Orkney Islands

Address: Orkney Islands, Scotland, UK

Website: https://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/orkney/

Orkney is an archipelago off the northern coast of Scotland, north of the Scottish mainland and across the Pentland Firth. The group is noted for a high density of Neolithic and Norse archaeological sites and a maritime history.

Visitors commonly explore the Neolithic monuments of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney - including Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness - as well as maritime sites around Scapa Flow. The archipelago comprises around 70 islands, with about 20 inhabited, and offers coastal scenery, seabird colonies and small island communities.

Orkney’s history includes Neolithic settlement, Pictish and Norse periods, and later integration into the Kingdom of Scotland in the 15th century. The islands played a strategic role in both World Wars, particularly as a Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow.

Geographically Orkney lies immediately north of mainland Scotland, administered from the town of Kirkwall on Mainland, which provides ferry and air links to the Scottish mainland.

• Island count and population: The archipelago comprises about 70 islands, of which around 20 are inhabited, and has a resident population in the low tens of thousands.
• Main attractions: Key attractions include well-preserved Neolithic sites that form the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site and significant wartime history at Scapa Flow.

What to See#

• Mainland (Orkney Mainland): The largest island, containing the main towns, the World Heritage Neolithic monuments and the capital Kirkwall; it is the administrative and transport hub for the archipelago.
• Kirkwall: The main town and administrative centre on Mainland with a medieval cathedral, harbour services and ferry connections.
• Skara Brae: A well-preserved Neolithic village dating to around 3,200-2,500 BCE, with stone-built houses and one of Europe’s best-preserved prehistoric settlements.
• Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones: A cluster of Neolithic ceremonial monuments including the Ring of Brodgar and nearby Standing Stones of Stenness, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Scapa Flow: A large natural harbour that served as a Royal Navy anchorage during both World Wars and contains sunken and preserved naval remains.
• Hoy (Old Man of Hoy): An island to the west known for dramatic cliffs, freshwater lochs and the sandstone sea stack called the Old Man of Hoy, a prominent climbing objective.

Orkney is reached by air or sea. Regular flights operated by Loganair connect Kirkwall (the main airport) with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness; from Kirkwall Airport it’s a short taxi ride into Kirkwall town. By ferry you can reach Orkney from the Scottish mainland - NorthLink Ferries runs Scrabster-Stromness and Pentland Ferries runs Gills Bay-St Margaret’s Hope - with onward road links on the islands.

• Start your Orkney itinerary in Kirkwall (the main airport and ferry hub) - base yourself there to minimize inter-island transfers and allow day trips to Neolithic sites and Scapa Flow without backtracking.
• Visit flagship sites such as Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar early morning or late afternoon to avoid cruise-ship peaks; Skara Brae often runs timed or capacity-limited entry in high season, so book ahead where possible.
• Don't just stick to the main circuit - many visitors miss quieter coastal and archaeological spots like Birsay, Yesnaby cliffs and the less-visited tombs and broch sites on the Mainland and West Mainland; allow extra time for short drives between clusters of sites.