ORKNEY ISLANDS  >  SCOTLAND  >  INDEX


Holidays Orkney  -  Travel information Orkney.

Orkney consists of about 200 small islands 16 km north of Caithness in northern Scotland. The largest island in the group is known as "The Mainland"; about 20 are inhabited in total.

The islands north of The Mainland are known collectively as The North Isles, those to the south as The South Isles.

Orkney's administrative capital : Kirkwall on The Mainland.


holiday homes, hotels & inns, travel agencies, travel guides, transportation / travelling to the orkney islands

links


Holiday Homes / Cottages & Apartments

  - leading UK provider of self-catered holidays
Availability search [ refining by specifying price, pet, pub nearby, open fire, swimming pool and more possible ], special offers and brochure request.

 Lettingweb.com  -  property to rent in Scotland, UK

Hotels in Orkney

 Hotels Orkney Islands  -  Sands Hotel

 Visit Orkney [ Orkney Tourist Board ]

More Hotels? See the page Hotels.

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

 Orkney Archaeology Tours
Offering a choice of all-inclusive one-week small group holidays, private short breaks, including 4-night Orkney Adventure and 6-night Orkney Odyssey, and private day tours.

 -  Create your perfect trip  -  Flight, Hotel and Car



 Five Senses Orkney  -  tours / activities / courses
Experience the real Orkney as we show you its culture, wild landscape and ancient past. Unlock the secret of fire, neolithic skills, stone circles, and primitive survival.
Celebrate special occasions with our unique Rites of Passage and women-only courses. Find yourself through Independence Outdoors and gain the skills and confidence to roam the wilderness.
Enjoy it all with five senses. Orkney's history and archaeology, from the Stone Age to the Vikings, is brought to life through hands-on learning.
Five Senses is an Orkney-based business with a focus on cultural tours, ancient skills and independence in the outdoors. 
 Orkney Ramblers Club 
Rambles are designed for all ages and abilities. Ramblers are expected to wear stout shoes and wear, or carry waterproofs. A drink and a snack would also be recommended. Walks take place every second Sunday, averaging 5 to 10 Miles and include Coastal strolls, hill-walking, and hiking over heather and peat track. Visitors are most welcome, contact the walk leader for advice.

Travel Guides / Related books

Travel Guides Scotland 

Scotland (Eyewitness Travel Guides) -  by Juliet Clough, Keith Davidson, Sandie Randall, Alastair Scott
From the archaeological treasures of the Shetlands to the restrained elegance of Edinburgh's New Town, this guide to Scotland takes you from the Borders to the Highlands and Islands. Cutaway maps and 3D models allow you to explore historic hideaways and some of the finest art collections in Europe. Tips are included on the best bars and the cosiest pubs in which to enjoy whisky galore and more.
Paperback 224 pages (February 5, 2004); Publisher: Dorling Kindersley
Scotland: Where to Stay Bed & Breakfast 2004 
Orkney Guide Book -  by Charles Tait
Paperback 256 pages (June 1997); Publisher: C.Tait Photographic

Transportation / How do I travel to Orkney

Frequent ferry services operate on the following routes:

 Lerwick to Kirkwall
 Aberdeen to Kirkwall
 Scrabster to Stromness
 John O'Groats to Burwick, South Ronaldsay
 Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope

 Pentland Ferries - Gills Bay - St Margaret's Hope
 Northlink Ferries

Most of the larger islands have their own airfield or airstrip. Loganair operates regular services to six islands from Kirkwall.

  Opodo  -  
Flight tickets Orkney.

 Ebookers  -  
Book cheap flights to Scotland at ebookers and benefit from discounted airfares. View their latest offers and book your flights, accommodation, car hire and insurance online

 Highland Airways 
Based in Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow, they are regularly serving all the Scottish airports.
They fly to the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland each day and have a range of charter aircraft to serve your pressing transport needs.

 Airline Tickets / Bargain Flights  -  Flights to Scotland

  -  coach line to Scotland

 Scottish Citylink  -  Scotland's leading provider of Express Coach services

 Orkney Ferries
Online reservations, operations, the fleet, timetables, carriage, conditions, safety, enquiries.

 Orkney Harbours

 Orkney Public Transportation
Orkney Islands Council are producing a range of leaflets with ideas for days out and excursions around the isles using public transport.

