The Hour

Julyan Sinclair has travelled back to his home town in Orkney to start a tour around Scotland. There is no better place to start than the island he knows and cares so much about. It’s quite a journey to the island and it begins with a long drive.

He said: “I’ve finished the six hour drive north from Glasgow and I’m now in Scrabster which is one of the most northern and windiest points in the UK Orkney is 26 miles away [across the sea].”

The crossing from Scrabster to Orkney can be rough as the North Sea is notoriously wild but hardy islander Julyan was not affected by the wind and waves and arrived safely at his destination.

Julyan said: “It’s a bit rolly, there are a few people making sickness sounds, but I’m an old sea dog I’ll be alright.”

“10 hours after leaving my flat I’m here I could be in Bermuda in the same time but I’d much rather be here,” he added

JULYAN’S JOURNEY

• Watch part two to find more out about Orkney’s history
• Watch part three to find out more about the Orkney Island's finest delicacies
• Watch part four to see how Julyan manager on his quest to catch some crabs

Julyan docked in Stromness Harbour, the main port on Orkney and where Julyan was born and grew up with his family.

“This is where it all started for me the harbour of Stromness, you can’t grow up this close to the sea and not have an affinity with all things maritime.” Julyan said. “To me Orkney is such a special place.”

The Island has quite a mixed heritage as it was invaded quite frequently throughout its history. However, the people of Orkney have a strong sense of who they are and where they come from.

He said: “Like most native Orcadians my heritage is a mixture of Scottish and Norse but ask somebody what their identity is and we’re Orcadian first and Scottish second, we’ve even got our own flag and coat of arms.”

Juylan and his brother Cameron Stout have fond memories of growing up on the island and they do not feel as if they missed anything even though the island has fewer amenities than the mainland.

Cameron said: “I think when you live somewhere like this your always getting to the mainland, your always going somewhere, you so you don’t think its much different.”

Unlike many of the young people at that time Julyan was not desperate to escape to the mainland from the lack of opportunities that many perceive a small island to have for the younger members of the community.

He said: “I remember when I was at school in fifth or sixth year and a lot of people saying I can’t wait to get to Uni, I can’t wait to get to get out of here and I never really felt that. I knew I would go to Uni and I looked forward to it but there was no desperate rush to get off the island.

“It was only once I went to Uni I realised the things I’d grown up experiencing were totally different than someone from Aberdeen, Perth, Edinburgh or Glasgow and they think we’re bumpkins.” Julyan admitted.

The island has a strong sense of community that obviously even now is evident with Julyan and his family. His first stop in his tour was to look back into his past with Orkney and why it holds so dear with its residents.

Julyan said: “It is not just about family or friends here, and more that roots it’s about a sense of identity the islands and the islanders have a rich history and a sense of belonging.”

For more information on Orkney visit the Visit Scotland site.