The rugged beauty of the archipelago has been a source of fascination since time immemorial. The windswept mix of land and sea fired the imagination of our Neolithic ancestors when they built the ancient architectural treasures which still stand as an eloquent monument to an early civilisation.
Centuries later the islands were coveted by marauding Vikings who were so enchanted they settled for hundreds of years, leaving a distinctive inheritance of Norse architecture, culture and language.
More recently, the islands have witnessed moments of great historical significance, such as the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow in 1919. A couple of decades later Scapa Flow would play a crucial role in the fight against the Nazis as the UK’s main base for the Royal Navy.
But as absorbing and important as Orkney’s rich heritage happens…
