From Northlink:

We are delighted to let you know that you can now make bookings with NorthLink Ferries for sailings in 2025. For 2025 prices, please visit the '2025 Fares' webpage:

https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/booking-info/2025-fares/

Residents of Orkney and Shetland with a valid Islander ID can access 2025 islander prices linked from the same page. For timetables, please visit the '2025 Timetables' webpage:

https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/booki.../2025-timetables/

Bookings can be made by visiting the NorthLink Ferries website or by calling 0800 111 4422 (free from UK landlines and mobiles) or 01856 885500 (International callers). Thank you for your patience. We wish you an enjoyable sailing with NorthLink Ferries in 2025.

Hi Everyone! We would like to travel around Orkney, mostly on the mainland. What would be the best way to get around for two adults in your opinion?

We will travel from Hungary, most probably flying to Edinburgh then going by train to Aberdeen and ferry to Kirkwall and I’ve checked if there are buses or rental cars in Orkney, but I would be glad to have your insights! We would like to go around explore the area.

Thank you :))

Hello does anyone know if you can buy the daily financial times paper anywhere in Orkney, preferably on the east of the mainland - I've been told I can get the weekend edition in Tesco but we're moving here next spring and have been told I can exchange a voucher from the financial times for the daily paper as they won't post it, but im not sure where sells the daily paper?

Thank you!

Hello everyone. I've just been given a conditional offer to do a PhD in archaeology at UHI. I finished an M.Litt. in Archaeological Studies last December. I've been to Orkney three times before (including once in the winter). My family and I will be moving at the end of January for a tentative Feb. 3 start date, though this is flexible if we need to wait to arrange housing. We are three people and a small indoor cat (husband 47, myself 46F, and our daughter 15F). We're moving from Texas.

I know housing can be hard to find and that's honestly my biggest worry. UHI is going to help look but I thought I'd throw this out here in case anyone has any leads or advice. We're looking for a 2-3 bedroom flat or house that allows pets, ideally in Kirkwall and on or near public transport. We will not have a car initially. Stromness is also a possibility, but my kiddo really wants to go to KGS and I want to be near the university campus and archives.

We are financially stable. My husband's in IT and his company is allowing him to work remotely from the UK. I've been a high school English teacher for 18 years and received Scottish teaching qualifications this year. I can only work 20 hours a week on a student visa but I'd like to be a supply teacher if there's an opening with the council. We are also selling our house that we've owned for 10 years and have a lot of equity built up. The housing market here in Texas is terrible right now but our neighbor wants to buy our house, so we're lucky!

Thank you in advance for your help. Orkney is such an incredible place and I am honored and excited that I've been offered the opportunity to help expand our knowledge of its history and heritage.

Click here for info > The Orkney Storytelling Festival

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Hi folks! I'm a journalist with The National looking at the recent announcement from the Scottish Government that ferry fares are going to increase from next year (see here for context)

I'm looking to hear any thoughts on the increase & how it might affect you for an upcoming Sunday story.

Feel free to comment below or send me a DM! Thanks in advance!

The U-47 after the attack.

From the National Museum Of The Royal Navy: The Sinking of HMS Royal Oak

From Wiki:

On 14 October 1939, Royal Oak was anchored at Scapa Flow in Orkney, Scotland, when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-47. Of Royal Oak's complement of 1,234 men and boys, 835 were killed that night or died later of their wounds. ... The shock resulted in rapid changes to dockland security and the construction of the Churchill Barriers around Scapa Flow, with the added advantage of being topped by roads running between the islands.

The wreck of Royal Oak, a designated war grave, lies almost upside down in 100 feet (30 m) of water with her hull 16 feet (4.9 m) beneath the surface. In an annual ceremony marking the loss of the ship, Royal Navy divers place a White Ensign underwater at her stern. Unauthorised divers are prohibited from approaching the wreck under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

I visited the Scapa Flow Museum and the Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery on Hoy for the first time last year. Hope to return sometime soon.

A brilliant video series from Hamish.

