April 2012
What's happening in Orkney in January 2012
January starts with a bang in Orkney - on the 2nd January the New Year’s Ba is played and the final contest between the Uppies and Doonies during the festive period is played out. Over several arduous hours through the streets of Kirkwall, control is fought over the Ba. 
From large heaving scrums to sudden breakouts - when one player runs from the crowd with the Ba - the action is impressive - one of Orkney's highlight events of the year. Traditionally the Ba is played on the 1st January, unless the date falls on a Sunday, which it does this year. The Ba is also played on Christmas Day or Boxing Day if the date falls on a Sunday.
New Year celebrations last a long time in Orkney - from seeing the bells in under St Magnus Cathedral (and other town and village centres) first footing can last for four or five days thereafter - many bottles of Highland Park and Scapa Whiskey are opened over this period!
The whiskey drinking continues on the 21st January, which is Burns Night - and there are Burns Suppers organised by societies and hotels throughout the islands. Check the local press in January for details. Burns Suppers are different in Orkney than in other places in Scotland - though Haggis is used - Orkney Burns Suppers include Clapshot, which is a delicious mix of tatties (potatoes) and yellow turnip.
As for places to visit in January, we recommend a bracing walk at Marwick Bay. Situated on the West Mainland, Marwick Bay (meaning Shallow Bay) sits between Skaill and the Brough of Birsay. To the north of the bay, a hill rises to the seabird cliff of Marwick Head, and perched on top of here is Kitchener's Memorial - a stone tower erected in memory of Lord Kitchener and over 600 men lost when HMS Hampshire sunk of Marwick Bay in 1916. Marwick Head is best visited in the summer - when the cliffs are full of screaming seabirds.
There is a car park at Marwick Bay - when visiting in January, park here and make your way to the south and you'll enjoy a gentle coastal walk for about half a mile. You'll find a small cove - Sand Geo - which descends sharply into the sea in a litter of lovely round pebbles. At the top of the Geo are three fishermen’s huts which were built in 1898 and restored in 1984. There is a winch which was used to haul the fishermen’s boats to safety from wild seas - this was salvaged from a nearby shipwreck. Sand Geo and the fishermen's huts are a lovely place to visit on a winter's day - but please watch your footing!
Booking directly with NorthLink Ferries on www.northlinkferries.co.uk is cheaper than booking 
with another website and we never charge for any amendments made to your booking!
