Orkney Islands

Sunday, Aug.15, 2026

Kirkwall, Orkley Islands

“Look deep into nature, and then you understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

Kirkwall, the lively capital of the Orkney Islands, blends Norse heritage, medieval architecture, and island charm. Anchored by the magnificent St Magnus Cathedral—a 12th‑century red‑sandstone landmark founded by Viking Earl Rognvald—Kirkwall’s narrow flagstone streets wind past the ruins of the Earl’s and Bishop’s Palaces, a bustling harbour, and a cosmopolitan mix of shops and cafés.

As the largest town in Orkney, it serves as the archipelago’s cultural and commercial hub, with ferries linking visitors to the surrounding islands and their world‑class Neolithic sites, windswept cliffs, and quiet coastal villages. Beyond Kirkwall, the Orkney Islands themselves stretch across more than 70 islands, only about 20 inhabited, offering a landscape where prehistoric stone circles, Norse sagas, and modern island life coexist in a striking North Atlantic setting.

In the center of the town, a century-old sycamore stands — an incredible sight in an island almost bare of trees. It is beloved that was named “Tree of the Year” in Scotland in 2017 in a national competition. In a country where competition abounds, is there such a contest in the United States? Hmmm?