ORKNEY

LOCATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS

Orkney is a thriving, fertile island archipelago of around 70 islands lying only seven miles north of the Scottish mainland. Stretching 53 miles from north to south and 23 miles from East to West, it shares the same latitude as St Petersburg and the southern tip of Greenland and is nearer to Oslo than it is to London. Orkney has occupied a pivotal strategic position as a departure point for the exploration of Canada, a land base for the Viking raiders, a naval harbour for the British Fleet and a graveyard for the surrendered German High Seas Fleet of the Great War.

It has good communications with regular air and sea services with mainland Scotland. Travel from London, Manchester and Birmingham through Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen and you can have lunch with your friends in Orkney. Alternatively you may choose the overland route, by bus, rail and daily ferry from Scrabster or the summer only ferry from John 0’ Groats.

GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE

‘The Grand Green Isles in the Sea’, the title of the Orkney Islands’ Games anthem, is an apt description of Orkney. With a coastline of over 500 miles, incorporating an area of 97,166 hectares, Orkney’s landscape ranges from the lush green pastures of prime farmland to the rugged rocky coasts, teeming with birdlife and towering at St John’s Head the highest perpendicular cliff in Britain at over 1 ,000ft, dwarfing the world famous sea stack — the Old Man of Hoy at only 450ft. The undulating almost treeless landscape reaches a maximum height of 1,550ft on the island of Hoy. Orkney’s northern maritime climate is mild but changeable, it is sometimes said that all four seasons can jostle each other during the course of an afternoon.

Orkney’s population of 19,612 inhabitants occupy 18 of the 70 islands. The largest island is called Mainland where 85% of the people live and where the City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall, the capital town, has a population of 7,445. Stromness, Orkney’s second town and main roll-on roll-off ferry link with the Scottish mainland, has 2,175 inhabitants. Kirkwall has been Orkney’s administrative and commercial centre since the 11th Century. Derived from the Norse Kirkjuvagr (Church Bay) the town is a bustling market and tourist centre with annual tourist numbers of over 120,000 visitors per year. The spectacular St Magnus Cathedral, dedicated in 1137, dominates the centre of the town.

Stromness, in comparison, is only 200 years old, built under a granite hillside with picturesque narrow cobbled streets with no pavements. Whilst less of a commercial centre, it offers much to the cultural heritage of the county.

HISTORY

Orkney’s history predates that of many other civilisations. Its historical and archeological finds over the years has enabled Orkney to record more sites per square mile than any other area in Western Europe. But quantity does not rival quality, only by directly experiencing Orkney’s ancient heritage can you measure its magnificence. The Stone Age village of Skara Brae was built in 3200 BC, some 500 years before the building of the Pyramids, but, 500 years before, in 3700 BC, at the Knapp of Howar on the island of Papa Westray you can witness the oldest standing houses in north-west Europe. As well as the treasures of the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages, the historical impact of the marauding Vikings has left its mark on modern Orkney. This Norse influence of the 8th and 9th centuries continuing through to the 12th Century is best illustrated in the place names of Orkney, in the patterns of settlement and as scripted in ‘The Orkneyinga Saga’.

More modern history was created through Orkney’s strategic role in the defence of Britain in the 19 14-18 and 1939-45 World wars. Centred on the natural harbour of Scapa Flow, it saw the epic scuffling of 74 German High Seas Fleet battleships in June 1919.

‘Our treasured islands -Steeped in history’.

GOVERNMENT

At one time owned by Norway, but sold in 1468 to Scotland, Orkney remains under the national government of the United Kingdom. It is served by a joint Member of Parliament with Shetland and shares with the Highlands and Islands area, a Member of the European Parliament. Its local government powers are delivered by the 28 elected members of Orkney Islands Council, the smallest regional authority in Britain. It is by far the major employer in the islands.

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

English is the official language. However, native Orcadians and particular island residents have established an Orcadian dialect described as a variation and softer Scottish brogue sometimes mistaken for a Welsh accent. Originating from a rural agricultural background, the unique strength of community identity and the safeguarding of Orkney’s heritage continues to provide a rich cultural quality of life for Orcadians. This has been further enriched by the integration of new islanders from other cultures.

ECONOMY

The Orcadians have always looked to the land for their living with farming the land and breeding of cattle and sheep more important than fishing the sea. Patterns change, however, and the riches within and more importantly, under the sea offer much to modern Orkney. Since 1976 the oil industry has processed North Sea oil through the Flotta Oil terminal. Up to 11 .5m tonnes were processed in 1993. The development of the Atlantic oilfields west of Orkney promises continuation for some years to come. The farming community revolves around 1,000 family farms, grazing in excess of 100,000 cattle and 55,000 sheep during the summer months when grasslands pastures are unrivalled. Tourism follows farming in importance with 120,000 visitors per annum producing a £25m spend compared to Orkney’s white fish trawler fleets £7m a year. Highland Park whisky is among a range of other local produce, crafts, silverware and other products which help make the Orkney economy thrive. Unemployment rate of 4% is less than half the Scottish average.

SPORT AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Sport has always played an important part in community life with many sporting organisations celebrating over 100 years of existence. High levels of participation and a wide range of sports lead people into multi-sport participation. Sport is seasonal with football and ladies’ hockey being major summer sports, and rugby, badminton, netball and indoor football in winter. 

Opportunities exist for most sports. The tremendous natural resources of inland lochs and sandy sheltered beaches provide excellent facilities for trout fishing, sea angling, sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing. Orkney’s trout fishing team have achieved the rank of British trout fishing champions. Free fishing for wild brown trout is a real attraction foi~ the visitor. The underwater theatre Qf German warships in Scapa Flow is a haven for sub aqua diving. Two 1 S-Fiolë golf courses cater fOr all ages of golf enthusiast Inter county events with near neighbours Shet1~ndyahd’ Caithness provide added incentive for competiiion beyond club level with considerable pride being demonstrated in such ‘battles’. Young people can progress through the age group divisions in most sports, but for many the lack of opportunities beyond 18 years was restrictive. The creation of the Island Games gave a window of opportunity in extending participation but also in creating greater achievements and higher standards of excellence. As one of the original fifteen islands, Orkney takes great interest in the medal performances of its sportsmen and women. 

"For our size, we do well."

Orkney has a network of community facilities for basic sports, arts and leisure time provision. The need for a regional facility has led to Orkney Islands Council planning a major leisure centre in Kirkwall. The Pickaquoy Centre, due to be completed in 1999, will be established as a Millennium project and will benefit from a £3.7million National Lottery grant. It will provide a major boost for sport and the arts and will incorporate a

main arena with a capacity for all indoor court games or 10 badminton courts, has health and fitness suites, small halls, cafeteria and bar, and other general purpose rooms. It will support external facilities of a six-lane all-weather athletics track, a full-size synthetic grass pitch plus other general recreational facilities. Inclusion of a cinema, theatre and associated arts workshops will make it a facility for all the community, for all interests. All sports people in Orkney look forward to further opportunities in the next millennium.

Alan Clouston and Alex Banks