Home
 About Orkney
 History
 Tradition
 Folklore
 Placenames
 Images
 Downloads
 About the Site
 Contact 
 Links 
 Search Site 
 Awards
 
  Orkney Related Links

The following are a selection of links to complement and expand on the information found on this website. Links to more specific topics can be found throughout Orkneyjar.


Archaeology, Megaliths, Monuments, Standing Stones
Bullet Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA)
Orkney Archaeological Trust - OAT is a registered charity founded in 1996 to provide Orkney with the archaeological service required for its incredible archaeology. The Trust acts as a focus for professional and educational research into these sites and monuments. This site not only contains details of the Trust but also excavation reports on Minehowe, Stonehall, Crossiecrown and Crantit
Bullet Friends of Orkney Archaeological Trust - an integral part of the Orkney Archaeological Trust, FOAT help OAT protect and preserve Orkney's archaeology, and to promote awareness in the general public. The Friends raise considerable funds each year by organising events, and by their subscription fees and donations.
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) - features a searchable database of monuments as well as an impressive online map, showing all sites of historical interest. Requires registration.
Orkney Heritage - The Orkney Islands Council department dealing with the county's heritage, museum services and historical sites.
The Quoygrew Excavation: A site detailing the ongoing archaeological investigations at Quoygrew Viking settlement on Westray undertaken by the University of York. The work began began in 1997 and is investigating the relationship between aspects of the 11th century transition from the Viking Age to the Middle Ages in Norse Scotland.
The Stone Pages. A site created by two Italian friends, Paola Arosio and Diego Meozzi, covering all things megalithic. We met Paula and Diego in June 1998 while they were in Orkney as part of their Ancient Scotland Tour.
The Megalith Map - A resource for finding any stone circle or row in England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
The Stone Circle Webring This webring contains numerous sites with information on not only Orkney's Standing Stones and Stone circles.
Charles Tait's Maeshowe Site. It was in December 1997, that a camera was first placed within the Neolithic tomb of Maeshowe and the phenomenon of the winter solstice sunset was broadcast over the internet. For more details of this and subsequent events, see this site.
Historic Scotland - The agency within the Scottish Executive directly responsible for safeguarding the nation's built heritage. Stewards of Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Broch o' Gurness among others.

Culture, Heritage and Literature
Bullet The Orkney Heritage Society
George Mackay Brown - The Stromness Poet: Until his death in April 1996, George Mackay Brown was a common sight walking through the streets of his beloved Stromness. A man of immense humility and literary skill, George's writing has captivated me since childhood, the first GMB book I bought being Pictures in the Cave, way back in Primary School. I still have the book. Battered and a little dog-eared, it sits in pride of place in my library of other GMB works.
Bullet St Magnus Cathedral - a superb site from SCRAN, documenting the history of the cathedral, from the phases of its construction to modern day use.
George Mackay Brown - Bard of Orkney: An ambitious website that aims to be the definitive online resource relating to GMB.
Bullet Heritage North, Discover the past, today. Heritage North - website covering the heritage of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Museums Council, the site has a directory of Museums, Heritage Centres and Organisations in the Highlands and Islands as well as Heritage event listings in the area. Also available are monthly features on Highland and Islands Museums.
The Icelandic Sagas
Shetland Dialect: Shetland dialect has much in common with Orcadian, both stemming from the old language Norn. This site by John Tait not only contains information on pronunciation, spelling and grammar but also written examples of Shetland dialect - including the entire Gospel of St Mark.
The Old Norse Language: A site dedicated to teaching the language of Viking age Orkney. At present there is only a grammar and word list, but some day the webmaster promises that a complete beginners course will be on line.

General Orkney Information Links
Button Orkneyislands.info A complete Visitors Guide to the Orkney Islands - An online visitors guide to all that Orkney. Includes information ranging from getting here to places to eat and sites to see.
Button Orkney Geology - a marvellous and informative site on the geology of Orkney, in particular its relationship to the islands' landscape..
The Orcadian Online - The online presence of Orkney's oldest newspaper, The Orcadian. Founded in 1854, The Orcadian is an institution in the islands - read by Orcadians for generations.
Orkney Islands Council - highlighting the range of over 700 services OIC offer to the people of Orkney
Bullet Orkney Ramblers- Bi-weekly Sunday walks in the Orkney countryside.
Bullet Orkneycommunities.co.uk - A community portal featuring links to local groups, a photographic section and a calendar of events happening in the county.
Bullet Buy OrkneyBuyorkney.com - Not only an online shop but an extensive site with information about Orkney including web-cams, biographies and a digital guide book.
Orkney College - Orkney's Further Eduction facility, actively involved in the UHI Millennium Institute.
Radio Orkney - the morning news bulletins from Orkney's local radio station are available online each day. Requires Realplayer software.
Bullet Orkney Aerial Photos - A website from a Caithness-based pilotoffering stunning views of the country from a dramatically different angle.

