| Travel north to John O'Groats, then north again: that's where you'll find Orkney. It's Scottish now but long ago it was part of the Norwegian kingdom and its colourful heritage still shines through today. You may find Orcadian accents and manners hard to place at first – they're quite unlike those you'll come across in the north of Scotland. If you're expecting an island mentality, think again: wherever we went, we were warmly greeted, and the more remote the island the better the welcome. Here, you won't feel like a tourist – you'll be a visitor. Even in peak season, there are never too many people. But it's the landscape which forms a lasting impression: it is by turns bleak, romantic and mysterious. |
Click on the map, or use the links on the right, to visit the area of your choice. |
