Unearth Orkney's unique history, wildlife, islands, activities and culture by taking time to browse our Orkney blogs.
Orkney has a fascinating wartime history. The vast natural harbour of Scapa Flow was used as the Naval Base for the British Fleet and many of the batteries, searchlights and gun emplacements remain scattered through the islands.
When people come to visit Orkney they usually go to the Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae and the Italian Chapel. Here you’ll find a list of ten hidden gems in Orkney to visit – places that don’t make the front cover of the tourist brochure!
Low lying with lovely beaches, old customs, the UK’s tallest land-based lighthouse and a 19km sheep dyke which extends around the island to keep the sheep on the beach: find out a bit more about the remote Orkney island, North Ronaldsay here!
The Italian Chapel was built by Italian Prisoners of War in 1943 and is now visited 100,000 times a year. Read on to find out more about how the Italians created this beautiful building in their spare time, using only scrap metal and concrete!
The Old Man of Hoy is a 449 ft tall sea stack and St John’s Head is one of the highest vertical sea cliffs in Britain. Did you know these fascinating facts about these amazing landmarks?
The Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces are located in Kirkwall, just across the road from the impressive St. Magnus Cathedral. Both the palaces and the cathedral help to highlight the islands’ strong links with Norse history. Along with St Magnus Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace is one of the most well preserved buildings from the 12th century…
The Brough of Birsay is a tidal island situated off the north west of the Orkney Mainland. It is a ‘must see’ when visiting Orkney. There is a short walk from the headland of Birsay onto the Brough. The headland and beach is connected to the tidal island via a causeway. It is recommended that…
The Churchill Barriers are a series of four causeways linking the Orkney Mainland to the islands of Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay with a total length of 1.5 miles. They were built in 1940 as naval defences following the sinking of The Royal Oak, but now serve as road links, carrying the…
In 1942, during World War 2, more than 1300 Italian prisoners of war were captured in North Africa and taken to Orkney. 550 were taken to Camp 60 on the previously uninhabited island of Lamb Holm, where they were put to work building The Churchill Barriers, four causeways created, using a series of massive concerete…
