Orkney is an archipelago in the north of Scotland, consisting of 70 islands. Known for its many Neolithic monuments and tombs of Celtic tribes. Tourists are also attracted by the rocky coast of the islands and the unique flora and fauna. What to see in Orkney for a tourist about to travel to Scotland?
Island History
Starting from the Stone Age, the territory of Orkney is inhabited by people calling themselves Picts. The first written records of settlements in this part of Scotland are dated I century BC. e. - the time of the Roman conquests of the British Isles. In the 9th century, the Orkneys were colonized by warlike Vikings who sailed to islands from distant Norway. They in 995 baptized the inhabitants of the islands in the Christian faith.
In 1468, the islands were transferred as a dowry to the Scottish king James III. Subsequently, Norway repeatedly tried to buy them back, but their attempts were unsuccessful. Later, in the 17th century, Orkney, together with Scotland, became part of Great Britain, to which they are still a part.
Peat industry has always flourished in the Orkney Islands. There are also several factories producing Scotch whiskey. In the 20th century, a naval base was located on the islands, which was disbanded after World War II.
How to get to Orkney?
Orkney Islands are remote from the civilized world, but getting to them is easy. You can fly to the largest city in Kirkwall Archipelago by plane. Flights from Edinburgh, Inverness, London and Birmingham airports fly to the islands almost every day.
There is also a ferry service between Inverness and Kirkwall. The journey takes approximately 3 hours. From Edinburgh to Inverness can be reached by buses, the schedule of which is specially designed in time to catch the ferry. Before the trip, you should take care of the tickets in advance and book them a few days before departure. In summer, especially in July and August, ferries can be crowded. The South Orkney Islands are connected to the central via motorways.
Tomb of the eagles
The Eagle Tomb is located northwest of Kirkwall on the island of Mainland, near the settlement of Eastbister. This is an ancient chamber tomb from the Neolithic era. It is located in a rocky cliff. According to archaeologists, there are at least 15,000 human remains and approximately 700 bird remains. According to legend, burials here took place over the years. Locals caught eagles and sacrificed them to the goddess of death.
The burial was discovered in 1958 by Scottish archaeologists, and the main excavations were carried out in the 1970s. Now the Tomb of the Eagles is open to tourists, tours are regularly held here.
St. Magnus Cathedral
The sights of the Orkney Islands are not only archaeological sites, but also architectural masterpieces. One of them is St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, the northernmost church in Great Britain. The temple was built in the XII century by the Norwegians who inhabited the archipelago at that time. It received its name in honor of St. Magnus - the son of the Norwegian king, who became famous for his meekness and piety. His relics are still stored in the temple.
The cathedral is an ancient monument of Norman architecture. It is built of red sandstone in the Romanesque style. On its territory there is also an ancient Catholic cemetery. Near the temple are the ruins of an episcopal castle, here are the remains of an ancient castle of counts, who once ruled the Orkney archipelago. Under the cathedral are numerous dungeons that once served as a prison. The cathedral regularly hosts tourist excursions, which also sanctify the ruins located nearby.
Scara Bray
Skara-Bray is a unique Neolithic settlement that has been almost completely preserved to this day. Archaeologists believe that the village existed for 600 years between 3100 and 2500 BC. e. It is believed that it, like Pompeii, was destroyed as a result of a natural disaster that hid the settlement from the eyes of people. Scara-Bray was discovered by chance in 1850 after a severe storm. Initially, archaeologists were not able to determine the age and culture of the settlement, mistaking it for a Viking village. Later, during the excavations of 1926, it turned out that Skara-Bray is one of the oldest monuments of human culture.
The settlement consists of 10 rounded houses, deepened underground to protect from the cold. Each of them is equipped with doors with deadbolts, as well as a primitive sewage system. It is believed that Scara-Bray is the birthplace of modern toilets. Residents ate seafood: fish, mussels and oysters. They were skilled masons. Some houses preserved decoration elements: beads, necklaces, rings with ornaments of languages unknown to science.
Dwarf stein
Dwarf Stein translated from the Scottish language means "dwarf stone." On the territory of the Orkney Islands there are many monuments of this kind, but this ancient stone is considered the oldest and most valuable for science. A monolith is a solid tomb carved from red limestone. The entrance to it was closed with the help of a plate, which now lies not far from the stone. The burial ground was allegedly looted in the 16th century, but it is not known by whom. Also on the stone there are several inscriptions in the Persian language, carved presumably in the XIX century. Dwarf Stein is located on Hoy Island.
The small South Orkney Islands, whose fauna is one of the most unique in the UK, are a must for tourists. In addition to Dwarf Stein, here you can see beautiful rocky landscapes that are almost untouched by people. Here lives the only species of lambs in the world that feeds on algae.
Orkney Islands, whose sights are far from ordinary tourists, will be a real find for lovers of something new. People interested in ancient history and northern scenic landscapes should definitely visit this archipelago.