 Maps International  -   
Mapsinternational.co.uk is one of the largest map shops online.
Orkney Maps at Amazon  - Landranger maps, Explorer maps
 The Megalith Map
An index of all known Stone Circles. In association with Aubrey Burl


Links

 Travel Insurance  -  online travel and holiday insurance for UK and Irish residents

 Orkney Island Council  -  Britain's smallest local authority

 Orkney  -  Visit Orkney [ Orkney Tourist Board ]

 Kirkwall  -  regional capital
Situated on the northern coast of Mainland Orkney, it is a port with ferry services to most of the other islands in the group.

The North Isles
Auskerry, Calf of Eday, Damsay, Eday, Egilsay, Eynhallow, Faray, Gairsay, Helliar Holm, Holm of Faray, Holm of Huip, Holm of Papay, Holm of Scockness, Kili Holm, Linga Holm, Muckle Green Holm, North Ronaldsay,
Papa Stronsay, Papa Westray, Rousay, Rusk Holm, Sanday, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Sweyn Holm, Westray, Wyre

The South Isles
Burray, Calf of Flotta, Cava, Copinsay, Corn Holm, Fara, Flotta, Glims Holm, Graemsay, Hoy, Hunda, Lamb Holm, Rysa Little, South Ronaldsay, Switha, Swona

 Sanday Community Website  -  http://www.sandayorkney.co.uk/
Sanday is one of the larger inhabited outer islands of Orkney, which lie off the north coast of Scotland. The island has a population of around 500. There are two main centres of population; Lady Village and Kettletoft.

 Orkney Communities
Provides an interesting and up to date source of community news and events. A wealth of information is held in the online community directory and picture gallery. Submitted articles, pictures and comments will contribute to a vibrant community website for Orkney with additional information on local news and events provided by The Orcadian and Radio Orkney

 St Magnus Cathedral  -  one of Orkney's most magnificent landmarks
Ttowering above the Kirkwall landscape with its distinctive red sandstone hues.

 News from Orkney  -  Orkney Today
 News  -  The Orcadian  -  daily news
 Radio  -  The Superstation  -  Orkney Community Radio Station

Cuisine -

  The Good Food Guide 2005  -  by Andrew Turvil (Editor)
Paperback 784 pages (October 1, 2004)

History of Orkney

 Orkney's History  -  Wikipedia
The original inhabitants were Picts, evidence of whose occupation still exists in numerous "weems" or underground houses, chambered mounds, barrows or burial mounds, "brochs" or round towers, and stone circles and standing stones...

Orkney: A Historical Guide (Birlinn Historical Guides) -  by Caroline Wickham-Jones
The Orkney Islands lie 20 miles north of mainland Scotland and were first given to the country as compensation for non-payment of a queen's dowry in 1472. This guide presents a chronological history of the islands from prehistoric times to the industrial age.
Paperback 192 pages (May 1998); Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
The Orkney Book -  by Donald Omand (Editor)
Consisting of 67 islands, the Orkneys lie to the north of the Scottish mainland. This work gives an overview of their history. Starting with the prehistoric period, it goes on to discuss the flowering of the Celtic Church in the sixth and seventh centuries and the subsequent invasion by the vikings
Hardcover 256 pages (September 1, 2003); Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Music, Culture & Entertainment

 George Mackay Brown [ 1921 - 1996 ]  -  Bard of Orkney

 Orkneyjar  -  The Heritage of the Orkney Islands

 Ba Game
One of the main events in the town of Kirkwall is the Ba Game, held each Christmas Day and New Year's Day between the Uppies and the Doonies; each team representing one half of the town. See Wikipedia [ Ba Game is a version of Medieval football played around Christmas and New Year ].

Web Portal / Search Engine / Directory

 Orkney.org 
 Orkney Links 
 Orkney Communities
 Orkneyislands.info  -  Information, Hotels, B&Bs, Self Catering, Hostels and Shops by Island
Situated off the north tip of Scotland, Orkney is home to 19,000 people on it's 19 inhabited islands. Within this website we offer useful information for visitors to the islands, from getting here, to places to stay, and things to do.
 Orknet.co.uk 

 Scotland Aerial Photos  -  see Orkney
 Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions  -  Things to see and do in Scotland
Over five hundred key sites are members and are committed to providing a quality service and are always striving to ensure the highest standards are maintained.

 Yahoo  -  Orkney Islands Directories

 Reiswijs UK is not responsible for the content of external internet sites