The unexplored archaeological history of a remote island in Orkney

My parents have been farming sheep on a remote Scottish island for nearly 50 years. For half that time, they've had a flock of North Ronaldsays, or Rollies, an ancient breed of seaweed-eating sheep native to the Orkney Islands. I took a sabbatical from my job in 2023 as a TV news reporter to help for four months and decided to film a documentary series about their unique lifestyle while I was there. Now, in the second episode of the new series from 2024, join us as we explore some of the incredible archaeological history of the island. From Bronze Age burnt mounds to Iron Age settlements, Auskerry has been home to people for thousands of years at different times. I want to help preserve some of that history for generations to come by creating his record on film!

Hello everyone! I’m looking to make my way up to your lovely little isles to visit a friend, also recently watched ‘The Outrun’ which sold me on an already sold trip! What I wanted to ask, is what’s the cheapest route and what’s the best route? Two separate questions really. But when I’ve been looking online and asked my friend in the past I was just shocked how expensive it can be to get up there! I feel like getting a coach to Aberdeen and then throwing a dingy would be the cheapest but riskiest route. Any advice?

Hello everyone,

I work at the University of Glasgow, on a research study funded by Marie Curie. We're exploring the experiences of people living with serious advanced illnesses in rural, coastal, and island areas of Scotland. We are also interested in the experiences of carers.

We want to understand if people can access the resources and financial support they need in these challenging times. Your insights could help improve services and support for others in similar situations.

Who we're looking for:

• Individuals living with a serious advanced illness
• Or those caring for someone who is
• Living in rural, coastal, or island communities in Scotland
• Facing difficulties in accessing resources or financial support

What's involved:

• An interview lasting about 30–60 minutes (Can be in person, over the phone, or online—whatever suits you best)
• All responses will be anonymised (your name and exact location won't be shared), and we'll take every step to ensure confidentiality.
• As a thank you for your time, you'll receive a £25 high street voucher.

Interested or want to know more?

Please get in touch with me:

Email: Sam.Quinn@Glasgow.ac.uk

Phone: 07484 006217

Feel free to ask any questions here or reach out directly. Your story could help shape Marie Curie's campaigning and policy agenda.

The Orkney News' Bernie Bell writes about Changes At Hoxa Head - sign board removed, private property signs attached to wartime buildings, 'Private' signs on the right of way.

I've enjoyed Scotland's right-to-roam many times, but have yet to encounter signs like these. Honestly, I might not have had the courage they showed by hiking on ahead.

Leaving the city to work off-grid on a remote Orkney island in Scotland

My parents have been farming sheep on a remote Scottish island for nearly 50 years. For half that time, they've had a flock of North Ronaldsays, or Rollies, an ancient breed of seaweed-eating sheep native to the Orkney Islands. I took a sabbatical from my job in 2023 as a TV news reporter to help for four months and decided to film a documentary series about their unique lifestyle while I was there. Now, in the first episode of the new series from 2024, you can join me on my journey back from my life in the city to the island in the wilds of Scotland for my extended holiday to help on the farm. I take a look at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney. Then once we get to Auskerry, I see seals, experience the wilds of a storm, and embrace the change of pace on the island.

Outsider post, obviously.

The movie is great, if a bit depressing.

How did Orkadians like the depiction of Orkney and Saoirse Ronan's accent?

https://preview.redd.it/kpgdlolt30rd1.jpg?width=1754&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af6ba4658aa4efd41088040a153ff7e2d6a3f7bd

From the An Baile Facebook page. (I cleaned the image up a bit.)

Archaeologists excavating and preserving the Neolithic settlement at Skara Brae, #Orkney, c1929

[photo: Tom Kent; source: HLH Archives, D1751/2/1/22]

I’m asking since I went there for fuel for the first time. (I work down at Adams Place and it’s kinda the only place for fuel where I’m living) Anyway I went to my banking app and there’s 4 transactions from North End. A £100, a £30.44, a £30.00 and the £30.44 again. I paid £30 for the fuel, the £30.44 is being refunded back to me but I don’t know where this £100 transaction has came from. I’m really annoyed since and worried since I’ve never used North End before and the way you fill your car up is different to what I’m used to.

