Accessed by means of a tidal causeway which looks like the entrance to R’lyeh, you get four hours in which to visit this small island off the north-west coast of Mainland in Orkney. The island slopes towards impressive cliffs with seabirds nesting on it in summer and there’s a lighthouse at the highest point. Viking ruins near the bottom indicate that this was an important settlement, and in the Orkneyingjasaga it was the scene of many dramatic doings, probably involving people getting hit round the head with axes.

Brough of Birsay by stuartcroy https://flic.kr/p/2f48Mpm