Excursion to the Orkney Islands

A mother receives a letter proposing that she and her children cross the Atlantic to join a husband in England, and the household arranges passage and companions for a season of travel. The narrative follows their preparations, life aboard ship, and explorations after landing, including railway journeys, Highland glens, an ascent of Ben Nevis, transit of the Caledonian Canal, and visits to Orkney sites such as Kirkwall and the Stones of Stennis. Practical details of lodging, money, and shipboard routines mingle with descriptive sketches of landscapes, antiquities, and ferry crossings. The account closes with the party’s re-embarkation and quiet reflections on the tour.