April 2012
What's happening in Orkney in May 2012
May in Orkney is a lovely warm month - seabirds return to the cliffs, the fields are filled with lambs, and wildflowers grow in the roadside verges. With the warmer weather comes the start of Orkney's major festivals, including this year, the 30th Orkney Folk Festival.
The Orkney Folk Festival runs from Thursday 31st May until Sunday 3rd June and though many events take place in Stromness, there are many performances taking place elsewhere in the islands. Whether you enjoy a lively toe-tapping weekend or a weekend filled with energetic 'stomps' - Orkney Folk Festival attracts visitors and artists from all over the world - so make sure you book your tickets in good time! Artists appearing this year include -
Adam McCulloch Trio, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Battlefield Band, Buddy MacDonald, Cullivoe Dance Band, Dr. Mango and the Chickpeas, Eddi Reader, Edwina Hayes, Harald Haugaard Quartet featuring Helene Blum, Hom Bru, Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller, KAN, Kris Drever's Festival Quartet, Le Vent du Nord, Nicky McMichan Dance Band, Rura, Sally Simpson & Catriona Hawksworth, The Foundry Bar Band, Broken Strings, Bruce Mainland, Dave Morrison, Emily Bourn, Eric Linklater and David Delday, Hadhirgaan, Hullion, James and Jake Watson, Jo Philby, Kirkwall City Pipe Band, Login's Well, Lyrie, Maggie and James Nicolson, No Soond, Orkney Traditional Music Project, Redd, Robin Nicolson, Saltfishforty, Shoramere, Songshop Trio, Stromabank Pub Choir, Stromness RBL Pipe Band, Stronsay's Silver Darlings, The Chair, Wrigley and the Reel
If you're unlucky enough to miss the Orkney Folk Festival, but would still like a taste of traditional Orkney music at its best, why not visit the St Magnus Cathedral on a Saturday? From 1pm until 2pm every Saturday in May and June (except during St Magnus Festival, 22nd - 27th June), the Orkney Traditional Music Project will be playing beautiful music in the beautiful setting of the red sandstone Cathedral. The 
concerts are free of charge and listening to Orkney Music is an essential part of any Orkney holiday!
On Tuesday May 17, Kirkwall comes to life with the Norwegian Constitution Day. On this day, Orkney celebrates its close link with Norway with a parade, led by Kirkwall City Pipe Band, Norwegian visitors, school children and anybody else who would like to join in, which leaves Kirkwall pier at 2.30pm and makes its way to St Magnus Cathedral. At the Cathedral there are ceremonies and entertainment from Primary school children and music from Hadhirgaan. Norwegian Constitution Day 
ends with a dinner dance hosted by the Orkney Norway Friendship Association.
Also on in Kirkwall during May is Lizza Hume's exhibition 'A Time To Reflect' in For Arts Sake, 6 Broad Street. The talented artist from Westray (one half of the famous kitting company Hume Sweet Hume) has created stunning pieces from an ingenious variety of materials that you'll be itching to touch! Make sure you get there soon, as the exhibition ends on 9th May.
Finally, if you're looking for places to go in May, we'd recommend a trip to the island of Westray. This stunning island, the sixth largest of the Orkney Islands, is named Queen o' the Isles because there is so much to see and do there! Ferries to Westray leave from Kirkwall Harbour and take about one and a half hours. Westray can also be reached by aeroplane from Kirkwall Airport.
Westray has one of the best places in Orkney to see puffins at Burrian Castle. This low grassy seastack is riddled with puffin burrows and is like a Puffin city! By staying still and quiet, visitors can get less than a couple of metres from a puffin - ideal for photo taking opportunities.
Also in Westray is Noltland Castle, a towering building built in 1560. This is a great castle to explore that kids especially will enjoy! Also be sure to visit Pierowall, a lovely little village that stretches round a bay. There are shops and galleries and unforgettable fish and chips, freshly
caught by Westray's fishing fleet.
Other Westray attractions include Noup Head - which is a jutting ships prow of a seabird cliff, and the lovely Grobust beach, which is quiet and sandy and dramatic all at once!
Westray is also interesting because of its archaeology. The oldest houses in Europe lie on the neighbouring island of Papa Westray (dating from 3500 BC, when it is believed that the two islands were joined) However, in 2009 there was an amazing find on a dig in Westray. The Westray Wife is a 4cm carved Neolithic figurine - the only Neolithic carving of a human form that archaeologists have found in Scotland and the earliest depiction of a face found in the United Kingdom.
Booking directly with NorthLink Ferries on www.northlinkferries.co.uk is cheaper than booking 
with another website and we never charge for any amendments made to your booking!