Has anyone else experienced this before or should I do something else. Any and all advice and questions are welcome. Thanks

Read the full story at The Orcadian. Ticket info at the Pickaquoy Centre's website.

The Orkney premiere will actually include two screenings of the film on the evening of Saturday, September 21 — an invite-only screening for those who were involved in making the film and guests, followed by a public screening at 9.30pm.

Both screenings will include an introduction from the film’s star Saoirse Ronan, writer Ms Liptrot and producer Dominic Norris.

The Outrun has been adapted by Nora Fingscheidt, in collaboration with Ms Liptrot, and sees Ronan play Rona, who fresh out of rehab, returns to Orkney after more than a decade away.

Tickets for the Phoenix Cinema’s screenings will go on sale at 12pm on Monday, September 16 — both for the Orkney premiere on Saturday, September 21, and for standard screenings of the film from September 27, when the film will be released across the UK and Ireland.

The Beeb has picked up the killed-by-car fox story.

A dead fox has been found in Orkney, which has no known fox population.

The body of the young female animal was discovered in Kirkwall, near the Balfour Hospital on Tuesday.

Staff members at the hospital spotted the animal, which was later taken away by Orkney Islands Council and a post mortem examination was carried out at a local vet practice.

People have been warned against bringing animals to the island from the mainland as there is a risk to public health.

The council confirmed the matter had been reported to the police.

Foxes have not existed on the island since the late Iron age with the only exception believed to be a failed attempt to introduce them in the 1930s.

A dead fox was found on the island in 2007, sparking concerns from farmers and environmentalists. It was thought it had been brought over from the mainland.

'Fairly unusual'

Balfour Hay is one of the vets who carried out the post-mortem on the animal at Northvet veterinary surgery.

He said it was a "fairly unusual" morning for the practice to have received a call about the fox found on the side of the road.

Mr Hay said the vets could tell from the extent of the decomposition that the animal had been dead for several days.

He said: "Based on the kind of injuries that we did see inside the body, we're fairly certain that it would have died from a road traffic accident or some other form of trauma.

"However, there was evidence on the post mortem that several of the fractures, particularly to the bones in its legs, certainly happened after it died. We don't know what would have caused those," he said.

Mr Hay suspects that the fox was unlikely a pet, based on the contents of the animals stomach.

He said that the fox was covered in ticks, but a lot more than what would be expected on a local animal.

"There's already a bit of speculation that this animal may have been brought up from south. If that was the case, we just want to emphasise the potential risks to animal and public health from bringing animals up from outside of Orkney," he added.

"We're fortunate in Orkney that we have a water barrier to infectious diseases, so we do want to try our best to keep any infectious diseases that we don't have here out."

Mr Hay said he strongly suggests people do not bring animals to Orkney from elsewhere.

Orkney Islands Council’s trading standards manager, Gary Foubister, said that it was a "serious offence" to release non-native species, dead or alive.

I have booked a stay at Orkney in a few weeks time for a couple of nights, and I'm planning to take one of the ferries from either Scrabster or Gills Bay. I see there are three daily crossings for each of them. Ideally I'd like to postpone booking the tickets as late as possible, because well - spending the night at Inverness the day before, and I could go with one of the early ferries to get more sunlight perhaps at Orkney, OR alternatively could sleep late at the hotel and take one of the later ferries. How late/early would you advise me to book these tickets?

This knob is on Facebook bragging about how wonderful he is.

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I heard their tracks playing in a restaurant as background music but just as part of a mix of others so the staff didn't know who they were specifically, but they were all Orkney bands.

The instruments were fiddle (obviously), guitar, concertina and I think drum kit. They were just playing very sort of traditional sounding folk but it was really excellent so I'd really appreciate it if someone knows who this is.

Thanks!

