| Mainland, Orkney | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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| OS grid reference: | HY350158 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name: | Unknown |
| Norse name: | Megenland/Hrossey |
| Meaning of name: | Norse for 'mainland' or 'island of horses' |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 52,325 ha
202. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age 02 sq. miles |
| Area rank (Scottish islands): | 6 |
| Highest elevation: | Mid Hill 271 m |
| Population | |
| Population (2001): | 15,315 |
| Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands): | 3 out of 97 |
| Main settlement: | Kirkwall |
| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | Orkney |
| Local Authority: | Orkney Islands Council |
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| References: | [1][2][3] |
The Mainland is the main island of Orkney, Scotland. Scotland covers an area of 78782 km² or 30341 mi², giving it a Population density of. Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north For local government purposes Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Both of Orkney's burghs, Kirkwall and Stromness, lie on the island, which is also the heart of Orkney's ferry and air connections. A Burgh (ˈbʌʀə is an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland, usually a Town. Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and
The island is more densely populated (75% of Orkney's population) than the other islands and has much fertile farmland. In Geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to Plough) is an agricultural term meaning land that can be used for
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Geography
The island is relatively densely populated and has much fertile farmland. In Geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to Plough) is an agricultural term meaning land that can be used for The name Mainland is a corruption of the Old Norse Meginland (cf Mainland, Shetland). Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age Mainland is the main Island of Shetland, Scotland. The island contains Shetland's only Burgh, Lerwick, and is the centre of Shetland's Formerly the island was also known as Hrossey meaning 'Horse Island'. The island is sometimes referred to as Pomona, a name that stems from a sixteenth century mis-translation by George Buchanan (1506-1582) and which has rarely been used locally[4][5], although it is retained in the name of the Pomona Inn at Finstown at the parish of Firth. George Buchanan (February 1506 - September 28, 1582) was a Scottish Historian and humanist scholar Finstown in the parish of Firth on Mainland, Orkney is the third largest settlement on the island Disambiguation you may be looking for the Pentland Firth Firth ( Fjörðr meaning a Firth or Fjord) is a parish mainly in [6]
The bulk of the Mainland is west of Kirkwall. It is low-lying, but with coastal cliffs to the north and west and two sizeable lochs - the lochs of Stenness and Harray. In Geography and Geology, a cliff is a significant vertical or near vertical rock exposure A loch (usually Lough as a name element outside Scotland) is a body of Water which is either a Lake or The Loch of Stenness together with the Loch of Harray is one of the largest freshwater lochs of Mainland Orkney.
The eastern part of the Mainland is shaped like the letter "W", the easternmost peninsula being known as Deerness. A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. Deerness ( Old Norse: Dyrnes) is a Quoad sacra parish and peninsula in Mainland Orkney. To the south, causeways called Churchill Barriers connect the island to Burray and South Ronaldsay via Lamb Holm and Glims Holm. In modern usage a causeway is a road or railway elevated by a bank usually across a broad Body of water or Wetland. The Churchill Barriers are a series of four Causeways in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, with a total length of 2 Burray is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. It lies to the east of Scapa Flow and is one of the chain of islands which are linked by the causesways South Ronaldsay is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. Lamb Holm is a small uninhabited Island in Orkney, Scotland. It is linked to the Orkney Mainland and to Glimps Holm, Burray Glims Holm (OS Glimps Holm; Old Norse: Glums Holm) is a small uninhabited Islet in Orkney, Scotland.