The section dedicated to Orkney contains more than 100 images, including Kirkwall, Stromness, Hoy and the North Isles.
Orkney Links Galore! - The title says it all.
Orknet - The original Orkney Website on the WWW.
The Orkney Science Festival - Orkney's annual science festival, that has firmly established itself as a unique event, not just in the Orkney calendar of events, but in the wider sphere of Science-related festivals around the world.
Joanne Winter's Guide to Orkney - An excellent site covering everything a visitor to the islands would need to know. Travel details, accommodation, places to visit and more are all detailed here.
Birsay Heritage - Explore Birsay's 5,000 year heritage from the Neolithic , Picts and Vikings to modern times.
The Scapa Flow Website. Scapa Flow is one of Britain's most historic stretches of water. It's sheltered waters have been used by ships since prehistory and it has played an important role in travel, trade and conflict throughout the centuries - especially during both World Wars. This site covers many elements of "The Flow" including Orkney's wartime heritage.
The Sanday Tourist Association and The Sanday Website - The island of Sanday is the Towrie family home. Find out more about it at these community sites.
Charles Tait's Website. Contains a detailed section relating to the Kirkwall Ba' Game and various Orcadian Neolithic sites.
The Westray Website - Learn about life and community on 'the Queen o' The Isles.' Also, for the prospective visitor, see the Westray & Papa Westray Tourist Association.
The Papay Website - the online presence of Papa Westray.
The Stronsay Website. A website set up for the people of Stronsay.
The Eday School Community Website - containing information on the island of Eday.

Genealogy Sites - click here for more details

Tours and Tour Guides
Orkney Tourist Guides Association - OTGA has over 40 accredited guides with invaluable local knowledge of all aspects of Orkney.
Orkney Archaeology Tours - tour Orkney's sites with a professional archaeologist.
Five Senses - an Orkney-based business with a focus on cultural tours,ancient skills and independence in the outdoors.

Transport - travelling to and in Orkney
Visit Orkney - The website of the Orkney Tourist Board. Includes accommodation, what's on and travel details.
Ridgway Travel - When your travel agent says WHERE?!! Call Orkney's leading travel agent.
Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries: How to get here - car and passenger ferry service to the Orkney and Shetland islands
Pentland Ferries - quickest vehicle ferry crossing: just one hour between Caithness and St. Margarets Hope, South Ronaldsay.
John o' Groats Ferries - passenger ferry service from John O' Groats. runs from 1st May to 30th September.
Orkney Ferries - Internal ferry service, operating seven ferries between Orkney Mainland and thirteen of the smaller islands.
Orkney Car Hire - There's no doubt the best way to see Orkney is by car - in conjunction with the internal ferries.

Online Shopping
Bullet The Orcadian Bookshop: As well as stocks the latest best sellers and new titles and The Orcadian Bookshop specialises in selling local interest books online and has a wide range of Orkney books, some also published by The Orcadian.
Bullet Judith Glue: A collection of Orkney Island knitwear, hampers, food and gifts and the more unusual places of where to stay, eat and visit in Orkney.
Bullet Shorelines Gallery: A range of Orkney prints, watercolours and gifts, as well as watercolour classes and lessons in their Finstown studio.
Bullet Orkneystore.com: A little bit of Orkney delivered to your door. From food, world-renowned whisky, beers and wine, traditional crafts, arts, literature, knitwear and jewellery of the highest quality are all produced in this special environment.

Miscellaneous
Scandinavica: An extensive site providing provides information about the Nordic and the Baltic countries. Contains a database of the most representative Nordic media, institutions, societies, etc, including a dedicated Orkney and Shetland section.
Polkadotmittens - the yarnings of an Orcadian lass: An online blog by Orcadian Christine Groundwater. Includes a section on Orkney placenames.