Orkney Tourist Guides Association

I am an historian, a tour guide, a storyteller, a writer and my two greatest loves are history and talking.

 

Having studied Scottish History at St Andrews and Edinburgh Universities, I worked as a researcher and tour guide in Edinburgh for over 10 years. If you are a fan of ‘Most Haunted’ you will have seen me explaining the ghostly presences of the Royal Mile Vaults – I am also the author of ‘Hidden and Haunted: Underground Edinburgh’.

 

I fell in love with Orkney many years ago, and to my delight, discovered that I have Orcadian ancestors. In 2004 we finally moved to the islands, taking readily to a life of vegetable growing, wine making, peat fires, fiddle music and outrageous sunsets.

 

With my husband Andrew Hollinrake (also a qualified guide) I run Stromness Tours Ltd. We offer tours of the town of Stromness, and in particular Ness Battery, one of Britain’s best-preserved wartime sites – accessible only by guided tour.

 

I am interested all aspects of island life - archaeology, wild flowers, birdlife, wartime history and more - but I am particularly enthusiastic about folk tales, and Orcadian literature, music and culture.

 

I have been a Regional Affiliate Member of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association and a member of the Orkney Tourist Guides Association since 2004.