The Scottish Reel - Rotor Run 'Round the Highlands

[tao]

EGPL>EGQS

At Tiree we entered the Outer Herbrides and with the checklist in hand and new thermos of coffee (and tea) from EGPL the flight continued north across the Isle of North Uist to Harris and Lewis. Stornoway was our introduction to the The Minch as we began the crossing. Past Cape Wrath (best be cautious) and on to the Orkney Islands we pass Hey and then make the big turn to the southwest at Kirkwall (EGPA).

Passing over Wick it’s time to 'fill up the tanks' and RAF Lossiemouth seemed the perfect place as we received a nice welcome from the folks in the tower (or was it the Westland)? Cleared to land on R23, the Sea King was directed to the pad and we were invited over to the mess ... and the dance continues (am I starting to hear those pipes)?

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Leg 3 EGPO-EGPA

Leg three was the longest leg on the tour and I mentioned the chance of maybe needing a floater of some sort. I had a poke around Stornoway and managed to purloin one of His Majesty's Coast Guard helos so the Westland Merlin was the choice for the day!



It was a nice bright morning even if it was a little cloudy but they were broken enough for the most part and as I set off across the sea it was nice to see the mainland in the distance.



I took a slight detour from the GPS pink line to investigate Cape Wrath but even though I had added a scenery package for Scottish Lighthouses the one that was supposed to here was a 'no show' unfortunately!



The final point of land before heading over to the Orkney's was Whiten Head.



As I was representing HM Coast Guard on this flight I thought I'd better do my due diligence and check out the MV Scythia Graeca that I passed en-route to make sure everything was ship shape and above board. I'm guessing she was empty by how high she was riding in the water!



This is the real one: https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/505991

Eventually the destination islands appeared on the horizon and very rugged they looked too!



I managed to find a nice valley to run up on the Isle of Hoy which actually has an interesting piece of history attached to it!



Part way down the valley sits the 'Dwarfie Stane', an ancient tomb which is estimated to have been built around 3,000 years B.C.

Dwarfie Stane - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Talking of history as we exited the valley we were met with a very famous piece of water surrounded by islands.



Scapa Flow has a very long British Naval History with the sinking of both German vessels in WWI and British vessels in WWII.

Scapa Flow - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Here we are on final approach to Kirkwall airport on the main island...or are we!



Take a look at the <Shift+Z> data that I left in this Kodak on purpose. We are nicely lined up on the runway right, everything looks good right. Wrong! You can't tell from this picture but I am drifting left at an alarming rate thanks to the 17 kt cross-wind that is hitting me with full force on the starboard side! I decided that discretion was the better part of valour at this point and swung out into the bay to line up into the wind for landing!



We got down safe and parked up for the night. Who knows what adventures tomorrow will bring as we turn south and head back to the mainland.

 

[tao]

Who knows what adventures tomorrow will bring as we turn south and head back to the mainland.

Wonderful post Tako ... great screens and all that history! Well done!