Hello, good people of the Orkney sub.

I'm visiting the islands next month to see a few of the neolithic sites, but I'd also like to work in a hike or two to see the scenery.

I saw a loop hike to see Old Man of Hoy - is this something I could reasonably get to from Stromness, complete, and get back to accommodations in Stromness in the same day? Or is that a ludicrous plan?

Here is the hike: Cuilags, St John's Head, and the Old Man of Hoy Circular on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/scotland/orkney-islands/cuilags-st-johns-head-and-the-old-man-of-hoy-circular-walk?sh=pbbh1y&u=i

Are there any other day hikes that you would recommend? Any guidance, recommendations, points of interest, or warnings would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you! And, as an American in the Southeast, I apologize in advance for any hurricane-related weather that comes your way.

Okay, so I returned home last week from my latest Orcadian adventure but I'm only just realising that an essentially banal aspect of my trip was actually peak Orkney..

A search for Camping Gaz eventually led me to TicketyBoo after an unsuccessful, but friendly, trip to Orkney Aggregates at Hatston. After putting the new bottle in the boot of my car I noticed a Bonxie slowly descending to investigate something floating on the Peedie Sea.. I got my binos out of the car and watched, spellbound, as the pirate of the skies proceeded to descend and set about devouring whatever hapless ex-bird had ended its days on the lesser of Kirkwall's bodies of water.

It's only now that it's occurred to me that this entire scenario could never have happened anywhere else in the world, and that I was extremely privileged to witness it. I hope it's not too long before I'm back

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The Sanday and East Mainland shows were held this weekend, Here's the rest of the shows, and the poster, from the Orkney Agricultural Society's Facebook page:

• Shapinsay Agricultural Show: August 6, 2024
• South Ronaldsay & Burray Agricultural Show: August 7, 2024
• Dounby Show: August 8, 2024
• Orkney County Show: August 10, 2024 at Bignold Park, Kirkwall

The remote Scottish island where two people live alongside 600 seaweed-eating sheep

My parents have been farming sheep on a remote Scottish island for nearly 50 years. For half that time, they've had a flock of North Ronaldsays, or Rollies, an ancient breed of seaweed-eating sheep native to the Orkney Islands. I took a sabbatical from my job as a TV news reporter to help for four months and decided to film a documentary series about their unique lifestyle while I was there. In this episode, mum returns to the island by plane after having to leave dad and I alone for 10 days, and then we get on with choosing rams for next year.

You'll find links to Hamish's other vids down thread, and on his YouTube channel.

As reported by The Ocrcadian:

Staff and guests have been asked to leave The Stromness Hotel today, after a “prohibition notice” was served by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

This follows a “surprise visit” to the premises on Saturday, which resulted in a decision being taken to “shut the entire property down.” Staff have been left unsure what must be done before it can reopen.

An appeal has been made to try to organise alternative accommodation for those who were staying at the historic building.

In a statement made to The Orcadian tonight (Monday, July 29), the hotel’s owner, Na’ím Paymán said there was an agreed action plan in place with a member of the fire service regarding “ongoing works to ensure full compliance of the building.”

He added: “Most of these works have been completed, and we have been in continuous communication with the representative who was happy with the progress being made with regards to an outstanding point on repairs or replacement to the emergency stairs, which were also being worked on over the last few months.

“On Saturday we received a surprise visit by another officer, who decided to shut the entire property down.

“We were under the impression that this could be appealed, as noted on the prohibition notice, however it seems that this is not the case, despite what it stated on the notice. As a result, we’ve had to ask all staff and guests to vacate the hotel today.

“As this was served as an out-of-hours notice, we don’t know the full details of what they want us to do to be able to open, and they have refused to provide details for the time being.

“We are trying our best to support guests and staff at this very difficult time, and find a way of reopening as soon as possible.”

As reported by the Orkney News:

The Stromness Hotel has closed with immediate effect. This follows from a serious incident on Friday night when a man was injured in a lift shaft fall.

2019 photo by Slice O' Pie.