We were just driving along a very skinny road when we noticed a signpost saying Kitchener Memorial at Marwick Head, Orkney. Obviously we knew that Kitchener had drowned not long after the beginning of World War 1 when the ship he was on, HMS Hampshire, hit a German mine, but we had no idea it happened just off Marwick Head. This massive tower was built in his memory.
A view of the Kitchener Memorial at Marwick Head, Orkney.
Marwick Head is absolutely awash with rabbits as you can see, they aren’t at all bothered by humans it seems.
It’s a long way down and it was windy so I wasn’t going to go too close to the edge, some people are thrill seekers though.
It’s a beautiful area and there’s a lovely cliff path if you fancy a long walk. If you click on the photos you can zoom in to enlarge them.
If you are looking for more travel information about Orkney you might want to visit My Voyage Scotland here.
What a stunning place. Like you, though, I’d keep away from the edge.
Joan,
The cliffs around Orkney are wonderful, the sea is quite hypnotic so there’s no way I would go near the edge, especially as it’s always windy!
Following a trail from your post I found this article https://www.submerged.co.uk/the-kitchener-memorial-orkney.php which has information about the loss of HMS Hampshire and of so many of those aboard.
Lord Kitchener’s name is memorialised in road and street names in NZ towns and cities, in a park and a scholarship and I’m sure in other ways.
Thanks as always for your interesting posts!
In the fifth photo I notice what looks like a couple of people on the cliffs below the upper level grassy area – *no way* would I ever go anywhere near the edge of any cliffs!
Maybe the rabbits were young and foolish to be out in daylight, or had it been raining previously and they were taking advantage of dry weather?
Valerie,
Thanks for that interesting link. It’s a strange thing but I don’t think I have ever seen anything here named after Kitchener, although often Victorian streets have been named after battles. Kitchener was really despised for that ‘Your Country Needs You’ poster and of course for those concentration camps.
I was astonished at the blase attitude some people had to the cliffs. I saw a couple of young girls perched on a rock just big enough for both of them, if they had sneezed they would have toppled over!
Some of those rabbits were really big, I think they just feel safe there, there’s certainly plenty for them to eat.
What a beautiful coastline! All those rabbits. They must not have many predators.
Stefanie,
I think hawks and eagles will go for the rabbits, but that doesn’t seem to be having much effect on the numbers.
Extraordinary photographs that give the viewer a genuine “feel” for the location. I’m awestruck. So wonderful you had a sunny day for this spot.
Judith,
We only had two days of rain but they were wild and stormy, even the Orcadians thought so, more like March than June they said.
Now then…this is very interesting about the rabbits ….I thought that Scotland had hares ?
Daisy Debs,
There are hares in Scotland but they aren’t nearly as common as rabbits. The rabbits on Orkney were brought there to provide meat for the local lords, just as in England.