IV.

Places of Interest

The islands are a paradise for birdwatchers, and anglers come to fish for brown trout in Orkney’s lochs. Many mountain climbers also visit; the Old Man of Hoy is a particular challenge. Tourist visitors also come to see the abundant archaeological remains. Two of the best known are the Stone Age village of Skara Brae and the chambered great cairn of Maes Howe, which dates from 2700 bc. An exhibition of 4,000 years of life on Orkney is housed at the museum in Kirkwall. Many of the islands have brochs, or ancient Pictish stone towers. On North Ronaldsay the local sheep feed on seaweed on the beach; a dry-stone dyke runs around the island, preventing the sheep straying from the beach to the land.