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{{Infobox county
|name=Orkney
|map image=Orkney Brit Isles Sect 1.svg
|flag=Orkney county flag.svg
|picture=Mainland orkney robben.jpg
|picture caption=
|county town=[[Kirkwall]]
}}
'''Orkney''' is a [[Counties of the United Kingdom|shire]] consisting of a group of islands lying  10 miles north of the coast of [[Caithness]]. Orkney has approximately 70 islands of which 20 are inhabited.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 336-403.</ref><ref>Wickham-Jones (2007) p. 1 states there are 67 islands.</ref>

The largest island, known as the [[Mainland, Orkney|Mainland]] and has an area of 202 square miles making it the tenth-largest island in the [[British Isles]]. The largest town and the islands’ capital is [[Kirkwall]] on Mainland.<ref>Lamb, Raymond "Kirkwall" in Omand (2003)</ref>

In addition to the Mainland, most of the islands are in two groups,  the North and South Isles, all of which have an underlying geological base of Old Red Sandstone.  The climate is mild and the soils are extremely fertile, most of the land being farmed. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy and the significant wind and marine energy resources are of growing importance. The local people are known as Orcadians and have a distinctive dialect and a rich inheritance of folklore. There is an abundance of marine and avian wildlife.

Orkney contains some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe, and the "Heart of Neolithic Orkney" is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.  As the isles are largely treeless, building in all ages has been done in stone, which has left in the landscape across the islands a remarkable record of past ages.  The islands have been inhabited for at least 8,500 years, as Mesolithic and Neolithic folk have left their mark.  In the Iron Age the islands are assumed to have been occupied by Picts, whose enigmatic carvings and strong brochs are found on many islands.

In the ninth century or earlier, Orkney colonised by the Norse; no trace of the previous inhabitants remains in the language, place-names nor culture of Orkney except in the name of Orkney itself and so it is assumed to have been an uncompromising takeover.  The islands were annexed by Norway in 875 and ruled by Earls. The islands passed to the Scottish Crown in 1468 as a pledge for a dowry settlement which was never redeemed and the islands were annexed in 1472.  They had gradually been settled by Scots for some ages before.

==Name of the county==
[[File:Blaeu - Atlas of Scotland 1654 - ORCADVM ET SCHETLANDIÆ - Orkney and Shetland.jpg|right|thumb|260px|Blaeu's 1654 map]]
The name "Orkney" is Norse in form but has a much earlier origin; the islands were known as the ''Orcades'' at least by the 1st century AD,

Pytheas of Massilia visited Britain at some time between 322 and 285 BC and described it as being triangular in shape, with a northern tip called ''Orcas''.<ref name=Breeze>Breeze, David J. "The ancient geography of Scotland" in Smith and Banks (2002) pp. 11-13.</ref> This may have referred to Dunnet Head, from which Orkney is visible.<ref name=jarehro>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/earlyrefs.htm "Early Historical References to Orkney"] Orkneyjar.com</ref> Writing in the 1st century AD, the Roman geographer Pomponius Mela called the islands ''Orcades'', as did Tacitus in AD 98, claiming that his father-in-law Agricola had "discovered and subjugated the Orcades hitherto unknown"<ref name=jarehro/><ref>Tacitus (c. 98) ''Agricola''. Chapter 10. "''ac simul incognitas ad id tempus insulas, quas Orcadas vocant, invenit domuitque''".</ref> although both Mela and Pliny the Elder had previously referred to the islands.<ref name=Breeze/> "Orc" is usually interpreted as a Pictish tribal name meaning "young pig" or "young boar".<ref>Waugh, Doreen J. "Orkney Place-names" in Omand (2003) p. 116.</ref>

The old Irish Gaelic name for the islands was ''Insi Orc'' (which may be translated "island of the pigs").<ref>Pokorny, Julius (1959) ''[http://www.indo-european.nl/%5Cindex2.html ''Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch''. Retrieved 3 July 2009.]</ref><ref name=jaroo>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/placenames/orkney.htm "The Origin of Orkney"] Orkneyjar.com. Retrieved 27 June 2009.</ref>{{#tag:ref|The proto-Celtic root *''φorko-'', can mean either pig or salmon, thus giving an alternative of "island(s) of (the) salmon".<ref>[http://www.wales.ac.uk/Resources/Documents/Research/CelticLanguages/ProtoCelticEnglishWordlist.pdf "Proto-Celtic - English Word List"] (pdf)  (12 June 2002) University of Wales. p. 101.</ref>|group="Notes"}} 

