Episode 26

Dougie, Sarah and Euan are all in Orkney for the Landward Christmas Special.

Dougie visits the Neolithic tomb at Maes Howe – one of only five designated World heritage sites in Scotland. The tomb was built to recognise and celebrate the Winter solstice.

This Christmas many Orcadians will be tucking in to Goose rather than Turkey. The population of Greylag geese in Orkney has risen dramatically in recent years. Earlier this year a cull of up to 5000 birds was licensed by Scottish Natural Heritage and for the first time the culled wild birds are being sold through a local Butcher.

Sarah finds out how Orcadians used to celebrate midwinter with the Norse Festival of the Yules.

One of the most eagerly awaited winter events in Orkney is the annual “Ba” game which pits the residents of the Upper part of Kirkwall – the “Uppies” – against residents of the harbour area of the town – the “Doonies”. The game involves hundreds of players and is renowned for its roughness. Dougie meets two participants in the game that has been taking place for two hundred years.