Orkneys

A strip of small islands at the top of Scotland is what most of us think when anyone talks about the Orkneys. Most of us don't even know where they are. Does that sound about right to you? I hope so, because this Blog is going to make you think twice about these islands.

When I visited the Orkneys in 2015, I have to confess it was not a holiday I was looking forward to. I prefered sunshine and tropical climates, filled with exquisitely made landmarks and art works. The Orkneys were cold and wet from the infamous British weather and filled with stone structures. How was I to know those same stone structures were as old as Stonehenge?!

Don't tell English Heritage but I would rather visit the Great White House in nearby Westbury. Now that is a monument that can take your breath away. Plus, you can stand on it for free!

I'd never seen the Orkney structures before, had zero idea what they were, or what they even looked like outside a picture featured in 1001 Places To Visit Before You Die, so how was I to excited about them. But did that stop my parents? No, course it didn't. My parents love this stuff. The Ring of Brodgar, the Skara Brae Village and Marshowe, one of the Nordic houses still standing - they're all there for you to enjoy, for you to visit. I was disappointed to not visit the Old Man of Hoy and Scapa Flow, as to me those two structures were more exciting to look at, but we were only there for a week.

Fun fact - they do not identify themselves as Scottish, but Danish! Scotland owns the islands but the population wave Denmark Flags not St Andrews Cross. It certainly makes them unique. The Shetlands are Scottish, the Outer Hebrides are Scottish, yet the Orkneys aren't, or rather don't think of themselves of Scottish!

Even four years later, I still can't work out why the Orkneys are owned by Scotland, but the native population identify themselves as Danish.

But don't let that stop you, the Orkneys are filled with sites that you should find time to visit. I have included a list below. It's not the full list, but the list of the most popular tourist attractions.

The tourist list of Orkney Landmarks:

• Scapa Flow,
• Churchills Barriers,
• Old Man of Hoy,
• Broch of Gurness,
• Skara Brae Village,
• Ring of Brodgar, 
• Ness of Brodgar,
• Marshowe,
• Standing Stones of Stenness,
• Loch of Stenness,
• St Magnus Cathedral,
• Italian Chapel,
• Papa Westray, and
• Yesnaby.

But these landmarks clearly give the Orkneys their own long history. Personal and communal heritage is very important to those who call these islands home. From the prominent flags and unearthed archaeology at Skara Brae and Morshowe, they hold their Scandinavian and Nordic roots close to the chest. But at the same time, they hold their nationality close as well. They are Scottish, no matter how differently they perceive themselves. 

Everyone in the British Isles are part Scandinavian - have been since the Viking Raids of around 790 AD, working their way from Viking Bay in the South West of Kent, the Orkneys and the Coast of Northumbria to bring in a new age of Brittania's vast history and her people a new identity and way of life. 

This is why the Orkneys play such a vital role in Great Britain's national heritage. From the Dark Age monuments, to the Vikings, the blanket of Scotland rule and to its strategic relevance to the First and Second World Wars. For more information on the Naval Power of the Orkneys, Abandoned Engineering once explained how Scapa Flow became so important to the War Effort between British and German Ships and the War at Sea.

If you ever wish to give history another look from a different perspective, the Orkneys are always welcome.