Orkney, also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The plural name the Orkneys is sometimes used, but this is erroneous. Part of the Northern Isles a
Ring of Brodgar, on the island of Mainland, Orkney
Midhowe Broch on the west coast of Rousay
According to the Orkneyinga Saga, Harald Fairhair (on the right, with fair hair) took control of Orkney in 875. He is shown here inheriting his kingdom from his father Halfdan the Black, in an illustration from the Flateyjarbók.
Artist's conception of King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway, who forcibly Christianised Orkney. Painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo.
Kirkwall is a port town and historic royal burgh in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland. It is approximately 210 miles north of Edinburgh, 221 miles north-northeast of Glasgow, an
Orkney
…sixth-largest Scottish island and the tenth-largest island in the British Isles. Orkney's largest settlement, and also its administrative centre, is Kirkwall. Orkney is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, a lieutenancy area, and an historic county…
Kirkwall Harbour in August 2014
Orkney Library and Archive, Kirkwall
Kirkwall Town Hall exterior