Thompson (2008) suggests that there was an element of Roman "boasting" involved, given that it was known to them that the Orcades lay at the northern extremity of the British Isles. [46] Similarly, Ritchie describes Tacitus' claims that Rome "conquered" Orkney as "a political puff, for there is no evidence of Roman military presence". [47] Montesanti, Antonio. "Orcades/Orkney: the 6th roman province in Britannia". Archived from the original on 21 October 2019 . Retrieved 18 November 2019.

Etymologists usually interpret the element orc- as a Pictish tribal name meaning "young pig" or "young boar". [Notes 2] [1] Speakers of Old Irish referred to the islands as Insi Orc "islands of the young pigs". [17] [18] The archipelago is known as Ynysoedd Erch in modern Welsh and Arcaibh in modern Scottish Gaelic, the -aibh representing a fossilized prepositional case ending. Some earlier sources alternatively hypothesise that Orkney comes from the Latin orca, whale. [19] [20] The Anglo-Saxon monk Bede refers to the islands as Orcades insulae in Ecclesiastical History of the English People. [21] The most northerly is North Ronaldsay, which lies 4 kilometres (2mi) beyond its nearest neighbour, Sanday. To the west is Westray, which has a population of 550. It is connected by ferry and air to Papa Westray, also known as "Papay". Eday is at the centre of the North Isles. The centre of the island is moorland and the island's main industries have been peat extraction and limestone quarrying. Erste Orkney-Brennerei seit 138 Jahren: Fassverkauf finanziert Bau der Deerness Distillery". www.heraldscotland.com. 29 March 2023 . Retrieved 29 March 2023.John Vetterlein (21 December 2006). "Sky Notes: Aurora Borealis Gallery". Archived from the original on 5 December 2008 . Retrieved 9 September 2009. The other way of getting to Orkney is by plane. Flights to Orkney land at Kirkwall airport from many towns in the UK – Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham… It is often believed that the princess's death is associated with the village of St Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay but there is no evidence for this other than the coincidence of the name. [73] Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm are also occasionally referred to as 'Lambholm' and 'Glimsholm'. See for example Wenham, Sheena "The South Isles", in Omand (2003) p. 210.

Orkney Wine is on Lamb Holm by the turnoff for the Italian Chapel, open M-Sa 10:00-16:00. J Gow Rum is distilled next door.

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Abrams, Lesley "Conversion and the Church in the Hebrides in the Viking Age: "A Very Difficult Thing Indeed" in Ballin Smith et al (2007) pp. 169–89

Glacial striation and the presence of chalk and flint erratics that originated from the bed of the North Sea demonstrate the influence of ice action on the geomorphology of the islands. Boulder clay is also abundant and moraines cover substantial areas. [118] Climate [ edit ]

Localities in the Area

Orkney has a rich folklore, and many of the former tales concern trows, an Orcadian form of troll that draws on the islands' Scandinavian connections. [211] Local customs in the past included marriage ceremonies at the Odin Stone that formed part of the Stones of Stenness. [212] a b "Regional mapped climate averages" Archived 4 August 2012 at archive.today Met Office. Retrieved 19 September 2009. The total population of Orkney increased from 19,245 in 2001 to 21,349 at the time of the 2011 census. [11] Main list [ edit ] Ward Hill, Hoy Sigurd The Mighty's son Gurthorm ruled for a single winter after Sigurd's death and died childless. Rognvald's son Hallad inherited the title but, unable to constrain Danish raids in Orkney, he gave up the earldom and returned to Norway, which according to the Orkneyinga Saga "everyone thought was a huge joke." [58]