Mainland effectively provides the core of the Orkney Islands, linking the northern members of the archipelago with the southern ones. At the east, and west ends, islands proceed to the north and south, somewhat like an "X". This has been taken advantage of in the siting of Kirkwall, the capital of the islands, which not only has easy access to the north, but also to Scapa Flow to the south, which is one of the world's great natural harbours. Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. Scapa Flow ( Old Norse: Skalpaflói) is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands
Parishes
The are 13 parishes on the island. A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches [7] Sandwick, Birsay and Stromness lie on the west coast, Rendall and Evie to the north west. Sandwick ( Old Norse: Sandvík, meaning "Sand Bay" is a parish on the west coast of Mainland Orkney. Birsay ( Old Norse: Birgisherað)is a Parish in the north west corner of The Mainland of Orkney, Scotland. Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney Rendall ( Old Norse: Rennudalr or Rennadal) is a parish in Mainland Orkney. Evie is a Parish and village on The Mainland Orkney, Scotland. Holm, Deerness and St Andrews are located to the east of central St Ola, which contains Kirkwall town. Holm, pronounced "Ham" is a parish on Mainland Orkney. Deerness ( Old Norse: Dyrnes) is a Quoad sacra parish and peninsula in Mainland Orkney. St Andrews is a parish in Mainland Orkney. It is located east of the town of Kirkwall and the parish of St Ola and lies north of Holm and St Ola is a parish in Mainland Orkney. It is in the centre of the island east of the parish Firth and north of Holm. Firth, Orphir, Stenness and Harray lie west of Kirkwall and east of the westernmost parishes. Disambiguation you may be looking for the Pentland Firth Firth ( Fjörðr meaning a Firth or Fjord) is a parish mainly in Orphir ( Old Norse: Jorfjara/Orfjara) is a parish and settlement in Mainland Orkney. in Shetland Stenness ( Old Norse: Steinnes or Steinsnes, meaning headland/peninsula of the stone is a Village and parish Harray ( Old Norse: Herað - cf Harris) is a former parish on Mainland Orkney, now merged with Birsay. Harray has the unique distinction of being the only landlocked parish in Orkney, although it too has a significant coast along the Loch of Harray, albeit a freshwater one. The Loch of Stenness together with the Loch of Harray is one of the largest freshwater lochs of Mainland Orkney.
Main Settlements
The three main settlements on Mainland, in order of magnitude are: Kirkwall, Stromness and Finstown. Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney Finstown in the parish of Firth on Mainland, Orkney is the third largest settlement on the island Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney Finstown in the parish of Firth on Mainland, Orkney is the third largest settlement on the island Kirkwall and Stromness are both burghs.
Kirkwall lies on a narrow strip of land between West Mainland (the major portion) and East Mainland, which historically enabled it to have access to both the southern and northern Orkney Islands. Kirkwall is also the traditional seat of the Bishop of Orkney, and St. Magnus Cathedral is to be found there. The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern Scotland. St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland It is also one of the island's ferry ports.
A long-established seaport that grew with whaling, Stromness has a population of approximately 2,200 residents. Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney The old town is clustered along the main street, flanked with houses and shops built from local stone, with narrow lanes and alleys branching off it. There is a ferry link from Stromness to Scrabster in Caithness as well as the Isle of Hoy. Scrabster Harbour is an important port of the Scottish fishing industry Geography Caithness extends about 40 Miles (64 Kilometres) north-south and about 30 miles (50 km east-west Hoy (from Old Norse Háey meaning high island is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland.
Finstown is the third largest settlement, and used to be known as the "Toon o Firth". Disambiguation you may be looking for the Pentland Firth Firth ( Fjörðr meaning a Firth or Fjord) is a parish mainly in The origin of its name is thought to be from an Irishman named David Phin who came to the area in 1811. It is on the main Stromness to Kirkwall road. Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. [8]
Geology
Mainland is built up nearly entirely of a bedrock of Old Red Sandstone, in common with most of the Orkney isles, which is approximately 400 million years old and was laid down in the Devonian period. The Old Red Sandstone is a Rock formation of considerable importance to early Paleontology. The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic era spanning from to million years ago. These thick deposits accumulated as earlier Silurian rocks, uplifted by the formation of Pangaea, eroded and then deposited into river deltas. The Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician period about 443 Pangaea, Pangæa or Pangea (pænˈdʒiːə from παν pan, meaning entire, and Γαῖα Gaea, meaning Earth in The freshwater Orcadian Lake existed on the edges of these eroding mountains, stretching from Shetland to the southern Moray Firth. Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland; Old Norse non Hjaltland; Sealtainn is an Archipelago off the northeast coast of The Moray Firth ( Scottish Gaelic: An Cuan Moireach or Linne Mhoireibh) is a roughly triangular Inlet (or Firth) of the North [9] As in the nearby mainland of Caithness, these rocks rest upon the metamorphic rocks of the eastern schists, and in Mainland where a narrow strip is exposed between Stromness and Inganess, they are represented by grey gneiss and granite. Metamorphic rock is the result of the transformation of an existing rock type the protolith, in a process called Metamorphism, which means "change The schists form a group of medium-grade Metamorphic rocks chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar Minerals such as Micas chlorite Gneiss (ˈnaɪs is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from preexisting formations that were originally Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock.
The Lower Old Red Sandstone is represented by well-bedded flagstones over most of the islands; in the south of Mainland these are faulted against an overlying series of massive red sandstones.
