WELCOME
TO ORKNEY
Rich archaeological heritage, soft, green fertile
landscape, beautiful beaches, spectacular cliffs, abundant wildlife
and a friendly, “chatty” local population awaits visitors to
Scotland’s Orkney Islands. Orkney lies just north of Mainland Scotland and comprises
over 70 islands of which about 17 are inhabited by nearly 20,000
people. The first written reference to the islands is by Pytheas
the Greek in 325 BC, but they have been inhabited for at least
6,000 years. Orkney was among the first archipelagos to face
the Viking sword, but the fertility of the islands and proximity
to Mainland Scotland is what made them stay and settle. Distinctive
bone pins and combs of the resident Picts have been unearthed
in a number of Viking settlements, which suggests that the invaders
absorbed rather than exterminated early inhabitants.
NEOLITHIC SITES
One of the things that make Orkney unique is its concentration
of accessible archaeological remains in such a small area. Orkney
has a wealth of Neolithic sites to visit, of which Maeshowe,
the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae are the most spectacular.
The great-chambered cairn of Maeshowe is the largest and grandest
of its type and dates from about 2750BC, while the Standing
Stones and the Ring of Brodgar were erected at about the same
time. The Neolithic village of Skara Brae lies on the shore
of the Bay of Skaill, and its well-preserved 5,000 year-old
houses give a very good impression of life then. All four sites
form a World Heritage Site. There are many other fascinating monuments and sites of interest
ranging from the Neolithic to the 20th Century: The Brough of Birdsay is a tidal island off the northwest
of the Mainland and is the site of both Pictish and Viking settlements.
In the nearby village, the ruins of the 16th Century
Earl’s Palace is a reminder of the more recent past. The imposing 12th Century St. Magnus Cathedral
in Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands, was built by
the Norse Earl Rognvald Kolson in honour of his murdered uncle
Earl Magnus Erlendson. It is one of few cathedrals continually
used as a place of worship from the 12th Century
to present day.
NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Orkney also has a rich and interesting natural environment.
The combination of fertile farmland with the various other habitats
makes it a very good place for wildlife, and especially birds.
There are cliffs, marshes, moors and maritime heath as well
as sheltered bays, small islands and lochs, all of which attract
a variety of species, depending on the season and weather. Orkney is famous for its sunsets and for its long hours of
daylight in summer. The Northern Lights are occasionally seen,
usually on a dark moonless winter night.
KIRKWALL
Kirkwall, the ancient capital of the Orkney Islands,
makes a good starting point for visitors. It is first mentioned
in the sagas as the dwelling place of Earl Rognvald Brusison
about 1035, who built a church dedicated to King Olav of Norway
there. The town developed around the Cathedral and is notable
for its picturesque streets and buildings. Kirkwall has a population
of 7,000, and possesses all the amenities of a prosperous city,
including an award-winning nightclub, cinema, lively restaurants,
pubs and a health and fitness centre. The Highland Park Visitor
Centre on the edge of town offers visits to the northernmost
Scotch Whiskey distillery.
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