Orkney: Skaill House

Just next to the Neolithic Scara Veae site is a massive historic manor of Skaill House, dating back to the early 17th century. Originally the lands belong to the Patrick Stewart, the Earl of Orkney and the illegal son of King James, but he was executed for treason and the possessions passed to the Bishop of Orkney, who actually built the massive structure here around 1620. It passed through a lot of family relatives of the bishop in the next 400 years, being continually built larger and larger. It is the largest manor house on Orkney, and while it is now Versailles, it is quite impressive, the interior is now a museum preserving historic furniture, art, and the overall atmosphere.