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About Orkney
Location
Orkney is made up of a
group of some one hundred islands but only fifteen of these are inhabited.
Houses and farms are dotted all over the gently rolling landscape and the
sea is never more than a few miles away. The Gulf Stream passes close by
giving Orkney a surprisingly temperate climate. The days are short and dark
in winter, but in summer it is possible to read a newspaper or play a round
of golf at midnight in the long, light nights of June and July.
Economy
Agriculture is the main
source of economic activity followed closely by tourism and oil. Agriculture
generates approximately £30 million per year. The islands are generally
very fertile and low-lying, except for the island of Hoy, which is famous
for the rock formation, The Old Man of Hoy, and the surging seas below the
cliffs at Rackwick. Orkney is rich in farming with beef production being the
major industry. It is not crofting, but a modern, mechanised agricultural
industry.
Population
The total population of
Orkney is just under 20,000 with most people living on the main island.
Kirkwall, with a population of 7,500 is the administration centre of Orkney
with a good mix of shops, including well-known chain stores, supermarkets
and small local businesses. The smaller town of Stromness, with a population
of 2,500 is situated in the West Mainland, and is the port where some of the
Ferries berth on their daily trips across from Scotland. Both Kirkwall and
Stromness are famed for their picturesque main streets.
Heritage
To the archaeologist,
Orkney is a paradise rich in ancient monuments. Tourists come from all over
the world to admire the 12th Century St Magnus Cathedral in
Kirkwall. The Neolithic village of Skara Brae is one of the most important
sites in Europe. It has received World Heritage Status along with the burial
mound at Maeshowe and the majestic standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar
and the Standing Stones at Stenness. Older than Stonehenge, the Great Wall
of China and the Pyramids, Orkneys Neolithic sites give a vivid insight into
the lives and beliefs of our ancient settlers. The newest archaeological
discovery is Mine Howe at Tankerness. A chambered mound, it is believed to
date from the Neolithic period and is known as “The mystery of the 29
steps.
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