Hashing on Orkney Island...

Veronica and I took the hash bus to Birsay on the northwest coast of the island. Before trail started, we walked past St. Magnus Church. Originally dating back to 1064, the current building was built in 1760 and expanded in 1867.

Across the street were the ruins of Birsay Earl’s Palace, built in 1574 for Robert Stewart, the first Earl of Orkney and illegitimate son of King James V. Subsequent earls lived in the palace for less than 100 years. It’s incredible to realize that the palace was abandoned over 300 years ago and yet parts still remain. 

The first half of the trail was primarily slogging through farmland...

...while the second half was entirely on the coast, starting with going past a cliff where birds nest...

...before viewing the more rugged coast line.

We were thrilled that we were able to switch our run from the originally assigned city walk to this beautiful coastal trail.

There was such an interesting variety of cliffs.

This fisherman’s hut dates back to the 19th century.

By far the most fascinating spot we passed was the Brough of Birsay, an uninhabited coastal island accessible at low tide by the causeway that appears green in the water.

Too bad that the hash trail wasn’t designed to actually take us across to the island as it would have been worth getting wet for.