Orkney and Shetland Isles - Scotland - Travel - Accommodation - Tourism
Located 10km off Scotland's
north coast are the Orkney Islands known for the most
dramatic coastal scenery in Scotland. There are 300m-tall
cliffs, sandy beaches, an abundance of marine-bird life,
and prehistoric sites, including an entire 4500 year
old village at Skara Brae. Visitors come annually in
June for the St. Magnus Arts Festival. 16 of the 70
islands are inhabited. The major towns of Kirkwall and
Stromness.
The Orkneys, ancient Orcades, were subdued in 875 by
Harold Haarfager, first king of Norway, and were ruled
by Scandinavian earls until 1231. In 1468, they were
pledged to the Scottish crown as security for the dowry
of Margaret, wife of James III, and since the pledge
was unredeemed, remained under Scotland. Most of the
place names are Norse, and the population is of Scandinavian
and Scottish descent.
The Shetland Islands is a group of more than 100
islands constituting a county or shire of Scotland.
They lie northeast of the Orkney Islands between the
North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Only about a quarter
of the islands are inhabited. The principal islands
are Mainland, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Whalsey, Bressay,
and East and West Burra.
The largest island is Mainland, comprising about half
the total area, with a coastline so irregular that no
point of the island is more than three miles distant
from the sea. The highest point is on Mainland, where
Ronas Hill reaches 1475 feet.
Settled originally by Norsemen, the islands remained
under Norse rule until the marriage of James III of
Scotland to margaret, princess of Norway.
Cities & Towns in Orkney & Shetland Islands: Kirkwall, Sromness, Balfour, Lerwick, Scalloway,
Baltasound
For more information click:
http://www.visitorkney.com |
