Our house, Airon, was inherited by Vole from Sir Peter Maxwell Davies after his death in 2016. It is in a wonderful location at the very tip of the Burness peninsula on Sanday.
Sanday is a y shaped island in the north east of the Orkney archipelago. It has a population of just over 500 people. We live on the north west tip near two tidal islands. On the nearest the remains of an ancient monastery are visible – its date is but its dedication to St Columba makes it very early indeed. Ghosts have been seen there in recent times and there is a story that the Finn People once stole sheep from there.
We are situated at the end a gravel bank between a fresh water loch and the shore. The Scots name for it is ‘Ayre’ and that gives the house its name.
At the back of the house and up the cliffs there is a mound inhabited by a Hogboon. We have never seen the Hogboon but as long as we remember to leave out something for him each night he helps us.
The loch outside our house is haunted by the monster Nucleavee. He has been seen by people and gave chase to a man between our neighbours house and here. He escaped by jumping over the outflow from the loch. No supernatural creatures can bear to jump over running water.
Our nearest human neighhours are ten minutes walk one way and ten mintues walk the other. Our sheep hang out with theirs.