Having spent honeymoon in London and Paris we were looking for something or somewhere different to finish it off and this was perfect.

We left Inverness at 0700hrs and travelled to John O'Groats by bus, then took the passenger ferry over to Orkney then on to Kirkwall through some spectacular scenery.

Polrudden Guest House is a wee walk (7 mins) from the centre of Kirkwall but well worth it. The landlady was very welcoming and the room was decorated beautifully with en-suite facilities. The breakfast the following morning was hearty and more than set us up for our tour round the island, by bus. When drive yourself when you can be driven?

I would tell anyone going to Kirkwall to stay here!! And to take the bus tour round the island, you really see so much more. Skarra Brae, Scappa Flow, Churchill Barriers, Standing Stones, and The Italian Chapel. The bus driver gives a running comentary on the trip which is great, but it must get boring for the locals as this is a service bus.

We visited Highland Park Distrillery but they were going through their 'quiet' period so there wans't much happening but they still charged full price = which I thought was a bit much (being Scottish I expect value for money, and this wasn't really!) But still interesting enough.

Preferred the Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam. Now that really was value for money.