Orkney is full of special places, from stunning coastal scenery to amazing archaeology and incredible islands.
Different locations mean different things to different people. So, to try and find out what makes a single site stick in the memory, we've asked six local photographers to share the secrets of their favourite places and tell us why they'll always make a return trip.
Yesnaby is a place I hold dear. It was one of the first places I visited when I moved to Orkney in 2019. The walk to the sea stack is spectacular, as are the views along the beautiful coastline towards the hills of Hoy, St John's Head and the silhouette of the Old Man of Hoy. Yesnaby is equally spectacular in a westerly gale, when large waves crash into the cliffs.
Rerwick Head has incredible history from both World Wars and panoramic views towards many of Orkney’s north isles. In the summer, cruise ships large and small from around the world come roaring past en-route to Kirkwall, and the sunrises and sunsets here are incredible. It’s also a perfect location to view the beautiful Northern Lights.
Sanday has a huge number of beaches, and Cata Sand is definitely my favourite. There are miles of sand, backed by huge dunes, and it feels like you are a million miles from anybody else. Climbing up to the top of the dunes provides a vista over most of the island - it feels like the view just goes on and on.
The Ring of Brodgar has to be one of my favourite places to visit in Orkney, particularly for its fascinating Neolithic history, outstanding scenery, and how the scenery changes through the seasons. The view from the stone circle over the Loch of Stenness towards Hoy as the sun sets is truly unique.
One of my favourite things about living by the coast are the beautiful sunrises we have. My absolute favourite spot in Orkney is at Dingieshowe beach. It depends on the weather, the changing seasons, tides, and the time of the day, but for me, sunrise is the most beautiful time to visit this place.
Hoxa Head is a place I've spent hours walking and fishing from the rocks, and watching our wonderful wildlife including orcas. It’s a beautiful spot, with wartime buildings and stunning views looking across Scapa Flow to Kirkwall, the Orphir and Hoy hills, and south across the Pentland Firth to the Scottish mainland.