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TravelTips24 : Europe : Western Europe : United Kingdom : Scotland : Orkney Islands

Orkney Islands

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

Culture and History

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

Towns and Villages

Towns

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

Villages

Travel to Orkney Islands & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Orkney Islands

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

By boat

RO/RO ferries travel to and from the Scrabster and Gill's Bay harbours in the far north of Scotland to Stromness and St. Margaret's Hope respectiveley. The ferries take between 1 to 2 hours to make the crossing.

A RO/RO ferry also travels from Aberdeen , North West Scotland cqlling at Kirkwall on the way to Shetland.

There is also a passenger only ferry that operates during the Summer Season that goes from John O'Groats to Burwick with connecting buses to Kirkwall. This is the quickest way to get from the mainland to the Southern tip of the Orkney Islands but the crossing may be affected by weather conditions.

Orkney Islands attractions and sightseeing

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. 2008 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. 2008 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.

Orkney Islands city tours

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

  • Wildabout Orkney Tours [7], Holidays [8] & Shore Excursions [9]

Orkney Islands nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

  • Highland Park, Kirkwall [10]. The world's most northerly Scotch whisky distillery. Tours, including a free sample of the product and a gift shop are available.

Orkney Islands cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

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 [11] - Sea Facing - St. Margaret's Hope, Orkney
  • Rickla [12] - Harray
  • Merkista Hotel [13] - Loch Harray
  • Albert Hotel [14] - Kirkwall
  • Ayre Hotel [15] - Kirkwall
  • Foveran Hotel [16] - Kirkwall
  • The Lavrockha Guest House [17] - Kirkwall
  • Queen's Hotel [18] - Kirkwall
  • Scorralee [19] - Orphir
  • Westrow Lodge [20] - Orphir
  • Girnigoe[21] - Shapinsay
  • Miller's House [22] - Stromness
  • Stromness Hotel [23] - Stromness
  • Cleaton House [24] - Westray
  • Auld Smokehoose & Scapa Lodge +441224739123 - Kirkwall
  • 76 Junction Road +441856872281 - Kirkwall
  • Bis Geos Self Catering [25] - Westray
  • The Kilnmans Cottage [26] - Westray
  • Kirkwall Youth Hostel [27] - Kirkwall
  • Stromness Youth Hostel [28] - Stromness
  • The Creel Restaurant with Rooms [29] - St. Margaret's Hope
  • Lynnfield Hotel [30] - 4 star Kirkwall hotel

This page was last edited at 18:25, on 26 October 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Paul Louis, Nancy Hampton, glen newton, Colin Jensen, Daniel Cowan and Evan Prodromou, Wikitravel user(s) Riffles1, Ctyrer, Johnmarkh, Rakkar, Pjamescowie, Vclaw and Huttite, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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