Places to visit

Hoy

Dwarfie Stane, Island of Hoy, Orkney image © Copyright Grovel at English Wikipedia licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Dwarfie Stone

To the south of the Mainland island in Hoy is a tomb known as the Dwarfie Stone. It is of unusual construction having been hewn from a single very large block of stone. It is thought to date to about 3500 BC to 2500 BC. The island of Hoy is the second largest in Orkney and is connected to the Mainland island by a causeway known as The Ayre. The island is known for it's high cliffs and the sea stack the 'Old Man Of Hoy which is to the west of the Dwarfie Stone close to Rathwick in the northwest of the island and stands at nearly 250 feet.

South Ronaldsay

Tomb of the Eagles, sleeping area and entrance © Copyright D. Gordon E. Robertson and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

South Ronaldsay

This is an island to the south of Mainland that can be reached by use of the Churchill Barriers which are four causeways that link Orkney Mainland to South Ronaldsay via Burray and Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm. The largest town on South Ronaldsay is St Margarets Hope in the north of the island and can be reached by ferry from Gills Bay which is about four miles west from John O'Groats. There is also a summer ferry service from John O'Groats to Burwick on the south coast of South Ronaldsay from the beginning of May until the ends of September. On Burray which is south from Mainland and Lamb home is the Fossil and Heritage Centre which is north of Echna Loch off the A961. It is open from the end of April until the end of September.

Shapinsay

Burroughston Broch, Shapinsay image © Copyright C Michael Hogan licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Burroughston Broch

Surrounded by a grass mound this broch is located on the island of Shapinsay. The island is reached by car ferry from Kirkwall to Balfour and the broch is in the northeast of Shapinsay about a mile south from the Ness of Ork. As the exterior has not been excavated it is possible to look down into the broch where the remains of stone furniture and a complete chamber can be seen. Also on the island is Mor Stein standing stone in the southeast and south east of Mor Stein is Castle Bloody Souterrain. In the southwest of Shapinsay is Balfour Castle built in 1847 by the architect David Bryce on the site of an older building.

Wyre

Image: Wyre (Orkney); taken from Cubbie Roo's Castle image © Copyright Otter at nl.wikipedia. Licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Wyre

This is southeast and a five minute journey from Rousay and has a population of eighteen people. The ferry operates seven days per week in the summer but not on Sundays in the winter. Sites of historical importance on the island include:

Eday

Eday Heritage Centre image courtesy of Eday Heritage Centre Facebook page.

Eday

This is reached via ferry to the village of Backaland towards the south of the island. Eday is in a central location among the northern isles of Orkney.

Stronsay

Sea arch at the Vat of Kirbister, Stronsay image courtesy Visit Stronsay

Stronsay

The island is seven miles long and can be reached by air from Kirkwall or Ferry from Kirkwall with some services via Eday. The island is noted for it's sandy beaches and wildlife. The main settlement is Whitehall on the north and where the ferry docks. The island has been inhabited since Neolithic times and archaeological finds of flint arrowheads suggest the possibility that Stronsay could have been inhabited as early as 10000BC to 8000BC.

Sanday

Quoyness Chambered Cairn image courtesy of Historical Environment Scotland

Sanday

This is the third largest of the Orkney islands. It can be reached by the Orkney ferries and plane from Mainland. There is evidence of settlement from Neolithic through to Viking times and the present day remains of one of these sites is Quoyness Chambered Cairn.

Westray

Links of Noltland image © Copyright Laura McKenna released into the public domain and courtesy of wikimedia commons

This is reached via ferry to Rapness Ferry Terminal in the south of the island from Mainland or Pierowall Ferry Terminal to Papa Westray in the north. Pierowall is the largest settlement on the island. Westray has had settlements since Neolithic times.

Papa Westray

Knap of Howar © Copyright Me677 at English Wikipedia and released into the public domain.

Papa Westray

This is a small island of four miles in length and one mile wide. It can be reached by boat from Westray and plane. There are a number of archaeological sites on the island some of which are identifies below:

North Ronaldsay

Old Beacon North Ronaldsay image courtesy of North Ronaldsay Trust

This is the northern most island in Orkney. There are daily flights to Orkney Mainland and Ferry services from Kirkwall and Papa Westray. The ferry docks at South Bay and the largest settlement is Hollandstoun which is about a mile north of South Bay and also close to the airport. The island was first inhabited about 2000BC.

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