Top Orkney hotels
Sponsored Links
You can take a tour to Orkney by bus from Inverness in one day.Most of the day is on the bus + ferry and it takes you on an Orkney tourwith a little time in Stromness. I worked in Stromness in the early 70s and I miss going for a beer in the local haunts.
I came across this special Viking beer on the Orkneys, the Skull SplitterIt's strong and good, and has the most original name I have seen anywhereThey make several other beers with interesting Viking names, and they really taste good!
The single malt above all malts is the Highland Park. This exclusive whisky is destilled at the small town of Kirwall on the Orkney Islands. The destilleri is open for visitors, and they have a fine guided tour of the prosess that culiminates in a sampling of these exclusive drops. www.highlandpark.co.ukOn a side note: If you drink a whisky blend, I can recomend the Famous Grouse. One of the main ingrediants in the blend is from the Highland Park destilleri, and makes it (in my view) on of the finest blends. /www.thefamousgrouse.com
So, you think the Orkney Islands are off the beaten path? Well, think again. The biggest island, called Mainland, is served by 5 ferries and an airport, connecting it to Scotland. Yet being true islands, Orkney does preserve some amazing sites and environments, lost elsewhere.To really get off the beaten path - and discover some of the best places, for free, jump on a local Orkney Ferry to one of the other islands, like Hoy, Rousay, Westray or Papay. If you take the plane to Papay you are in for a real thrill (best 12 pounds I ever spent - what a view!!!)On Rousay you find Taversoe Tuick, Midhowe Broch and more 5000 year old constructions (stone age), still there, untouched, mesmerising - like stepping back in time.Hoy has the incredible Dwarfie Stone - a unique rock with chamber cut out (again by using wood, stone and antler tools - and some ingenuity I wager). Inside you can blow your...
Here are the main websites for Orkney: Orkney.org Orknet.co.uk Orkney Tour Orkney Ferries Car Hire Orkney Folk Festival St Magnus Festival Orcadian Newspaper Orkney Tourist Board / visitorkney.com Orkneyjar.comHistoric-Scotland.Gov.ukOrkney Archaeological Trust / orkneydigs.org.uk The people and the amazing archaeology sites.
It is interesting when visiting Orkney to see how much the people value the Viking heritage. It can almost seem as if the Vikings are more celebrated here than in Norway!I was told that many feel a strong bond to Norway and there are even a few that would like to see Orkney and Shetland returned (maybe a little tongue-in-cheek here)They might be able to use a little historical fact to accomplish this:In 1468, the Orkney and Shetland islands were pawned to the Scottish king to provide a dowry for a King's daughter, and they were never reclaimed.
Taste Orkney Ice Cream!This is a typical scene on Orkney - clouds and blue sky, cows, lush grass and wind generators.All jokes about methane from cows and wind farms are off, ok?!Orkney Ice cream is famous. Orkney is also exposed to sea breezes (almost constantly) so this picture captures much of how Orkney will look to you. My fondest memories are many - it is a wonderful place. But imagine this one ... ...I am in Maes Howe, all alone, mid winter. Few people get to be in this burial chamber alone (usually guided tours only - by Historic Scotland). Somehow I am at the entrance tunnel, alone, this grey, cloudy winter day, all quiet, eary and still. A golden bonfire bursts to flame on a distant skyline and grows to a huge fire ball ... then I realise, as it fades, that I was privileged to witness 5 minutes of setting sun, glimpsed between hill and cloud. The sun illuminated the back wall...
You only get lichen like this when the air is pure and clean! So come to Orkney to clean your lungs out (and it's peaceful too!)This is typical - an old church beside the water, calm and meditative. Well it was 7am!You will arrive at this bay if coming on the JOG passenger ferry. Otherwise, it is at the south tip of South Ronaldsay, near the Tomb of the Eagles.More info to follow.
It's green and has lovely weather ;-) I took this picture on the ferry on our way there and wasn't sure what to expect. I definitely didn't expect what I found: A green deserted paradise! And a few hangovers, a great hostel, many nice cooked meals, prehistoric sights all over the shop and even dolphins, otters and seals!
You really have to go and visit some of the ancient historical sites, such as Maes Howe, Skara Brae and the Standing Stones. I will be including them in mu page as soon as possible. Arriving on a lovely spring evening to a pipe band.
Smithfield Hotel Mainland Island
2 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Orkney attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Orkney sightseeing.
Q: I'm just beginning to plan a trip to Scotland and have decided on visiting Orkney. We will be there end of May beginning of June...
A: If you have a car then it will be extremely easy to travel around the islands...Mainland is linked by the Churchill barriers to Lamb Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsey....
Read 6 Replies
Sponsored Links
