Useful Links

Tim Wootton's website presents his portfolio as an internationally recognized wildlife and landscape artist based in Orkney, specializing primarily in paintings of birds and island scenery. The site showcases his work, lists publications, and provides prints for sale.

This website showcases a collective of diverse Orkney artists and crafters. It offers a wide variety of traditional and contemporary products, from knitwear and textiles to photography and seaglass art, with inspiration drawn from the island's landscape and history.

Orkneyinga Silversmiths creates unique pieces of jewellery inspired by Norse and Pictish history. Their work often incorporates intricate designs from ancient runes and local heritage into modern, wearable pieces.

Situated in Stromness, this gallery is packed with an extensive selection of local arts and crafts. It offers a diverse range of items from numerous Orcadian makers, including paintings, pottery, and textiles.

This business creates unique, handcrafted furniture, with pieces often made from locally sourced materials and emphasising traditional craftsmanship. The website showcases their range of tables, chairs, and other custom items.

MadeitOrkney specializes in handmade fused glass, with each unique piece created by melting glass together in a kiln. The website showcases a variety of bowls, hangings, and other glass art, all inspired by the Orcadian environment.

Hume Sweet Hume is an online and physical shop based in Westray, specialising in homewares, clothing, and gifts. The products often feature a contemporary, island-inspired design.

Located in Stromness, the Pier Arts Centre is a contemporary art gallery and museum housing a permanent collection of British fine art. It hosts a programme of exhibitions and events, featuring work from local and national artists.

This family-run pottery studio in Harray, founded in 1975, offers a unique retail and workshop experience. They produce handmade tableware, art pieces, figurines, and ceramic jewellery, which are described as strong, light, and ergonomic.

A local travel agency based in Kirkwall, Scapa Travel assists with flight and ferry bookings, hotel reservations, and travel arrangements for visitors and locals alike.

This service offers private, tailor-made tours of the Orkney Islands, focusing on bringing the history, culture, and scenery to life for small groups of up to eight people. They cater to specific interests, including archaeology and whisky.

With a depot in St Margaret's Hope, Maynes Coaches offers private coach hire and can facilitate transport for events, transfers from the airport or ferry terminals, and bespoke excursions for groups during the summer season.

JP Orkney offers private, guided tours in an electric vehicle, focusing on Orkney's history, heritage, and natural beauty. The tours include an exclusive packed lunch featuring local produce.

Orkney Travel provides guided tours for both individuals and groups, specialising in shore excursions for cruise ship visitors. They pride themselves on offering tailored tours with experienced guides to discover Orkney's history and scenery.

This company manages the inter-island ferry services, connecting the Orkney Mainland with 13 of the smaller islands. Orkney Ferries operates a fleet of vessels vital for connecting island communities for residents and visitors.

Loganair is a regional airline connecting Orkney with several Scottish cities, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness. They also operate the inter-isles flights, including the famous shortest scheduled commercial route in the world between Westray and Papa Westray.

Pentland Ferries offers a shorter, faster crossing for both passengers and vehicles between Gills Bay on the Scottish mainland and St Margaret's Hope in Orkney. The company is recognised for its modern, environmentally-friendly catamaran, the MV Alfred.

NorthLink Ferries operates car and passenger services connecting Orkney with mainland Scotland. It runs routes from Scrabster to Stromness and from Aberdeen to Kirkwall, offering various onboard facilities.

The Mull Head Nature Reserve on the East Mainland offers dramatic coastal cliffs, sea stacks, and a blowhole known as "The Gloup," formed by a collapsed sea cave. It's a significant nesting site for seabirds like puffins and kittiwakes.

Accessible only at low tide, the Brough of Birsay is a small tidal island that reveals the remains of Pictish and Viking settlements, including a Norse church. It's a fascinating site for history enthusiasts and offers stunning coastal views.

Situated on the island of Hoy, the Scapa Flow Museum delves into the history of Orkney's role as a key naval base during both World Wars. It houses over 250 artefacts and features interactive exhibits within a refurbished Romney hut and oil fuel pump house.