When Norwegian Vikings arrived on the islands they assimilated the ''orc'' to their own ''orkn'' which is Old Norse for seal and added the suffix ''ey'' meaning "island".<ref>Thomson (2008) p. 42.</ref> Thus the name became ''Orkneyjar'' (meaning "seal islands")<ref name=jaroo/> which was rendered ''Orcanege'' in English.<ref>{{ASC|Laud|1066}}</ref>

==History==
===Prehistory===
[[File:RingofBrodgarJM.jpg|thumb|left|upright||Ring of Brodgar, Mainland]]
A charred hazelnut shell, recovered in 2007 during excavations in Tankerness on the Mainland has been dated to 6820-6660 BC indicating the presence of Mesolithic nomadic tribes.<ref>[http://www.stonepages.com/news/archives/002600.html "Hazelnut shell pushes back date of Orcadian site"] (3 November 2007) Stone Pages Archaeo News. Retrieved 6 September 2009.</ref> 

The earliest known permanent settlement is at Knap of Howar, a Neolithic farmstead on the island of Papa Westray, which dates from 3500 BC. The village of Skara Brae, Europe's best-preserved Neolithic settlement, is believed to have been inhabited from around 3100 BC.<ref>[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertyabout.htm?PropID=PL_244&PropName=Skara%20Brae%20Prehistoric%20Village "Skara Brae Prehistoric Village" ] Historic Scotland. Retrieved 3 February 2010.</ref> Other remains from that era include the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Maeshowe passage grave, the Ring of Brodgar and other standing stones. Many of the Neolithic settlements were abandoned around 2500 BC, possibly due to changes in the climate.<ref>Moffat (2005) p. 154.</ref><ref>[http://www.worldtimelines.org.uk/world/british_isles/scotland/2200-800BC Scotland: 2200-800 BC Bronze Age"] worldtimelines.org.uk Retrieved 23 August 2008.</ref><ref>Ritchie, Graham "The Early Peoples" in Omand (2003) p. 32, 34.</ref>

During the Bronze Age fewer large stone structures were built although the great ceremonial circles continued in use<ref>Wickham-Jones (2007) p. 73.</ref> as metalworking was slowly introduced to Scotland from Europe over a lengthy period.<ref>Moffat (2005) pp. 154, 158, 161.</ref><ref>Whittington, Graeme and Edwards, Kevin J. (1994) [http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_124/124_055_065.pdf "Palynology as a predictive tool in archaeology"] (pdf) ''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland''. '''124''' pp. 55&ndash;65.</ref> There are relatively few Orcadian sites dating from this era although there is the impressive Plumcake Mound near the Ring of Brodgar and various islands sites such as Tofts Ness on Sanday, Orkney|Sanday and the remains of two houses on Holm of Faray.<ref>Wickham-Jones (2007) p. 74&ndash;76.</ref><ref>Ritchie, Graham "The Early Peoples" in Omand (2003) p. 33.</ref>

===Iron Age===
[[File:Midhowe Broch.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Midhowe Broch, Rousay]]
Excavations at Quanterness on the Mainland have revealed an Atlantic roundhouse built about 700 BC and similar finds have been made at Bu on the Mainland and Pierowall Quarry on Westray.<ref>Wickham-Jones (2007) pp. 81-84.</ref> The most impressive Iron Age structures of Orkney are the ruins of later round towers called "brochs" and their associated settlements such as the Broch of Burroughston<ref>Hogan, C. Michael (2007) [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=7891 ''Burroughston Broch'']. The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 4 October 2009.</ref> and Broch of Gurness. The nature and origin of these buildings is a subject of ongoing debate. Other structures from this period include underground storehouses, and aisled roundhouses, the latter usually in association with earlier broch sites.<ref>Ritchie, Graham "The Early Peoples" in Omand (2003) pp. 35-37.</ref><ref>Crawford, Iain "The wheelhouse" in Smith and Banks (2002) pp. 118-22.</ref>

During the Roman invasion of Britain the "King of Orkney" was one of 11 British leaders who is said to have submitted to the Emperor Claudius in AD 43 at [[Colchester|Camulodunum]].<ref>Moffat (2005) pp. 173-5.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Thomson (2008) suggests that there may have been 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.<ref>Thomson (2008) pp. 4-5</ref> Similarly, Ritchie describes Tacitus' claims that Rome "conquered" Orkney as "a political puff, for there is no evidence of Roman military presence".<ref>Ritchie, Graham "The Early Peoples" in Omand (2003) p. 36</ref>|group="Notes"}} After the Agricolan fleet had come and gone, possibly anchoring at [[Shapinsay]], direct Roman influence seems to have been limited to trade rather than conquest.<ref name=Thomson4>Thomson (2008) pp. 4-6.</ref>