Many indications of glacial action exist in the form of striated surfaces are to be seen in Kirkwall Bay along with boulder clay, with marine shells, and with many boulders of rocks foreign to the islands (chalk, oolitic limestone, flint, &c. Chalk (ʧɔːk is a soft white porous Sedimentary rock, a form of Limestone composed of the Mineral Calcite. Oolite ( egg stone) is a Sedimentary rock formed from Ooids spherical grains composed of concentric layers Flint (or flintstone) is a hard sedimentary Cryptocrystalline form of the Mineral Quartz, categorized as a variety of Chert ), which must have been brought up from the region of Moray Firth, rests upon the old strata in many places. The Moray Firth ( Scottish Gaelic: An Cuan Moireach or Linne Mhoireibh) is a roughly triangular Inlet (or Firth) of the North Local moraines are found in some of the valleys. Moraine refers to any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris (soil and rock which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions such as those
Surrounding islands
There are numerous smaller Orkney islands surrounding the mainland, some which are islets only separated at higher stages of the tide, or skerries which are only exposed at lower stages of the tide. This is a list of Orkney islands in Scotland. The Orkney archipelago is located 16 kilometres (10 miles north of mainland Scotland and comprises These include Barrel of Butter, Bo Skerry, Bow Skerries, Braga, Brough of Bigging, Damsay, Holm of Houton, Holm of Grimbister, Holm of Rendall, Iceland Skerry, Inner Holm, Kirk Rocks, Little Skerry, Mirkady Point, Nevi Skerry, Outer Holm, Oyster Skerries, Puldrite Skerry, Quanterness Skerry, Scare Gun, Seal Skerry, Skaill Skerries, Skerries of Clestrain, Skerries of Coubister, Skerries of Lakequoy, Skerry of Work, Skerry of Yinstay, Smoogro Skerry, Thieves Holm, Whyabatten, and Yesnaby Castle. The Barrel of Butter is a rock in the Orkney Islands Geography and geology The rock is old Red sandstone of the Devonian period Damsay is an island in the Orkney archipelago in Scotland. It is approximately 18 hectares (0 The Holm of Houton is one of the southern Orkney islands Geography The Holm is in Midland Harbour, part of Scapa Flow. Thieves Holm is a small island in the Orkney Islands. Geography and geology Thieves Holm is due north of Mainland Orkney at the mouth of Kirkwall [10]
With two exceptions, the other islands in the Orkney Islands are classified as north or south of the Mainland. The exceptions are the remote islets of Sule Skerry and Sule Stack, which lie 37 miles (60 km) west of the archipelago, but officially form part of Orkney. Sule Skerry is an extremely remote Skerry in the North Atlantic off the north coast of Scotland. Sule Stack or Stack Skerry is an extremely remote volcanic stack in the North Atlantic off the north coast of Scotland.
History and notable sites
This western section of the island contains numerous Neolithic and Pictish constructions. ||-||-||-| Skara Brae (ˈskɑrə ˈbreɪ is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of mainland Orkney The Earl's Palace in Birsay, Orkney, Scotland, is a ruined Castle. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Picts were a Confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from Roman times until the 10th century Those Neolithic constructions include the Ring of Brodgar, the cairn Maeshowe and the stone-build settlement Skara Brae. The Ring of Brodgar (or Brogar) is a Neolithic Henge and Stone circle in Orkney, Scotland. Maeshowe (or Maes Howe) is a Neolithic Chambered cairn and Passage grave situated on mainland Orkney, Scotland. ||-||-||-| Skara Brae (ˈskɑrə ˈbreɪ is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of mainland Orkney
Most of the best known Orcadian ancient monuments are located in West Mainland, which includes the 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney', a UNESCO World Heritage Site. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex This comprises the large chambered tomb of Maes Howe, the ceremonial stone circles the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar and the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, together with a number of unexcavated burial, ceremonial and settlement sites. Maeshowe (or Maes Howe) is a Neolithic Chambered cairn and Passage grave situated on mainland Orkney, Scotland. The surviving Standing Stones of Stenness form an impressive Neolithic monument on the mainland of Orkney, Scotland. The Ring of Brodgar (or Brogar) is a Neolithic Henge and Stone circle in Orkney, Scotland. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos ||-||-||-| Skara Brae (ˈskɑrə ˈbreɪ is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of mainland Orkney The group constitutes a major prehistoric cultural landscape which gives a graphic depiction of life in this remote island in the far north of Scotland some 5,000 years ago. Nearby is the Barnhouse Settlement, a smaller cluster of prehistoric buildings. The recently discovered Neolithic Barnhouse Settlement is sited by the shore of Loch of Harray, Orkney Mainland, Scotland, not far from the
Other sites of interest include St. Magnus Cathedral and the ruin of the Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall, the Earl's Palace, a ruined 16th century castle in Birsay parish, and Skaill House, a merchants house and museum near Skara Brae. St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland The Bishop's Palace Kirkwall was built at the same time as the adjacent St Magnus Cathedral in the centre of Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, was The Earl's Palace in Birsay, Orkney, Scotland, is a ruined Castle. Birsay ( Old Norse: Birgisherað)is a Parish in the north west corner of The Mainland of Orkney, Scotland.
