27th August, 2010
Westraak Guided Tours:
Come to Westray - even if for only a week or two! The peace and solitude here is the ideal tonic and you will go home fully refreshed.
Here, on Westray, you can really feel the remoteness and slip into the island way of life for a short spell. We promise you that you will feel the benefits - immediately you arrive.
There are excellent facilities, with a variety of accommodation opportunities, eating out, sea tours and sightseeing.
Then, of course, there is Westraak, where we provide Guided Tours, Bike Hire (with child seats, kiddie-carrier and trailer-bike attachemnts), Taxi hire and the home of the Haff Yok Cafe and evening Restaurant.
The Haff Yok Cafe is open every day from Saturday, 1st May until the end of September. 10.30 am to 5 pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and 12.30 to 5 pm Sundays and Mondays.
Kathy serves only the very best home-bakes and locally-produced bakery. The Haff Yok is also a ’Fair Trader’.
Contact Kathy on 01857 677777 for more information.
The Haff Yok also stocks a small amount of Crafts, both local and from elsewhere, uincluding Fairly Traded craftwork. We feature some very impressive artwork by our Nephew, L. B. McNicoll. These are mainly Orkney scenes and if you would like to see more of his work, please use this link www.kasia-dixon.eu and if you like anything you see, or want to get in touch with L. B. McNicoll, please use his following E-mail address at mcnicoll.artist@hotmail.com .
Westray Heritage and Archaeology:
Follow the link below and take a look at Westray Heritage Centre’s site. You will be amazed at what Nancy and her Team are doing.
Also, there is a very exciting dig under way at the Noltland Links site. To find out more, please visit http://www.westrayheritage.co.uk and follow the link to ’Noltland Links’. This is proving to be one the most significant sites in Orkney.
Throughout the Summer, whilst the EASE Archaeological Team are onsite, Westraak Tours include this site in the itinerary for the day. This offers an extrememly rare opportunity to see the excavation under way and to learn about this hugely important site. It is anticipated that work will continue until the end of September.
Of course, the Westray Wife , or Orkney Venus as she is formally called, is on display at the Westray Heritage Centre, so this is a must for anyone visiting Westray. I always give my Tour Guests time off to make this visit and meet her.
Interested in the Westray Wife, but can’t make it to Westray? Log on to the Westray Heritage Centre site, above, and look for the Noltland Links link.
The new BBC 2 series ’Digging for Britain’, in which Dr Alice Roberts examines archaeological sites across the UK, visits Westray. It was featured on 26th August. You can 'Watch Again' - just visit BBC2 9 pm on Thursday, 26th August.
Useless Info! :
Westray has no midgies! Doon sooth, some places are plagued by these people-eating insects, but Westray does not have any - all Summer.
Weather:
For accurate up-to-the-minute weather, visit these links. I use these websites to plan my daily itinerary. Click on the link. Birsay Bay on the West mainland of Orkney is about 18 miles south west of Westray’s Noup Head and the other site is based here on Westray.
http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=uk7dayx6;type=range;page=1;sess=
http://magicseaweed.com/Birsay-Bay-Surf-Report/97/detailedLongRange/uk/
Ferries:
Orkney Ferries Summer timetable is on their website. A good idea, when planning your trip to Westray, is to have a look at their website at www.orkneyferries.co.uk so that you can view the range of services, including the Papay service from Gill Pier.
Also, have a look at Northlink’s website for opportunities at:
http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/shetland-orkney-tours.html and Pentland Ferries at
