Difference between revisions of "Orkney Islands"

Revision as of 21:02, 20 January 2009

The Orkney Islands [1] are an archipelago of approximately 70 islands some 10 miles (16 km) off the northern coast of Scotland.

Understand

The Orkney Islands have been settled since the Neolithic Period. There is plenty to do on the islands. They are easy to navigate. The islands are great for culture holidays and sight-seeing

The Islands

Map of the Orkney Islands

• Mainland - the main centre
• Shapinsay - quiet island, a short hop from Kirkwall
• Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre - Rousay is packed with ruins
• Hoy - Old Man of Hoy and good walking
• Eday -
• Sanday - a quiet haven, with long sandy beaches
• Westray & Papa Westray - good for birds
• Stronsay
• South Ronaldsay - rolling farmland
• North Ronaldsay

Towns and Villages

Towns

• Kirkwall - the administrative capital of the Orkney Islands
• Stromness - attractive port and the Orkney's second town

Villages

• Birsay
• Lyness
• St Margaret's Hope

Get to Orkney

By Plane

Flybe offers flights to Kirkwall, Orkney from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Sumburgh. Air service is operated by Loganair.

By Boat

Ro/Ro Ferries:

• Scrabster to Stromness, Orkney Mainland: 90-minute sailings offered 3 times a day, 7 days a week. Service provided by Northlink Ferries. Approx. 30 minute drive to Kirkwall from Stromness.

• Aberdeen to Kirkwall, Orkney Mainland: 6-hour sailing offered Tuesday*, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Service provided by Northlink Ferries. No Kirkwall call from 1 Jan - 31 Mar & 1 Nov - 31 Dec.

• Gill's Bay to St Margaret's Hope, South Ronaldsay. 60-minute sailings offered 3 times a day, 7 days a week. Service provided by Pentland Ferries. Approx. 35 minute drive to Kirkwall from St Margaret's Hope.

Passenger-only Ferries:

• John O'Groats to Burwick, South Ronaldsay. 40-minute sailings offered 7 days a week from 1 May to 30 September only. Service provided by John O'Groats Ferry. Approx. 45 minute drive to Kirkwall from Burwick.

See

Neolithic structures

Awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1999, the ''Heart of Neolithic Orkney'' includes:

• Skara Brae, 30km west of Kirkwall [2], the best-preserved prehistoric village in Western Europe, inhabited before the pyramids of Egypt were built. 2009 Admission: adult £6.70, child £3.35, concessions £5.30. Prices include admission to Skaill House April to September. Admission to Skara Brae reduced October to March.
• Maeshowe, 14km west of Kirkwall [3], finest chambered tomb in north-west Europe, which contains the best collection of Viking runes outside Scandinavia. Advance booking required. 2009 Admission*: adult £5.20, child £2.60, concessions £4.20
• Ring of Brodgar, 16km west of Kirkwall [4], amazing stone circle with henge ditch. Free admission.
• Standing Stones of Stenness, [5] one of the oldest stone circles in Britain. Free admission.

Orkney's World Heritage site also includes a number of unexcavated burial, ceremonial and settlement sites.

Do

• The Orkney Folk Festival
• Diving: Most of the German WWI Imperial Fleet was scuttled in Scapa Flow and offers excellent opportunities to dive. Some diving companies:
  • Orkney Divers
  • Scapa Flow Diving
  • Stromness Diving Centre

Holidays & day tours with Orkney Archaeology Tours - all tours led by professional archaeologists & qualified Orkney tourist guides [6]

• Explore the Isles: Take an eco tour or holiday with Wildabout Okney.

Drink

• Highland Park, Kirkwall [7]. The world's most northerly Scotch whisky distillery. Tours, including a free sample of the product and a gift shop are available.

Sleep

There are plenty of places to stay meeting all price criterias, from youth hostels to grand hotels, Orkney has it all!

• West End Guest House [8] - Sea Facing - St. Margaret's Hope, Orkney
• Rickla [9] - Harray
• Merkista Hotel [10] - Loch Harray
• Albert Hotel [11] - Kirkwall
• Ayre Hotel [12] - Kirkwall
• Foveran Hotel [13] - Kirkwall
• The Lavrockha Guest House [14] - Kirkwall
• Queen's Hotel [15] - Kirkwall
• Scorralee [16] - Orphir
• Westrow Lodge [17] - Orphir
• Girnigoe[18] - Shapinsay
• Miller's House [19] - Stromness
• Stromness Hotel [20] - Stromness
• Cleaton House [21] - Westray
• Auld Smokehoose & Scapa Lodge +441224739123 - Kirkwall
• 76 Junction Road +441856872281 - Kirkwall
• Bis Geos Self Catering [22] - Westray
• The Kilnmans Cottage [23] - Westray
• Kirkwall Youth Hostel [24] - Kirkwall
• Stromness Youth Hostel [25] - Stromness
• The Creel Restaurant with Rooms [26] - St. Margaret's Hope
• Lynnfield Hotel [27] - 4 star Kirkwall hotel

• Horrie Farm Holiday Apartments, Tankerness, [28]. Two spacious apartments surrounded by farmland teeming with wildlife. Close to Kirkwall and Minehowe with many amenities nearby.