walking on Birsay's north coast
walking on Birsay's north coast
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  • walking on Birsay's north coast
  • the Broch of Gurness in Evie
  • the imposing St Magnus Cathedral
  • discovering stone age village Skara Brae
  • exploring the coastline by jet ski
  • enjoying a warm day at Scapa beach
  • the dwarfie stone in Hoy
  • the start of the walk to the Old Man of Hoy
Orkney Explore

Orkney has so much to explore that a two-week visit is not usually long enough.  

In fact there are so many interesting places to explore, you may have to move here and devote a lifetime to this hobby.  Tourism is a major industry in Orkney and the islands are well geared up for visitors.  On leaving, many visitors say they had no idea there was so much to do and they will have to come back to do some of the things they missed.

Historic attractions feature highly on the to-do list including the magnificent St Magnus Cathedral, 5000-year-old Skara Brae and the diving wrecks below the waters of Scapa Flow. Whether you take a drive, a bike ride, a tour or a walk, there is a pace and place to suit everyone.

Other Websites of Interest
Visit Orkney - places to visit
Visit Orkney - children's treasures
Digi-guide to Orkney

Local Businesses
Steven Heddle Consultancy
Steven Heddle Consultancy, Newington, Holm Rd, KIRKWALL, Orkney, KW15 1PY
www.stevenheddle.co.uk
Orcadia Design (Website design, development and maintenance)
Orcadia Design, Meadowside, DOUNBY, KW17 2HS
www.orcadiadesign.co.uk
Roving Eye Enterprises
c/o Westrow Lodge, Orphir, KW17 2RD
www.rovingeye.co.uk
Orkney Property Centre
13 Bridge Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HR
www.orkneypropertycentre.co.uk
Orkney Quality Food and Drink Ltd
c/o Orkney Fishermen's Society, Garson Industrial Estate, STROMNESS, KW16 3JU
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Getting here
Getting here
There are many combinations and options of travel you can use to get to Orkney and it is always easier than people think when they see our dots of islands to the north of the UK mainland. By air
 
Archaeology
Archaeology
Outside the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site with its world-class monuments there are a staggering number of other major archaeological sites across Orkney.  There are so
 
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Elsewhere on Orkney.com
Internal Transport
Internal Transport
Orkney’s buses and ferries are vital lifelines for those who live, work and travel to school in our parishes, towns and isles. Orkney Islands Council coordinates public transport services
see more
Getting to Orkney
Getting to Orkney
There are many firms offering services to get your business to Orkney.  There are removals firms offering relocation and storage, if required, of all your equipment and furniture. 
see more
Accommodation
Accommodation
Orkney offers a huge range of places to stay from hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses to camping, hostels, bothys, caravans, self catering and even mobile caravans you can hire while you are
see more
Norse Heritage
Norse Heritage
A glorious Viking past with its warlike imagery and tales of saints and earls is an important part of Orkney’s history that writers have chronicled. Many Orcadians are descended from the Norse
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Orkney Explore photos from flickr
Canadian Treasure Hunter Diver Gold Robert C. Shannon Lake Ontario Gold Salvage Dive
Harald at Sunset
Dive boat Valkyrie
Scapa Flow
Sands o Wright, South Ronaldsay - Explored
Skara Brae
Standing Stones Hotel, Orkney, startrail
Further Along The Coast - Explored
Skull Splitter - Orkney Brewery
wee_emy - Road trip! #orkney #drive #holiday #roadtrip #car #explore #trip #openroad #nowhere #goodtimes #sun? http://t.co/G03ewVYNh3
emmamacberry - Orkney bound with a night in John O'Groats. Forecast is looking decent, good weather to explore the islands and historic landmarks via bike!
placestogoblog - UK #Travel: Explore the #ancient and exciting Orkney Islands http://t.co/G6Q2iR6lN1 #orkneys
Google News
Heriot-Watt divers off Orkney explore life of horse mussels
Divers taking part in an expedition off the coast of Orkney hope to learn more about large horse mussels. The team from Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University's School of Life Sciences is researching the habitat of the mussels, which are said to be as big ...
BBC News
UHI offers first islands studies course
A 'Scottish islands' module will compare the cultures of people in the Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetland through their language, literature, history and politics. The island studies MLitt will be delivered by teaching staff and from Orkney, Shetland, Skye ...
Scotsman
Scottish coast a real breath of fresh Ayr
Car is probably the best way to explore if you want to make the most of the beautiful coastal scenery and it's not far from Glasgow International Airport. Before you hit the road, or are tempted to stop in a Little Chef, take a diversion to the Three ...
Irish Independent
The Highland Line: is the green sun in danger of setting for good?
"Our analysis suggests that by 2020 up to 392 full-time equivalent jobs could be created on the Western Isles, 463 in Shetland, 416 in Orkney, and an additional 3000 FTEs could be generated in the rest of Scotland and elsewhere in the UK. "By 2030, the ...
Herald Scotland (blog)