Orkney Islands

58° 57' 29.35" N 3° 18' 17.37" W [58.9582, -3.3048] (KML)

The Orkney Islands [M] 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

• Mainland (Orkney), Orkney's largest island where 2/3 of the Isles' population resides.
• Rousay [S], the Egypt of the North with a large concentration of spectacular archaeological sites.
• Hoy [S], the High Island. Hike through R.S.P.B. Nature Reserve to cliffs overlooking the Old Man of Hoy seastack.
• Eday [S], the Isthmus Island with excellent walks.
• Sanday [S], aptly named the Sand Island for its beautiful beaches.
• Westray [S], Queen o' the Orkney Islands [M]. Excellent place to spot puffins in late spring to find the best fish & chips in Orkney at the Pierowall Hotel.
• Papa Westray [S], referred to locally as "Papay", the island is home to the oldest site in Orkney, Knap of Howar.
• North Ronaldsay [S], well-worth the trip if only to climb to the top of the new lighthouse for fantastic views, and to see Old Beacon, the third oldest lighthouse in Scotland [M].
• Shapinsay [S], a short ferry sailing from Kirkwall [S] and home to Balfour Castle.
• Flotta [S], location of oil terminal
• Egilsay [S], where Earl Magnus was martyred.
• Wyre
• Stronsay

South Isles connected by the Churchill Barriers:

• Lambholm, home of the stunning Italian Chapel.
• Glimsholm
• Burray
• South Ronaldsay

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

• Birsay
• Lyness
• St Margaret's Hope

Flybe [2] offers flights to Kirkwall [S], Orkney from Edinburgh [M], Glasgow [M], Inverness [M], Aberdeen [M] and Sumburgh. Air service is operated by Loganair.

Ro/Ro Ferries:

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

• Aberdeen [M] to Kirkwall [S], Orkney Mainland: 6-hour sailing offered Tuesdays*, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Service provided by Northlink Ferries [4]. No Kirkwall call from 1 Jan - 31 Mar & 1 Nov - 31 Dec.

• Gill's Bay to St Margaret's Hope [S], South Ronaldsay. 60-minute sailings offered 3 times a day, 7 days a week. Service provided by Pentland Ferries [5]. Approx. 35 minute drive to Kirkwall [S] 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 [S]. Service provided by John O'Groats Ferry [6]. Approx. 45 minute drive to Kirkwall [S] from Burwick.

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

• Skara Brae [S], 30km west of Kirkwall [S] [7], 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 [S], 14km west of Kirkwall [8], 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 [S], 16km west of Kirkwall [9], amazing stone circle with henge ditch. Free admission.
• Standing Stones of Stenness [S], [10] 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.

• The Orkney Folk Festival [11] - May
• St Magnus Festival [12] - June
• Orkney International Science Festival [13] - September
• Diving: Most of the German WWI Imperial Fleet was scuttled [14] in Scapa Flow [15] and offers excellent opportunities to dive. Some diving companies:
  • Orkney Divers [16]
  • Scapa Flow Diving [17]
  • Stromness [S] Diving Centre [18]

Holidays & day tours with Orkney Archaeology Tours - all tours led by professional archaeologists & qualified Orkney tourist guides [19]

• Explore the Isles: Take an eco tour or holiday with Wildabout Okney [20].

• Highland Park [S], Kirkwall [S]

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 [S] [22] - Sea Facing - St. Margaret's Hope, Orkney
• Rickla [S] [23] - Harray
• Merkister Hotel [S] [24] - Loch Harray
• Albert Hotel [S] [25] - Kirkwall
• Ayre Hotel [S] [26] - Kirkwall
• Foveran Hotel [S] [27] - Kirkwall
• The Lavrockha Guest House [S] [28] - Kirkwall
• Queen's Hotel [29] - Kirkwall
• Scorralee [S] [30] - Orphir
• Westrow Lodge [S] [31] - Orphir
• Girnigoe [S][32] - Shapinsay
• Miller's House [33] - Stromness
• Stromness Hotel [S] [34] - Stromness
• Cleaton House [S] [35] - Westray
• Auld Smokehoose & Scapa Lodge [S] +441224739123 - Kirkwall
• 76 Junction Road [S] +441856872281 - Kirkwall
• Bis Geos Self Catering [S] [36] - Westray
• The Kilnmans Cottage [S] [37] - Westray
• Kirkwall Youth Hostel [S] [38] - Kirkwall
• Stromness Youth Hostel [S] [39] - Stromness
• The Creel Restaurant with Rooms [S] [40] - St. Margaret's Hope
• Lynnfield Hotel [S] [41] - 4 star Kirkwall hotel

• Horrie Farm Holiday Apartments, Tankerness, [42]. Two spacious apartments surrounded by farmland teeming with wildlife. Close to Kirkwall and Minehowe with many amenities nearby.  

Text content was last edited at 14:29, on 13 April 2010 by Wikitravel user Burmesedays. Based on work by Peter, Mark Sheffield, Paul Louis, Nancy Hampton, glen newton and Colin Jensen, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Inas, Tatatabot, ViMy, Riffles1 and Ctyrer, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. This text content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.