Viking settlers comprehensively occupied Orkney, and Mainland became a possession of Norway until being given to Scotland during the 15th century as part of a dowry settlement. A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Evidence of the Viking presence is widespread, and includes the settlement at the Brough of Birsay just to the west of the parish of Birsay, the vast majority of place names, and runic inscriptions at Maeshowe and other ancient sites. The Brough of Birsay is a small (21 hectare uninhabited tidal Island off the north west coast of The Mainland of Orkney, Scotland Birsay ( Old Norse: Birgisherað)is a Parish in the north west corner of The Mainland of Orkney, Scotland. Toponymy refers to the scientific study of place-names ( toponyms) their origins meanings use and Typology.
Perhaps the most important town in the west of Mainland, Stromness is of relatively recent origin, being first recorded as the site of an inn in the 16th century, although the name is of Norse origin. Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney Stromness became important during the late 17th century, when England was at war with France and shipping was forced to avoid the English Channel. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Ships of the Hudson's Bay Company were regular visitors, as were whaling fleets. Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC
The Churchill Barriers are a series of four causeways in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, with a total length of 2. The Churchill Barriers are a series of four Causeways in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, with a total length of 2 3 km (1. 5 miles). They link the south of Mainland in the north to the island of South Ronaldsay via Burray and the two smaller islands of Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm. South Ronaldsay is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. Burray is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. It lies to the east of Scapa Flow and is one of the chain of islands which are linked by the causesways Lamb Holm is a small uninhabited Island in Orkney, Scotland. It is linked to the Orkney Mainland and to Glimps Holm, Burray Glims Holm (OS Glimps Holm; Old Norse: Glums Holm) is a small uninhabited Islet in Orkney, Scotland. The barriers were built in the 1940s primarily as naval defences to protect the anchorage at Scapa Flow, but now serve as road links, carrying the A961. This was partially a defensive measure as on 14 October 1939, the Royal Navy battleship HMS Royal Oak was sunk at her moorings within the natural harbour of Scapa Flow, by the German U-boat U-47 under the command of Günther Prien. U-47 had entered Scapa Flow through Holm Sound, one of several eastern entrances to Scapa Flow. To prevent further attacks, the First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill ordered the construction of permanent barriers. Work began in May 1940 and the barriers were completed in September 1944, but were not officially opened until 12 May 1945, four days after the end of World War II in Europe.
Climate
The climate is remarkably temperate and steady for such a northerly latitude. The average temperature for the year is 8 °C (46 °F), for winter 4 °C (39 °F) and for summer 12 °C (54 °F).
The average annual rainfall varies from 850 mm (33 in) to 940 mm (37 in). Fogs occur during summer and early autumn, and furious gales may be expected four or five times in the year.
To tourists, one of the fascinations of the islands is their nightless summers. On the longest day, the sun rises at 03:00 and sets at 21:29 GMT and darkness is unknown. It is possible to read at midnight and very few stars can be seen in the night sky. Winter, however, is long. On the shortest day the sun rises at 09:05 and sets at 15:16. The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun 's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the [11]
The soil generally is a sandy loam or a strong but friable clay, and very fertile. Loam is Soil composed of Sand, Silt, and Clay in relatively even concentration (about 40-40-20% concentration respectively considered Large quantities of seaweed as well as lime and marl are available for manure. Seaweed is a loose colloquial term encompassing macroscopic Multicellular, benthic marine Algae. Calcium oxide ( CaO) commonly known as burnt lime, lime or quicklime, is a widely used Chemical compound. Marl or Marlstone is a Calcium carbonate or lime -rich mud or Mudstone which contains variable amounts of Clays and Aragonite
Transportation and infrastructure
Road
Mainland contains the vast majority of the island's roads, and is also connected to those on the main south east islands, such as South Ronaldsay and Burray thanks to the Churchill Barriers. South Ronaldsay is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. Burray is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. It lies to the east of Scapa Flow and is one of the chain of islands which are linked by the causesways The Churchill Barriers are a series of four Causeways in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, with a total length of 2
There are ideas being discussed to build an undersea tunnel between Orkney and the Scottish Mainland, at a length of about 9-10 miles (15-16 km) or (more likely) one connecting Orkney Mainland to Shapinsay. [12][13] The Orkney-Caithness route would be connected to Mainland, via the Churchill Barriers, but would make landfall on South Ronaldsay, if constructed. Geography Caithness extends about 40 Miles (64 Kilometres) north-south and about 30 miles (50 km east-west South Ronaldsay is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland.
