April 2026

2nd April – They’re back. It’s tourist time again. The campsite has opened and has a few motorhomes already. The guided tours of Stromness have started and groups are walking by the house. At least it’s a decent day for them all.

Hopefully they will get their sightseeing done before Storm Dave arrives over the coming weekend.

4th April – The precursor to the arrival of Dave, a flurry of snow on Hoy. The temperature has dropped and there is a chance that tomorrows storm will bring more.

12th April – The storm passed over without incident and the weather is gradually warming. We are able to take more walks around the shore and passed the boatyard, where this vessel is being prepared to go back in the water.

14th April – As it was a decent day, we went over to Happy Valley in Stenness to see if the bluebells were out. But, as you can see, they are a long way off.

Only bluebell leaves visible at the moment and the trees are still bare with little sign of leaf buds. We are a long way behind the gardens further south.

This little plot is looking bare, caught between the snowdrops and daffodils, and the tulips and bluebells. We will come back in a couple of weeks and hopefully it will be more colourful.

15th April – Whack-a-mole, Stromness style! Or it might be three men replacing the skylights.

16th April – Another walrus has appeared in Orkney, this time in Stronsay. This is becoming a more common occurrence, the last visit was in March 2018. No-one seems to know why they are venturing this far south.

19th April – The Pier Art Gallery has been hosting an exhibition of artwork by Orkney’s senior school pupils. There’s a lot of talent about.