was a service going on and we were asked not to interrupt; the hinges on the door were beautiful in their own right though.  This is one of the best preserved medieval churches in all of Britain.

The Bishop's Palace next door, from the same era, did not fare so well!

Then it was on to our bus and off to see some REALLY ancient sites.