ORKNEY
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The Orkney Islands are a group of islands off the northern coast of Scotland. The largest of them is called Mainland, from the Old Norse name Meginland. Mainland's west coast consists of mostly dramatic cliffs, constantly eroded by the waves pounding in from the North Atlantic.
Panorama
April 2018
We’re planning on visiting the Orkney islands again in November. We had booked for last November, but it got cancelled due to the pandemic... so we just moved the booking on 12 months. Fingers crossed
My profile pic is the flag of the Orkney islands.
Orkney is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, a lieutenancy area, and an historic county. The local council is Orkney Islands Council, one of only three councils in Scotland with a majority of elected members who are independents.
Pytheas of Massilia visited Britain – probably sometime between 322 and 285 BC – and described it as triangular in shape, with a northern tip called Orcas. This may have referred to Dunnet Head, from which Orkney is visible. Writing in the 1st century AD, the Roman geographer Pomponius Mela called the islands Orcades, as did Tacitus in 98 AD, claiming that his father-in-law Agricola had "discovered and subjugated the Orcades hitherto unknown" (although both Mela and Pliny had previously referred to the islands.
These "Snow Rolls" have started appearing in West Mainland Orkney today.
Road conditions are such that travelling to just to photograph them would not be advisable.
I have never seen such a thing before and I am wondering if anyone on Flickr has ever seen such a thing?
N.b our local radio station BBC Radio Orkney are/have sent photos/videos to their colleagues in the BBC to try and get an explanation as why/what has caused this?
Beautiful soft Orkney landscape showing off the magical hues in late evening sunshine.....
©Gerry Gutteridge...
Oh Orkney, land of old Norse lore.
Where are all the seals and boar?
Through rain and mist, cannot be seen.
Still love the way you are, Just windy, flat...and green!
© Simon Downham 27th July 2015
The Orkney lookout near Drumheller, Alberta, provides a great view of the Red Deer River and surrounding badlands.
Driving towards the village of Stenness on the mainland of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. A great "big" summer sky ahead. is pretty common when the water is clear. Towards the left are the hills of Hoy.
About a mile or two further up this road is the Brig o' Waithe made famous as the place where the first British civilian casualty of the World War II was killed in March 16, 1940 when a German bomber released bombs that were meant for Scapa Flow to the south east. Scapa Flow was again selected as the main British naval base during WWII due to its distance from the German airbases.
Driving south on mainland Orkney on our way to the Tomb of Eagles we cam over a hill to this sight. A car stopping moment, as I was driving :) The water is Scarpa Flow which used to house the British battle fleet during war time. Churchill had causeways built between islands to stop enemy submarines sneaking in after one did just that.
Friday evening here so I wish you all a good weekend.
It is the main island of Orkney, located in the north of Scotland. Mainland is both the largest island by size, but also by its population, 75% of the inhabitants of the archipelago live on this island, mainly in the towns of Kirkwall and Stromness.
C'est l'île principale des Orcades, situées au nord de l'Écosse. Mainland est à la fois la plus grande île par sa taille, mais aussi par sa population, 75 % des habitants de l'archipel habitent sur cette île, principalement dans les villes de Kirkwall et Stromness.
ORKNEY ISLAND
SCOTLAND
Orkney gold - Dawn at the Heart of Neolithic Orkney with the stones of the Ring of Brodgar all painted gold in the rich, warm, light of a summer sunrise just moments after the sun breaks over the Loch of Harray.
Probably my most memorable moment of 2019 when I was so richly rewarded for a 0330 start. Being totally alone at the ring at this unearthly, yet superbly magical hour was as other-worldly an experience as one can get.
The stones take on not just a mystical appearance, but seemingly come alive too; like silent, motionless figures all about to step forward. The silence and magic of this stunning and truly inspirational location was palpable.
Oh what history and mysteries does this place hold, with the forgotten memories of countless generations that have passed through this remote and remarkable landscape. It’s for moments like this I spend the whole year dreaming of. Being in peace with both nature and the mysterious, ancient, historic past; real tonic for mind and soul.
Many thanks everyone for your generous support over the year and wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2020.
Mainland Orkney, Northern Isles, Scotland