Kirkwall Orkney Islands Scotland Travel Deals Cruise Port Attractions Excursions Things To Do

The Orkney Islands are politically part of Britain, yet appear quite different in lots of ways. Numerous places have non-British sounding names, reflecting the initial Viking settlement from the ninth-century. Norse crafts and traditions are apparent everywhere. Additionally towards the Norse heritage, you will find many remains of prehistoric monuments like the Standing Gemstones of Stenness in the western world Landmass. Kirkwall originates from the Norse word “Kirkjuvagar” which accurately means “church bay”. Kirkwall Orkney Islands is an aggregation of art, architecture and fascinating historic monuments that are steeped in the ancient Scottish character.

The harbor town is regarded as among the best maintained ancient Norse cities on the planet. Kirkwall’s qualities tend to be more Scandinavian in character, instead of Scottish. It had been acquired by Scotland in 1468 called the center of Norse culture before the finish from the first millennium. Kirkwall, situated on Landmass, may be the principal harbor and capital of Orkney. Steep-roofed stone houses line roads that wind round the medieval St. Magnus Cathedral. An art gallery featuring Orkney historic artifacts is located within the 16th-century Tankerness House.

Pier Information

The ship is scheduled to anchor off Kirkwall. Visitors are going to be taken ashore through the ship's tenders. It's a five-minute walk towards the town center. Taxis are usually offered at the pier.

Things to See

St. Magnus Cathedral
Known as the "Light in the North," this cathedral was founded in 1137 by Viking Earl Rognvald in honor of his uncle St. Magnus. The huge, Norman-style cathedral was devoted by its founder, Earl Rognvald, to his killed kinsman, Earl Magnus, within the twelfth-century.

Kirkwall’s primary attraction may be the St. Magnus Cathedral. It had been built through the Norse Earl Rognvald and it was devoted to his uncle, Earl Magnus of Orkney. The church’s glory is because of the employees who built the chapel using red-colored and yellow sandstone which are found close to the harbor and island of Eday. They were utilized in an alternating fashion such as the chessboard squares. Major restoration from the chapel was completed in the first 1900s and one of the leading changes includes changing the stone pyramid atop the tower having a taller spire made from copper. You can observe the entire of Orkney when you're on the top from the Cathedral tower.

Earl's Structure

Just the walls and also the tower of the twelfth-century residence, designed for Bishop William of Old, still stand. A narrow, spiral staircase results in the top tower, giving an excellent look at the cathedral and across Kirkwall's roofs.

Better maintained compared to Bishop's Structure, the neighboring Earl's Structure dates to 1600. Its style blends medieval fierceness using the ornate aspects of French Renaissance architecture. It features dank dungeons, massive fire places along with a magnificent central hall.

A couple of meters from the Cathedral would be the Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces.

Bishop's Structure

The Bishop’s Structure was designed for Bishop William that old in 1150 and it was known one of the local people because the Structure from the Yards. However, the Earl’s Structure is regarded as the best Renaissance building in England. It had been built by Earl Patrick Steward who found the Bishop’s Castle distasteful.

The Tankerness Home is the Orkney Museum and it is situated opposite the St Magnus Cathedral. Admittance to the museum is free of charge but donations are recognized. The 300-years old house consists of the majority of Orkney’s past and offer. You'll find items and artifacts that stretch to the Neolithic Age. A particular display that's worth observing is an accumulation of grave products which were excavated from the Viking Boat. The products incorporate a whalebone plaque thought for use for removing linens. The islands are virtually an art gallery of prehistoric occasions. Rock circles, cairns, standing gemstones, ancient tombs and prehistoric towns are scattered about, attaining these islands worldwide recognition.

The islands were ruled from Norwegian and Denmark until 1468, whenever a Norwegian king gave these to Scotland instead of a dowry for his daughter's marriage to King James III. The Orkney archipelago is situated in the same latitude as southern Greenland the Gulfstream makes up about the islands' temperate climate.

Roughly another from the 60 islands are lived on the relaxation are home simply to closes and seabirds. The majority of the occupants, who draw their livelihood in the fertile hillsides as opposed to the ocean, survive Landmass, the biggest from the Orkney Islands. The Orkneys will also be a paradise for bird viewers, with an array of puffins, eider ducks, whooper swans and arctic terns. These wild birds, in addition to a number of other species, nest here throughout the summer time several weeks.

Skara Brae
This Neolithic village dates back 5,000 years and has such well-preserved features, including beds and dressers in the houses. This monument is part of Orkney's World Heritage site, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

Italian Chapel
A lovely chapel simply constructed with two nissen huts during World War II, is a symbol of peace and reconciliation. Built by Italian prisoners of war, among them, an artist and sculptor named Domenico Chiocchetti who stayed to finish it once the war ended.

Scapa Flow
This stretch of water links the North Sea to the Atlantic and is famous for its role in both World Wars as a natural harbor offering shelter for the British naval fleet.

Ring of Brodgar
Perhaps, once used to study the stars, this perfect circle of immense standing stones is an impressive vision and one of Orkney's most a popular attractions. This monument is part of Orkney's World Heritage site, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

Maeshowe
Dating back to prehistoric times, this chambered tomb hidden beneath a grassy mound is a marvel of ancient architecture. It also contains the largest concentration or runic writing (Viking "graffiti") outside of Scandinavia. This monument is part of Orkney's World Heritage site, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

Distillery
Highland Park is the most northerly Scotch whisky distillery in Scotland and produces arguably the most respected single malt in the world.

Balfour Castle
Britain's most northerly inhabited castle and its two-acre Victorian gardens form part of the private Balfour Estate on the Island of Shapinsay. Magnificent Balfour Castle has stood overlooking Kirkwall Bay for more than 160 years.

Eating Out

Game wild birds for example pheasant and partridge are local favorites, much like fresh seafood and sea food. Rabbit and lamb dishes will also be on many menus, offered using the versatile potato. Just near the great Cathedral may be the Strynd Tearoom where one can order the very best cakes around. The St. Magnus Café is situated over the Cathedral and serves snacks for weary vacationers. The Dil Se Restaurant offers spicy and flavorsome Indian food at its very best in a Scottish town. Seafood and chips are Harbor Fry’s menu bestseller. Sea food preparations and roasted beef would be best offered in the Kirkwall Hotel, situated right while watching Kirkwall port of call.

Shopping

A number of small shops are available on Bridge and Albert Street, the primary street within the town center. Knitwear, local crafts and arts, and jewelry are popular purchases. The neighborhood currency is the British pound. The city is renowned for its authentic crafts. Several craft shops to look for are Ortak Jewelry and also the Longship Store. The Orcadian bookshop offers a multitude of books at retail prices. If you are planning to take more time around and also stock on provisions, you are able to visit in the Somerfield Supermarket.