Air
The main airport in Orkney is Kirkwall Airport, operated by Highland and Islands Airports. Kirkwall Airport is the main Airport serving the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL is the company that owns and operates 10 Airports in the Scottish Highlands, the Northern Isles and the Loganair, a franchise of British Airways provides services to the Scottish Mainland (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness), as well as to Sumburgh Airport in Shetland. Loganair is an Airline based at Glasgow International Airport in Scotland. British Airways plc ( is the national Airline and Flag carrier of the United Kingdom and one of the largest in Europe Aberdeen Airport is the third largest Airport in Scotland, and one of the UK 's top 10 by number of flight movements. Edinburgh Airport is located in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was the busiest Airport in Scotland in 2007 handling 9047558 passengers Inverness Airport is an International airport situated at Dalcross 7 Nautical miles (13 km northeast of the city of Inverness in the Scottish Sumburgh Airport is the main Airport serving Shetland in Scotland. Most of the scheduled flights within the Orkneys depart/arrive at Kirkwall from one of the other islands.
Ferry
Ferries serve both to link Orkney to the rest of Scotland, and also to link together the various islands of the Orkney archipelago. Ferry services operate between Orkney and the Scottish Mainland and Shetland on the following routes:
- Lerwick to Kirkwall (operated by Northlink Ferries)
- Aberdeen to Kirkwall (operated by Northlink Ferries)
- Scrabster to Stromness (operated by Northlink Ferries)
Two services also connect Caithness, with South Ronaldsay, which is in turn connected to Mainland by road. For the aircraft see Saro Lerwick Lerwick is the only Burgh and main port of the Shetland Islands Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. NorthLink Ferries operates daily ferry services between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland. Aberdeen ( pronounced; Aiberdeen Obar Dheathain is Scotland 's third most populous city and one of Scotland's 32 local government council Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. Scrabster Harbour is an important port of the Scottish fishing industry Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney
Inter-island ferry services connect all the inhabited islands to Orkney Mainland, and are operated by Orkney Ferries, a company owned by Orkney Islands Council. Orkney Ferries operates the inter-island Ferry services that link together the various islands of the Orkney Islands, to the north of the Scottish mainland Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north
Flora and fauna
Mainland has a great deal of marine life surrounding it, especially seabirds. Finstown in the parish of Firth on Mainland, Orkney is the third largest settlement on the island There are few wild land mammals although there is an endemic sub-species of the Common Vole, the Orkney Vole or Cuttick, Microtus arvalis orcadensis found only in the Orkney archipelago. Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere The Common Vole, Microtus arvalis, is a European Mammal. Distribution and habitat The common vole is hardly restricted in means The Orkney Vole, a distinct sub-species of the Common vole ( Microtus arvalis) is found only in the Orkney Islands, United Kingdom It may have been introduced by early settlers circa 4,000 years ago. [14]
There are sx hundred recorded species of plant on the Orkney Mainland. [2] Two rarities to be found here are the oyster plant (Mertensia maritima)[2] and the Scottish Primrose - the latter's location is kept secret. Primula scotica, commonly known as Scottish primrose, is a species of Primrose that is endemic to the north coast of Scotland [2]
The Scottish primrose (Primula scotica), is endemic to the north coast of Scotland, including Orkney and nearby Caithness. Primula scotica, commonly known as Scottish primrose, is a species of Primrose that is endemic to the north coast of Scotland Geography Caithness extends about 40 Miles (64 Kilometres) north-south and about 30 miles (50 km east-west It is closely related to the Arctic species Primula stricta and Primula scandinavica. The Arctic is the Region around the Earth 's North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. [15][16]
Brown hares and rabbits can be found here. [2] There are frogs, but no toads. [2]
Corncrakes can also be found in some parts. [2] The Loch of Harray can sometimes hold 10,000 wintering duck and is very important for pochard. The Loch of Stenness together with the Loch of Harray is one of the largest freshwater lochs of Mainland Orkney. [2]
Notable people from Mainland