Located in Kirkwall, St Magnus Cathedral is a stunning example of Romanesque architecture, founded in 1137 by Viking Earl Rognvald in honor of his uncle, St Magnus. It is the most northerly cathedral in Britain and dominates the town's skyline.

The Italian Chapel is a poignant and beautifully decorated chapel on Lamb Holm, ingeniously created by Italian prisoners of war during WWII using scavenged materials. It stands as a testament to their faith and artistic skill.

Maeshowe is a large Neolithic chambered tomb famous for its remarkable construction and alignment with the winter solstice sunset, which illuminates its interior. The cairn also contains the largest collection of Norse runic inscriptions in Europe.

This massive Neolithic ceremonial site, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, is one of the most spectacular prehistoric monuments in the British Isles. It features a large stone circle, a surrounding rock-cut ditch, and burial mounds, and is a part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Skara Brae is an exceptionally well-preserved Stone Age village, hidden for millennia under sand dunes and exposed by a storm in 1850. Part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a unique glimpse into the lives of Neolithic farmers.

Judith Glue is an Orkney-based business that sells handmade knitwear, gifts, clothing, and food, emphasizing locally-sourced products. The site features unique knitwear designed by Judith Glue and made by local craftspeople, alongside Orkney food hampers and goods from other Scottish makers.

Sheila Fleet Jewellery, based in Orkney, is a designer and manufacturer specializing in fine jewellery made from silver, gold, and platinum, drawing inspiration from the island's landscape and heritage. The company's website features unique, hand-finished collections often incorporating vibrant enamel work, all crafted at their Orkney workshop.

Scapa Whisky's website describes its single malt, made in Orkney, as an unpeated spirit with creamy, fruity flavors, matured in ex-American oak casks. The site provides details on the manual distillation process and the distillery's visitor experiences, including tasting sessions.

Orkney Brewery, located in Quoyloo, produces a variety of ales using traditional methods and local water. The website provides details on their beers, an online shop, and a five-star visitor center offering tours and tastings.

The Orkney Islands Council website serves residents, businesses, and visitors by covering local government functions such as education, waste management, roads, and social services. The site also facilitates actions like making payments, reporting issues such as potholes, and submitting applications.

The Highland Park Whisky website details the Orkney distillery's single malt scotch, highlighting its Viking heritage, island location, and use of local heathered peat in production. The site also provides information on their whisky collections and distillery tours.

The Hoy Orkney website provides a guide for visitors and residents, detailing the island's history, natural environment, and community news. It highlights attractions such as the Old Man of Hoy and covers the island's WWII heritage.

The Orkney Museums website features five county visitor attractions, including the Orkney Museum and the Scapa Flow Museum. The site highlights a collection of over 100,000 artefacts covering Orkney's history, from archaeology to the World Wars, and provides access to its collections portal.

Founded in 1683 in Kirkwall, the Orkney Library and Archive is Scotland's oldest public library. It offers book loans, free Wi-Fi, public PCs, a mobile library service, and hosts community events, while its archive contains historical records and collections. For more information.

BBC Radio Orkney is the local radio station for Orkney. It airs daily with News, Sports and Weather updates.

Our magazine tells the story of Orkney life, corner to corner, and cover to cover. You can find out everything you need, from information on Orkney’s biggest brands and businesses, to where to eat, drink, stay and explore.

Local newspaper for Orkney - newspaper issued weekly.

Orkney.com was established in 2011 to promote Orkney and its key sectors: food and drink, creative industries and renewable energy; and as a destination in which to live, work, study or invest. In late 2018 the website was relaunched incorporating information to encourage visitors to the area.

A family owned seafood restaurant with rooms, we specialise in locally caught fish and shellfish from our bountiful shores with our own boats. We serve lunch and evening meals with fresh local produce at the heart of our dishes. Experience Seafood as fresh as it gets!