Orkney Islands

Island Group in Orkney

Scotland

Orkney Islands

Track going away from The Ouse This track is sign posted To The Odin Stone at the upper end. However, finding the Odin Stone is very difficult. — Track going away from The Ouse Credit: Peter Amsden

The Orkney Islands are an archipelago located off the northeastern coast of Scotland. Comprising around 70 islands, with only 20 inhabited, Orkney is a picturesque and historically rich destination. The largest island in the group is known simply as "Mainland," where the majority of the population resides.

Orkney has a diverse landscape, featuring rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, rolling hills, and fertile farmland. The islands boast a unique blend of natural beauty and ancient heritage. The landscape is dotted with numerous archaeological sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the Ring of Brodgar. These Neolithic sites offer fascinating insights into the lives of the islands' early inhabitants.

The islands are also home to several charming towns and villages, each with its own character and history. Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, is a bustling town with a rich Viking heritage and a magnificent 12th-century cathedral, St. Magnus Cathedral. Stromness, a picturesque coastal town, is known for its narrow winding streets and historic waterfront.

Orkney's waters are teeming with marine life, making it a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Seals, dolphins, and a wide variety of seabirds can often be spotted along the coast. The islands also have a thriving arts and crafts scene, with local artisans producing unique works inspired by the surrounding natural beauty.

With its stunning landscapes, rich history, and warm hospitality, the Orkney Islands offer a truly unforgettable experience for visitors seeking a blend of natural wonders and cultural heritage.

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Orkney Islands Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 59.043231/-2.8824673 or Grid Reference HY4917. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Track going away from The Ouse

This track is sign posted To The Odin Stone at the upper end. However, finding the Odin Stone is very difficult.

Peter Amsden

Old building near to the location of Odin Stone

At least that is the theory. Finding the said Odin Stone is another matter.

Peter Amsden

Aerogenerator on Shapinsay

Taken from the Shetland-Orkney ferry at dusk. Exact position to be ascertained.

Mike Pennington

Shapinsay: South Church

The ruined church has an unusually positioned bell, in the little enclosure ahead of us, which makes me think that it was originally a small tower.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: inside the South Church

A sad sight, it is clearly many years since HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church last hosted a congregation.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the South Church from the southeast

Another view of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church. The picture was cunningly taken in the briefest of moments when a child, the son of a man mowing the grass, was hidden behind one of the gravestones.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: old toilet (?) at South Church

Situated in a small brick/stone compound at the east end of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church, the thing on the wall is clearly a cistern but below it seems to be some kind of small furnace - definitely not something to go on!

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the South Church from the east

This view of HY5016 : Shapinsay: South Church takes in the Balfour family's burial compound, a separate building on the east side of the churchyard.

Chris Downer

Shapinsay: the Balfour burial compound

Looking rather like a little ruined church itself, the Balfours' burial place is this building in the churchyard of the South Church - see HY5016 : Shapinsay: the South Church from the east.

Chris Downer

Water infrastructure, Shapinsay, Orkney

The building appears to be disused and I assume that the borehole became redundant when a mains water pipe was laid between Orkney Mainland and Shapinsay in 2012.

Claire Pegrum

Triangulation pillar and reservoir, Shapinsay, Orkney

Shapinsay's water supply used to be from boreholes (eg HY5116 : Water infrastructure, Shapinsay, Orkney) but since 2012 the island has been supplied by a mains water pipe from Orkney Mainland.

Claire Pegrum