The street uncoiled like a sailor’s rope from North to South
And closes swarmed up the side of the hill
Among gardens and clouds,
And closes stepped down to the harbour
And the nets and whitemaas.
from Per Mare, Act 2, The Chorus of Women, by George Mackay Brown (1967, an unpublished Pageant)
In 2021, the centenary of the birth of the writer, the Orkney Arts Society devised the George Mackay Brown Trail. It leads visitors and others on three walks through the town and surrounding countryside to places associated with the writer, and which feature at times in his work.
The walks can be done in succession or separately. They go through the town, up Brinkie’s Brae, and along the West Shore coastal track to the kirkyard at Warbeth where GMB is buried.
The trail leaflet, produced by Orkney Arts Society, contains a map, gives directions along the route, and includes notes on each stage.
The trail has been supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund. This fund is being delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.
You can download the George Mackay Brown Trail PDF devised by Orkney Arts Society here.
georgemackaybrownfellowship.com 