Unearth Orkney's unique history, wildlife, islands, activities and culture by taking time to browse our Orkney blogs.
Scapa Flow, which in Old Norse means ‘bay of the long isthmus’ is a large – 312 square kilometres (120 sq mi) – natural harbour sheltered by the Orkney Mainland, and the islands of Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy.Most of it is shallow, about 30 metres (98 ft) deep, and it is large enough…
In the winter of 1850, a severe windstorm hit Britain, causing widespread damage and over 200 deaths. On the west coast of Orkney, at the Bay of Skaill, the waves and wind stripped the earth from a large irregular knoll, known in Scottish as a ‘howe’, revealing an intact village, albeit without roofs. The howe…
The Standing Stones of Stenness is a Neolithic monument built between 5,400 and 4,500 years ago on the mainland of Orkney. They stand before a stream between the seawater Loch of Stenness and the freshwater Loch of Harray. The stream is now bridged, but at one time was crossed by a stepping stone causeway. Across the…
St Magnus Cathedral dominates the skyline of Kirkwall and is a central part of Orcadian life. It occupies the centre of Kirkwall – the street opposite – Broad Street – is Kirkwall’s main shopping street and the location where the Ba is first thrown in the air on Christmas and New Year’s Day. The cathedral…
The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age settlement which began sometime between 500 and 200BC. The centre of the settlement features a broch; which is a massive circular tower with thick walls. This was likely 10 metres tall at one point and had an internal diameter of 20 metres. The interior of the broch…
Westray, the ‘Queen O The Isles’ and it’s neighbour, Papa Westray, though remote are both extremely rewarding islands to visit, because of the wealth of sites to visit. Westray is an island rich with farmland, and has beautiful beaches and seabird cliffs to the North. One boat goes out in a stormAnd the seaBrims it…
The West Mainland of Orkney contains a wealth of fascinating archaeological sites, great beaches to explore and plenty of playgrounds for the kids, and craft shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries to discover. The undulant, almost treeless landscape is very beautiful, with its hardly ebbing sun in the summer, and the dark loud blaze of…
Stronsay is a busy farming island, with acres of farmland, lovely beaches and low cliffs, including the impressive natural arch, the Vat of Kirbuster. The main town of Whitehall was a centre for Herring fishing for 200 years until the early 20th Century. Kelp making (to manufacture soap and glass) was also a major industry…
When travelling on the MV Hamnavoe from Scrabster, Stromness is one of the first sights you will see of Orkney. Restricted in space because of the hill, Brinkies Brae behind it, Stromness is a distinctive fishing town with houses and jetties bustling along it’s waterfront and a narrow flagstone paved shopping street running though it….
