Museums
Galleries
Visitor Attractions
Visitor Information - Orkney Islands
History and Heritage
Castles
Activities
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Museums
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Visitor Attractions Visitor Information - Orkney IslandsHistory and Heritage |
Castles
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Out and About: |
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The Orkney Islands lie across the wild Pentland Firth of Scotlnd's north coast. There are about 70 islands of which 17 are inhabited. Indeed, the islands have been inhabited for thousands of years and the maze of dwellings at Skara Brae is testament to that, being around 5000 years old. The magnificent Ring of Brodgar is Orkney's answer to Stonehenge and there are numerous other historical treasures. More recent history can be seen in Scapa Flow and the sunken wrecks there are a diver's paradise. The largest island is called - surprisingly - Mainland and the largest town is Kirkwall where there's a good selection of shops and amenities.
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Historic Buildings and Castles: |
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St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall. Founded in 1137. The St Magnus centre is associated with the cathedral and admission to both is free. |
St Magnus Church Birsay. Built in 1064 and rebuilt twice since then; the last time being in 1760. |
Martello Towers Hoy. Built on either side of Longhope Bay to protect Baltic convoys. |
Northland Castle Westray. Though never completed, the castle was designed to provide all-round visibility against attack. |
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Birsay. The last working meal mill in the islands, producing bere meal. |
Kirkwall. The original Bishops' Palace dates to the twelfth century, while the adjacent Earl's Palace was built in the 17th century. |
Papa Westray. These two neolithic houses date from about 3500 BC making them one of the earliest known settlements in NW Europe. |
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Museums and Galleries: |
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Maritime and natural history of the town and area. |
Stromness. Modern art gallery in restored 18th century buildings. |
Skaill House Sandwick. A 17th century mansion. Items from Captain Cook's ship Discovery are on display. |
Orkney Wireless Museum Near Kirkwall harbour. Features wartime communications and early domestic radio. |
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Harray. Nineteenth century Orkney farmstead. |
Leila Thomson produces hand-crafted tapestries in the workshop here. |
Near Birsay. Unusual, in that this is the last surviving house with a central peat hearth in Orkney. There is also a Victorian garden. |
Kirkwall. The museum tells the story of Orkney from Medieval times. Stone Age, Viking and Pictish artefacts are on display. |
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Over the years Sui Generis has been resident on Eday, Galleries which house various stles of unique furniture and art in wood. Created mostly from home grown & sometimes scorned or reclaimed timbers or driftwood, together with gardens. Other areas on the tour include the workshop - a Sequoia Living Room - a Gothic Style Hallway & individual craftsmen designed Guest Rooms etc. |
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Parks and Gardens: |
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Balfour Castle and Gardens, Shapinsay. Victorian castle, walled garden. |
The Gloup & Mull Head Spectacular natural arch, maritime grassland and heath. Seabird colonies. |
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Visitor Attractions: |
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Near St Mary's. Built by Italian prisoners of war during World War 2. A place of quiet contemplation in a beautiful setting. |
Sandwick, Mainland. Quite simply, the finest Neolithic village in Europe. Dates back to 3000 BC |
Maeshowe Stenness. The finest chambered cairn in western Europe, dating back to 2700 BC. What happened here? |
Ring of Brodgar
Stenness. Stone circle and an unmissable site. |
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The Visitor Centre houses a permanent exhibition with a video presentation which describes how modern jewellery is made and gives details of the history of Ortak. |
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Sport & Leisure: |
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Fishing Orkney Trout Fishing Association. Non-profit voluntary body dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of game fishing Throughout the Orkney Islands. |
Fishing The Merkister Hotel, Harray, hires boats and equipment. Tuition available. |
Kirkwall. Fitness and health suites, conditioning gym, cinema, adventure play area, cafe, bar. |
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Diving: |
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Stromness. Fully equpped diving centre. Equipment hire, boat charters. |
European Technical Dive Centre Orkney's only PADI dive centre. Boat hire, equipment hire, dive shop, courses. |
Stromness. PADI resort, boat charters, guided dives, equipment hire. Courses for beginners. |
Stromness. Day-boat and live-aboard charters. |
Tours: |
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Stromness. Multi-lingual Orkney Guides. Cruising and coach tours. |
Guided tours and short walks with island-based, accredited guide. |
Fully equipped 65ft charter vessel for cruising the islnds. |
Orphir. Explore the wrecks of the German Fleet with a cruise. Unique underwater camera. |
Car Hire: |
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Kirkwall. Airport transfers, collection and delivery. |
Embrace the slower pace of life and enjoy Orkney in one of our self drive campervans. Hiring a VW camper van lets you do all of this and more, with the freedom to choose where you go and how long you stay there. It's not just your wheels and your bed, it's a way of life. It is much cheaper than a hire car and a hotel, plus you get to live the dream and you can vary whether you sleep in the van, stay with friends or at a B&B or hotel, the choice is yours. |
Kirkwall and Kirkwall Airport. |
Kirkwall. Fully equipped motorhome hire.
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