- William Balfour Baikie, explorer, naturalist and philologist (Kirkwall)
- Stanley Cursiter, painter (Kirkwall)
- Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney
- Rögnvald Kali Kolsson
- George Mackay Brown, writer, (Stromness)
- Ernest Marwick, antiquarian, (Evie)
- Edwin Muir, writer and translator, (Deerness)
- John Rae, Arctic explorer (Orphir)
- Cameron Stout, TV personality (Stromness)
- Thomas Stewart Traill, professor of medical jurisprudence at the University of Edinburgh (Kirkwall)
- William Walls, lawyer, industrialist and Dean of Guild of Glasgow (Kirkwall)
Gallery
 Mainland |
 Sea Arch at Yesnaby |
 Brough of Deerness |
References
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ a b c d e f g h Haswell-Smith, Hamish. Link title William Balfour Baikie ( August 21, 1824 &mdash November 30, 1864) was a Scottish explorer, naturalist Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. Stanley Cursiter, CBE (1887-1976 was a Scottish artist who played an important role in introducing Post-Impressionism and Futurism to Scotland Saint Magnus, Earl Magnus Erlendsson of Orkney, was the first Earl of Orkney to bear that name and ruled from 1108 to about 1115 Ragnvald Kale Kollsson was a Norwegian Saint. He was born c 1100 and died 20 August 1158. George Mackay Brown ( 17 October 1921 - 13 April 1996) was a Scottish Poet, author and Dramatist, whose work Stromness /ˈstrɔmnəs/ is the second-largest town in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and is located in the south-west of the mainland of Orkney Ernest Walker Marwick (1915- 1977 was an Orcadian writer noted for his writings on Orkney folklore and history Evie is a Parish and village on The Mainland Orkney, Scotland. Edwin Muir ( 15 May 1887 &ndash 3 January, 1959) was an Orcadian poet novelist and noted translator born on a farm in Deerness Deerness ( Old Norse: Dyrnes) is a Quoad sacra parish and peninsula in Mainland Orkney. Dr John Rae ( 30 September 1813 &ndash 22 July 1893) was a Scottish doctor who became known as an explorer of Orphir ( Old Norse: Jorfjara/Orfjara) is a parish and settlement in Mainland Orkney. Cameron Stout (born 8 March 1971 in Stromness, Orkney) was the winner of ''Big Brother 4 UK'' in 2003. Dr Thomas Stewart Traill ( October 29 1781 - July 30 1862) was a Orcadian professor of medical Jurisprudence at the The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. William Walls ( 2 August 1819 – 27 September 1893) was a Scottish Lawyer, Industrialist and Dean Deerness ( Old Norse: Dyrnes) is a Quoad sacra parish and peninsula in Mainland Orkney. This is a list of the Islands of Scotland, the mainland of which is part of the island of Great Britain. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Buchanan, George (1582) Rerum Scoticarum Historia: The First Book The University of California, Irvine. Revised 08 March 2003. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved 04 October 2007. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
- ^ "Pomona or Mainland?" Orkneyjar. com. Retrieved 04 October 2007. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
- ^ BuyOrkney - Firth Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- ^ "Parishes" The Orcadian. Retrieved 19 April 2008. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
- ^ BuyOrkney - Firth Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- ^ McKirdy, Alan Gordon, John & Crofts, Roger (2007) Land of Mountain and Flood: The Geology and Landforms of Scotland. Edinburgh. Birlinn.
- ^ Ordnance Survey (2002) Landranger Maps. Ordnance Survey (OS is an Executive agency of the United Kingdom government Sheet No. 6.
- ^ "Sunrise and Sunsets" The Orcadian. Shows times for 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2008. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
- ^ David Lister. "Islanders see a brighter future with tunnel vision", The Times, September 5, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-07-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre.
- ^ John Ross. "£100m tunnel to Orkney 'feasible'", The Scotsman, 10 March 2005. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to
- ^ Orkney vole (pdf). Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-01-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC
- ^ "Caithness plants: Primula scotica" caithness. org. Retrieved 5 April 2008. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
- ^ Orkney Islands Council: "Where to see Primula scotica" Orkney Islands Council. Retrieved 5 April 2008. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
External links
See also
The List of places in Orkney is a link list for any Town, Village or Hamlet on the Orkney Islands, Scotland.Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic