Unearth Orkney's unique history, wildlife, islands, activities and culture by taking time to browse our Orkney blogs.
Orkney has had links to Canada and the Arctic since the 17th century. Stromness was often the last port of call for Hudson’s Bay Company ships, Arctic Whalers and explorers before they set sail across the Atlantic. Find out how the Nor’Wast left its mark on Orkney.
George O’Neill, Sous Chef on MV Hamnavoe provided us with his delicious savoury Orkney Cheddar and chive scones recipe. These are easy to make and taste and smell heavenly! The recipe makes 15 scones which are yummy hot or cold with butter or margarine.
Sarah Kennedy Norquoy moved from Cambridge to Orkney in 2008. When she’s not doing her day job, you will probably find her swimming in the sea around the islands. We spoke to Sarah about her wild swimming experiences and her book ‘Salt on my Skin’.
A recipe for delicious mince (with a thick gravy sauce) and clapshot (an Orcadian dish of mixed mashed tatties and neeps), with a bit of advice from Orcadian poet George Mackay Brown.
George Mackay Brown was one of Scotland’s best poets, who lived in the waterfront town of Stromness, Orkney for nearly all of his 74 years. 2021 marks what would have been his 100th birthday. Read our introduction to George Mackay Brown and his work.
Orphir is a dramatic dark parish in the southwest corner of the Orkney mainland. It has impressive views of Scapa Flow, wild heather hills, beautiful beaches, and fascinating stories to hear from Norse times and the two World Wars.
A very fine walk in Orkney is from the Yesnaby cliffs to the Bay of Skaill, hiking along the cliffs of the West Mainland. Head to Yesnaby and walk north to see an Iron Age broch, amazing fossils and much more!
We spent a couple of very fine days on Sanday this summer. The largest of Orkney’s North Isles, it is a fascinating and friendly place, with some stunning white beaches backed by impressive dunes. We’ve compiled a list of 12 great places to visit in Sanday in Orkney.
Makers of Orkney Ice Cream, the Orkney Creamery is also the main producer of milk in the islands. We spoke to Graham Bichan, the Production Director at Orkney Creamery, to find out more about the business of making delicious Orkney Ice Cream.