By the late Iron Age, it is believed that Orkney was part of the Pictish kingdom, and although the archaeological remains from this period are less impressive there is every reason to suppose the fertile soils and rich seas of Orkney provided a comfortable living.<ref name=Thomson4/>{{#tag:ref|They were certainly politically organised. Ritchie notes the presence of an Orcadian ruler at the court of a Pictish high king at [[Inverness]] in 565 AD.<ref>Ritchie, Anna "The Picts" in Omand (2003) p. 39</ref>|group="Notes"}} The Gaels began to influence the islands towards the close of the Pictish era, perhaps principally through the role of missionaries, as evidenced by several islands bearing the epithet "Papa" in commemoration of these preachers.<ref>Ritchie, Anna "The Picts" in Omand (2003) pp. 42-46.</ref> However, before the Gaelic presence could establish itself the Picts were gradually dispossessed by the Norsemen from the late 8th century onwards. The nature of this transition is controversial, and theories range from peaceful integration to enslavement and genocide.<ref>Thomson (2008) pp. 43-50.</ref>

===The Norse in Orkney===
[[File:Flateyjarbok Haraldr Halfdan.jpg|thumb|200px|Harald Hårfagre, who annexed Orkney in 875]]
Both Orkney and [[Shetland]] saw a significant influx of Norwegian settlers during the late 8th and early 9th centuries. Vikings made the islands the headquarters of their pirate expeditions carried out against Norway and the coasts of mainland Scotland. In response, Norwegian king Harald Hårfagre ("Harald Fair Hair") annexed the Northern Isles (comprising Orkney and Shetland) in 875. Rognvald Eysteinsson received from Harald and the title ‘’Jarl’’ (or “Earl”) and with it rule over Orkney and Shetland, as reparation for the death of his son in battle in Scotland.  Rognvald then passed the earldom on to his brother Sigurd the Mighty.<ref>Thomson (2008) p. 24.</ref>

However, Sigurd's line barely survived him and it was Torf-Einarr, Rognvald's son by a slave, who founded a dynasty which retained control of the islands for centuries after his death.<ref>Thomson (2008) p. 29.</ref>{{#tag:ref|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 on Orkney, he gave up the earldom and returned to Norway, which according to the ''Orkneyinga Saga'' "everyone thought was a huge joke."<ref>Thomson (2008) p. 30 quoting chapter 5.</ref>|group="Notes"}} He was succeeded by his son Thorfinn Skull-splitter and during this time the deposed Norwegian King Eric Bloodaxe often used Orkney as a raiding base before being killed in 954. Thorfinn's death and presumed burial at the broch of Hoxa, on [[South Ronaldsay]], led to a long period of dynastic strife.<ref>Wenham, Sheena "The South Isles" in Omand (2003) p. 211.</ref><ref>Thomson (2008) pp. 56-58.</ref>

[[File:Peter nicolai arbo, olaf tryggvasson king.jpg|thumb|Olav Tryggvason, by Peter Nicolai Arbo]]
The islands were Christianised by Olav Tryggvasson, King of Norway in 995 when he stopped at [[South Walls]] on his way from Ireland to Norway. The King summoned the ''earl'' Sigurd the Stout{{#tag:ref|Sigurd the Stout was Thorfinn Skull-splitter's grandson.|group="Notes"}} and said "I order you and all your subjects to be baptised. If you refuse, I'll have you killed on the spot and I swear I will ravage every island with fire and steel." Unsurprisingly, Sigurd agreed and the islands became Christian at a stroke,<ref name=T69>Thomson (2008) p. 69. quoting the ''Orkneyinga Saga'' chapter 12.</ref> receiving their own bishop in the early 11th century.{{#tag:ref|The first recorded bishop was Henry of Lund (also known as "the Fat") who was appointed at some time before 1035.<ref>Watt, D.E.R., (ed.) (1969) ''Fasti Ecclesia Scoticanae Medii Aevii ad annum 1638''. Scottish Records Society. p. 247.</ref> The bishopric appears to have been under the authority of the Archbishops of York and of Hamburg-Bremen at different times during the early period and from the mid twelfth century to 1472 was subordinate to the Archbishop of Nidaros (today's Trondheim).<ref>[http://www.cushnieent.force9.co.uk/New%20Diocese/orkney/diocese_orkney.htm "The Diocese of Orkney"] Firth's Celtic Scotland.  Retrieved 9 September 2009.</ref>|group="Notes"}}

Thorfinn Sigurdsson (“Thorfinn the Mighty”) was a son of Sigurd and a grandson of King Malcolm II of Scotland. Along with Sigurd's other sons he ruled Orkney during the first half of the 11th century and extended his authority over a small maritime empire stretching from [[Dublin]] to [[Shetland]]. Thorfinn died around 1065 and his sons Paul and Erlend succeeded him, fighting at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.<ref>Crawford, Barbara E. "Orkney in the Middle Ages" in Omand (2003) pp. 66-68.</ref> Paul and Erlend quarreled as adults and this dispute carried on to the next generation. The "martyrdom" of Magnus Erlendsson, who was killed in April 1116 by his cousin Haakon Paulsson, resulted in the building of St Magnus Cathedral, still today a dominating feature of Kirkwall.{{#tag:ref|The Scandinavian peoples, relatively recent converts to Christianity, had a tendency to confer martyrdom and sainthood on leading figures of the day who met violent deaths. Magnus and Haakon Paulsson had been co-rulers of Orkney, and although he had a reputation for piety, there is no suggestion that Magnus died for his Christian faith.<ref>Crawford, Barbara E. "Orkney in the Middle Ages" in Omand (2003) p. 69.</ref>|group="Notes"}}{{#tag:ref|"St Magnus Cathedral still dominates the Kirkwall skyline - a familiar, and comforting sight, to Kirkwallians around the world."<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/stmagnus/magcath.htm "St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall"] Orkneyar. Retrieved 10 September 2009.</ref>|group="Notes"}}

[[File:Kirkwall cathedral.jpg|thumb|left|200px|St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall]]
Unusually, from c. 1100 onwards the Norse earls owed allegiance both to Norway for Orkney and to the Scottish crown through their holdings as Earls of Caithness.<ref>Crawford, Barbara E. "Orkney in the Middle Ages" in Omand (2003) p. 64.</ref> In 1231 the line of Norse earls, unbroken since Rognvald, ended with Jon Haraldsson's murder in [[Thurso]].<ref>Crawford, Barbara E. "Orkney in the Middle Ages" in Omand (2003) pp. 72-73.</ref> The Earldom of Caithness was granted to Magnus, second son of the Earl of Angus, whom Haakon IV of Norway confirmed as Earl of Orkney in 1236.<ref>Thomson (2008) pp. 134-37.</ref> In 1290 the death of the child princess Margaret, Maid of Norway in Orkney on the way to Scotland created a disputed succession which led to the Wars of Scottish Independence.<ref name=T146>Thompson (2008) pp. 146-47.</ref>{{#tag:ref|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 co-incidence of the name.<ref name=T146/>|group="Notes"}}

In 1379 the earldom passed to the Sinclair family, who were also barons of Roslin near [[Edinburgh]].<ref>Thompson (2008) p. 160.</ref>

Evidence of the Viking presence is widespread, and includes the settlement at the Brough of Birsay,<ref>Armit (2006) pp. 173&ndash;76.</ref> the vast majority of place names,<ref>Thomson (2008) p. 40.</ref> and the twelfth century runic inscriptions carved into the stones in the interior of Maeshowe.

===Scottish rule===
[[File:James III and Margaret of Denmark.jpg|thumb|180px|James III and Margaret]]
In 1468 Orkney was pledged by Christian I of Denmark, in his capacity as king of Norway, as security against the payment of the dowry of his daughter Margaret, betrothed to James III of Scotland. As the money was never paid, the connection with the crown of Scotland has become perpetual.{{#tag:ref|Apparently without the knowledge of the Norwegian Rigsraadet (Council of the Realm), Christian pawned Orkney for 50,000 Rhenish guilders. On 28 May the next year he also pawned Shetland for 8,000 Rhenish guilders.<ref>[http://www.ub.uib.no/avdeling/spes/diplom/1509.htm "Diplom fra Shetland datert 24.november 1509"] University Library, University in Bergen. (Norwegian). Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref> He had secured a clause in the contract which gave future kings of Norway the right to redeem the islands for a fixed sum of 210&nbsp;kg of gold or 2,310&nbsp;kg of silver. Several attempts were made during the 17th and 18th centuries to redeem the islands, without success.<ref>[http://universitas.uio.no/Arkiv/1996/16okt96/norsk.htm "Norsken som døde"] Universitas, Norsken som døde (Norwegian) Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref>|group="Notes"}}

The history of Orkney prior to this time is largely the history of the ruling aristocracy. From now on the ordinary people emerge with greater clarity. An influx of Scottish entrepreneurs helped to create a diverse and independent community that included farmers, fishermen and merchants that called themselves ''comunitatis Orcadie'' and who proved themselves increasing able to defend their rights against their feudal overlords.<ref>Thompson (2008) p. 183.</ref><ref>Crawford, Barbara E. "Orkney in the Middle Ages" in Omand (2003) pp. 78-79.</ref>

From at least the 16th century, boats from mainland Scotland and the Netherlands dominated the local herring fishery. There is little evidence of an Orcadian fleet until the 19th century but it grew rapidly and 700 boats were involved by the 1840s with Stronsay and then later Stromness becoming leading centres of development. White fish never became as dominant as in other Scottish ports.<ref name=Coull/>

==A British county==
Scotland and England were brought together under one crown in 1603, and united in 1707, bringing Orkney within the one Kingdom of Great Britain and opening new opportunities for Orcadians.  In the 17th and 18th centuries, Orcadians formed the overwhelming majority of employees of the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada. The harsh climate of Orkney and the Orcadian reputation for sobriety and their boat handling skills made them ideal candidates for the rigours of the Canadian north.<ref>Thompson (2008) pp. 371-72.</ref> During this period, burning kelp briefly became a mainstay of the islands' economy.  For example, on Shapinsay over 3,000 tons of burned seaweed were produced each year to make soda ash, bringing in £20,000 to the local economy.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 364-65.</ref>

Agricultural improvements beginning in the 18th century resulted in the enclosure of the commons and ultimately in the 19th century came the emergence of large and well-managed farms using a five-shift rotation system and producing high quality beef cattle.<ref>Thomson, William P. L. "Agricultural Improvement" in Omand (2003) pp. 93, 99.</ref>

===20th century===
Orkney was the site of a Royal Navy base at [[Scapa Flow]], which played a major role in both First World War and Second World War. After the Armistice in 1918, the German High Seas Fleet was transferred in its entirety to Scapa Flow while a decision was to be made on its future; however, the German sailors opened their sea-cocks and scuttled all the ships. Most ships were salvaged, but the remaining wrecks are now a favoured haunt of recreational divers.

One month into Second World War, the Royal Navy battleship HMS ''Royal Oak'' was sunk by a German U-boat in Scapa Flow. As a result, barriers were built to close most of the access channels; these had the additional advantage of creating causeways enabling travellers to go from island to island by road instead of being obliged to rely on ferries. The causeways were constructed by Italian prisoners of war, who also constructed the ornate Italian Chapel on [[Lamb Holm]].<ref>Thomson (2008) pp. 434-36.</ref>

The navy base was run down after the war, eventually closing in 1957. The problem of a declining population was significant in the post-war years, although in the last decades of the 20th century there was a recovery and life in Orkney focused on growing prosperity and the emergence of a relatively classless society.<ref>Thomson (2008) pp. 439-43.</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:MapOrkney.gif|thumb|thumb|200px|Orkney topography and main transport routes]]
The [[Pentland Firth]], the a seaway which separates Orkney from the mainland of [[Great Britain]] is 6 miles wide between Brough Ness on the island of [[South Ronaldsay]] and [[Duncansby Head]] in [[Caithness]]. Orkney lies between 58°41′and 59°24′North, and 2°22′and 3°26′West, measuring 50 miles from northeast to southwest and 29 miles from east to west, and covers 376 square miles.<ref>Whitakers (1990) pp. 611, 614.</ref>

The islands are mainly low-lying except for some sharply rising sandstone hills on Hoy, Mainland and Rousay and rugged cliffs on some western coasts. Nearly all of the islands have lochs, but the watercourses are merely streams draining the high land. The coastlines are indented, and the islands themselves are divided from each other by straits generally called "sounds" or "firths".<ref name="Brown 2003 p. 19">Brown, John Flett "Geology and Landscape" in Omand (2003) p. 19.</ref>

The tidal currents, or "roosts" as some of them are called locally,<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/finfolk/vanis.htm "The Sorcerous Finfolk"] Orkneyjar.  Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> off many of the isles are swift, with frequent whirlpools.{{#tag:ref|For example at the Fall of Warness the tide can run at 4m/sec (7.8 knots).<ref>[http://www.emec.org.uk/tidal_site.asp "Fall of Warness Test Site "] EMEC. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref>|group="Notes"}} The islands are notable for the absence of trees, which is partly accounted for by the amount of wind.<ref>[http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6UFE3Y "The Big Tree, Orkney"]. Forestry Commission.  Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref>

==Islands==
Orkney has 20 inhabited islands, and some 70 islands overall, with countless islets, rocks and skerries. In island names, the suffix "a" or "ay" represents the Norse ''ey'', meaning "island". Those described as "holms" are very small.

===Mainland===
{{Main|Mainland, Orkney}}
[[File:Stromness 2.jpg|thumb|Stromness on the Mainland; Orkney’s second town]]
The Mainland is the largest island of Orkney. Both of Orkney's burghs, [[Kirkwall]] and [[Stromness]], are on this island, which is also the heart of Orkney's transportation system, with ferry and air connections to the other islands and to the outside world. The island is more densely populated (75% of Orkney's population) than the other islands and has much fertile farmland.

The island is mostly low-lying (especially East Mainland) but with coastal cliffs to the north and west and two sizeable lochs: the [[Loch of Harray]] and the [[Loch of Stenness]]. The Mainland contains the remnants of numerous Neolithic, Pictish and Norse constructions. Four of the main Neolithic sites are included in the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site”, defined in 1999.

The other islands in the group are classified as north or south of the Mainland. Exceptions are the remote islets of [[Sule Skerry]] and [[Sule Stack]], which lie 40 miles west of the archipelago, but form part of the county

===The North Isles===
The northern group of islands is the most extensive and consists of a large number of moderately sized islands, linked to the Mainland by ferries and by air services. Farming, fishing and tourism are the main sources of income for most of the islands.

The most northerly is [[North Ronaldsay]], which lies 2½ miles beyond its nearest neighbour, Sanday. To the west is [[Westray]] 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.

[[Rousay]], [[Egilsay]] and [[Gairsay]] lie north of the west Mainland across the [[Eynhallow Sound]]. Rousay is well known for its ancient monuments, including the Quoyness chambered cairn and Egilsay has the ruins of the only round-towered church in Orkney. [[Wyre, Orkney|Wyre]] to the south east contains the site of Cubbie Roo's castle. [[Stronsay]] and [[Papa Stronsay]] lie much further to the east across the Stronsay Firth.  [[Auskerry]] is south of Stronsay and has a population of only five.  [[Shapinsay]] and its [[Balfour Castle]] are a short distance north of Kirkwall.

Other small uninhabited islands in the North Isles group include: [[Calf of Eday]], [[Damsay]], [[Eynhallow]], [[Faray]], [[Helliar Holm]], [[Holm of Faray]], [[Holm of Huip]], [[Holm of Papa]], [[Holm of Scockness]], [[Kili Holm]], [[Linga Holm]], [[Muckle Green Holm]], [[Rusk Holm]] and [[Sweyn Holm]].

===The South Isles===
[[File:Hoy Lighthouse RLH.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Hoy Lighthouse on Graemsay]]
The southern group of islands surrounds [[Scapa Flow]].  Hoy is the second largest of the Orkney Isles and [[Ward Hill, Hoy|Ward Hill]] at its northern end is the highest elevation in the archipelago. The [[Old Man of Hoy]] is a well-known seastack. [[Burray]] lies to the east of Scapa Flow and is linked by causeway to South Ronaldsay, which hosts the cultural events, the Festival of the Horse and the Boys' Ploughing Match.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.orcadian.co.uk/features/articles/ploughingmatch.htm|title=Exhibition will tell story of the Boy's Ploughing Match|last=Shearer|first=Lorraine|work=The Orcadian|accessdate=15 February 2010}}</ref> It is also the location of the Neolithic Tomb of the Eagles.

[[Graemsay]] and [[Flotta]] are both linked by ferry to the Mainland and Hoy, and the latter is known for its large oil terminal. [[South Walls]] has a 19th-century Martello tower and is connected to Hoy by the Ayre. South Ronaldsay, Burray, [[Glims Holm]], and [[Lamb Holm]] are connected by road to the Mainland by the Churchill Barriers.

Uninhabited South Islands include: [[Calf of Flotta]], [[Cava]], [[Copinsay]], [[Corn Holm]], [[Fara, Orkney|Fara]], [[Glims Holm]], [[Hunda]], [[Lamb Holm]], [[Rysa Little]], [[Switha]] and [[Swona]]. The [[Pentland Skerries]] lie further south, closer to mainland Caithness.

[[File:Orphir - round church - geograph.org.uk - 400899.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Orphir round church ruin]]
==Parishes==
{{parishliststart}}
*[[Birsay and Harray]]
*[[Cross and Burness]]
*[[Eday]]
*[[Evie and Rendall]]
*[[Firth]]
*[[Holm]]
*[[Hoy and Graemsay]]
*[[St Ola|Kirkwall and St Ola]]
*[[Lady, Orkney|Lady]]
*[[Orphir]]
*[[Papa Westray]]
*[[Rousay and Egilsay]]
*[[Sandwick, Orkney|Sandwick]]
*[[Shapinsay]]
*[[South Ronaldsay]]
*[[St Andrews and Deerness]]
*[[Stenness]]
*[[Stromness]]
*[[Stronsay]]
*[[Walls and Flotta]]
*[[Westray]]
{{parishlistend}}

==Geology==
[[File:OldManofHoycloseJM.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The Old Man of Hoy]]
The superficial rock of Orkney is almost entirely Old Red Sandstone, mostly of Middle Devonian age.<ref name="Millennium">Marshall, J.E.A., & Hewett, A.J. "Devonian" in Evans, D., Graham C., Armour, A., & Bathurst, P. (eds) (2003) ''The Millennium Atlas: petroleum geology of the central and northern North Sea''.</ref> As in the neighbouring county of [[Caithness]] on Great Britain, this sandstone rests upon the metamorphic rocks of the Moine series, as may be seen on the Mainland, where a narrow strip is exposed between Stromness and Inganess, and again in the small island of [[Graemsay]]; they are represented by grey gneiss and granite.<ref>Hall, Adrian and Brown, John (September 2005) [http://www.landforms.eu/orkney/Geology/Basement/basement.htm "Basement Geology"].  Retrieved 10 November 2008.</ref>

The Middle Devonian is divided into three main groups. The lower part of the sequence, mostly Eifelian in age, is dominated by lacustrine beds of the lower and upper Stromness Flagstones.<ref>Hall, Adrian and Brown, John (September 2005) [http://www.landforms.eu/orkney/Geology/Stratigraphy/Devonian%20Lower%20Middle.htm "Lower Middle Devonian"]. Retrieved 10 November 2008.</ref> The later Rousay flagstone formation is found throughout much of the North and South Isles and East Mainland.<ref name=Brown>Brown, John Flett "Geology and Landscape" in Omand (2003) pp. 4-5.</ref>
[[File:OrkneyGeologyMap.png|thumb|left|Geology of Orkney]]
The Old Man of Hoy is formed from sandstone of the uppermost Eday group that is up to 800 yards thick in places. It lies unconformably upon steeply inclined flagstones, the interpretation of which is a matter of continuing debate.<ref name=Brown/><ref>Mykura, W. (with contributions by Flinn, D. & May, F.) (1976) ''British Regional Geology: Orkney and Shetland.'' Institute of Geological Sciences. Natural Environment Council.</ref>

The Devonian and older rocks of Orkney are cut by a series of WSW-ENE to N-S trending faults, many of which were active during deposition of the Devonian sequences.<ref>Land Use Consultants (1998) [http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/LCA/orkney.pdf "Orkney landscape character assessment"].  Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 100.</ref>  A strong synclinal fold traverses Eday and Shapinsay, the axis trending north-south.

Middle Devonian basaltic volcanic rocks are found on western Hoy, on Deerness in eastern Mainland and on Shapinsay. Correlation between the Hoy volcanics and the other two exposures has been proposed, but differences in chemistry means this remains uncertain.<ref>Odling, N.W.A. (2000) [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/gcrdb/GCRsiteaccount2495.pdf "Point of Ayre"]. (pdf) "Caledonian Igneous Rocks of Great Britain: Late Silurian and Devonian volcanic rocks of Scotland". ''Geological Conservation Review'' '''17 ''': Chapter 9, p. 2731. JNCC. Retrieved 4 October 2009.</ref> Lamprophyre Dike (geology)|dykes of Late Permian age are found throughout Orkney.<ref>Hall, Adrian and Brown, John (September 2005) [http://www.landforms.eu/orkney/Geology/Dykes%20and%20Volcanics/permian%20dykes.htm "Orkney Landscapes: Permian dykes"] Retrieved 4 October 2009.</ref>

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.<ref>Brown, John Flett "Geology and Landscape" in Omand (2003) p. 10.</ref>

==Climate==
Orkney has a cool temperate climate that is remarkably mild and steady for such a northerly latitude, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream.<ref>Chalmers, Jim "Agriculture in Orkney Today" in Omand (2003) p. 129.</ref> The average temperature for the year is 8&nbsp;°C (46&nbsp;°F); for winter 4&nbsp;°C (39&nbsp;°F) and for summer 12&nbsp;°C (54&nbsp;°F).<ref name=met>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/regmapavge.html "Regional mapped climate averages"] Met Office. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref>

Winds are a key feature of the climate and even in summer there are almost constant breezes. In winter, there are frequent strong winds, with an average of 52 hours of gales being recorded annually.<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/climate.htm "The Climate of Orkney"] Orkneyjar. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref>

To tourists, one of the fascinations of the islands is their "nightless" summers. On the longest day, the sun rises at 03:00 and sets at 21:29 GMT  and complete darkness is unknown. This long twilight is known in the Northern Isles as the "simmer dim".<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/solstice.htm "About the Orkney Islands"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> Winter nights are long. On the shortest day the sun rises at 09:05 and sets at 15:16.<ref>[http://www.orcadian.co.uk/weather/annualsunsets.htm "Sunrise and Sunsets"] ''The Orcadian''. Retrieved 8 March 2008.</ref> At this time of year the aurora borealis can occasionally be seen on the northern horizon during moderate auroral activity.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.orcadian.co.uk/skynotes/aurora.htm| title=Sky Notes: Aurora Borealis Gallery|date=21 December 2006| author=John Vetterlein| accessdate=2009-09-09}}</ref>

==Natural history==
Orkney has an abundance of wildlife especially of grey and common seals and seabirds such as puffins, kittiwakes, tysties (guillimots), ravens, and bonxies (great skuas). Whales, dolphins, otters are also seen around the coasts.

Inland the Orkney vole, a distinct subspecies of the common vole is an endemic.<ref name=SNH>[http://www.snh.org.uk/scottish/nisles/orkney.asp "Northern Isles"]. SNH. Retrieved 27 September 2009.</ref><ref>Benvie (2004) pp. 126&ndash;38.</ref> There are five distinct varieties, found on the islands of Sanday, Westray, Rousay, South Ronaldsay, and the Mainland, all the more remarkable as the species is absent on mainland [[Great Britain]].<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Haynes, S., Jaarola M., & Searle, J. B.|year=2003 |title=Phylogeography of the common vole (''Microtus arvalis'') with particular emphasis on the colonization of the Orkney archipelago |journal=Molecular Ecology |volume=12 |pages=951–956 |url=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-294X.2003.01795.x|format=abstract page |doi=10.1046/j.1365-294X.2003.01795.x |pmid=12753214}} Retrieved 27 September 2009.</ref>

The coastline is well known for its colourful flowers including sea Aster, sea squill, sea thrift, common sea-lavender, bell and common heather. The Scottish primrose is found only on the coasts of Orkney and nearby Caithness and [[Sutherland]].<ref name="Brown 2003 p. 19"/><ref name=SNH/> Although stands of trees are generally rare, a small forest named Happy Valley with 700 trees and lush gardens was created from a boggy hillside near Stenness during the second half of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-13529344 "Boggy hillside reborn as Orkney forest reserve"]. ( 27 May 2011) BBC. Retrieved 27 May 2011.</ref>

The North Ronaldsay sheep is an unusual breed of domesticated animal, subsisting largely on a diet of seaweed, since they are confined to the foreshore for most of the year to conserve the limited grazing inland.<ref name=SheepCentre>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sheepcentre.co.uk/sheep_breeds.htm
|publisher=Seven Sisters Sheep Centre|work=Sheep Breeds|title=North Ronaldsay|accessdate=23 April 2009}}</ref>

==Economy==
The soil of Orkney is generally very fertile and most of the land is taken up by farms, agriculture being by far the most important sector of the economy and providing employment for a quarter of the workforce.<ref>Chalmers, Jim "Agriculture in Orkney Today" in Omand (2003) p. 127, 133 quoting the Scottish Executive Agricultural Census of 2001 and stating that 80% of the land area is farmed if rough grazing is included.</ref> More than 90% of agricultural land is used for grazing for sheep and cattle, with cereal production utilising about 4% (10,000 acres) and woodland occupying only 330 acres.<ref name=OER>"Orkney Economic Review No. 23." (2008) Kirkwall. Orkney Islands Council.</ref>

Fishing has declined in importance, but still employed 345 individuals in 2001, about 3.5% of the islands' economically active population, the modern industry concentrating on herring, white fish, lobsters, crabs and other shellfish, and salmon fish farming.{{#tag:ref| Coull (2003) quotes the old saying that an Orcadian is a farmer with a boat, in contrast to a Shetlander, who is a fisherman with a croft.<ref name=Coull>Coull, James "Fishing" in Omand (2003) pp. 144-55.</ref>|group="Notes"}}

Today, the traditional sectors of the economy export beef, cheese, whisky, beer, fish and other seafood. In recent years there has been growth in other areas including tourism, food and beverage manufacture, jewellery, knitwear, and other crafts production, construction and oil transportation through the [[Flotta]] oil terminal.<ref>[http://www.orkney.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=9007&tt=orkneyv2 "Business Directory"] Orkney Islands Council. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref> Retailing accounts for 17.5% of total employment,<ref name=OER/> and public services also play a significant role, employing a third of the islands' workforce.<ref name=HIE>[http://www.hie.co.uk/HIE-HIE-economic-reports/HIE-OE99.pdf "Orkney Economic Update"] (1999) (pdf) HIE. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref>

In 2007, of the 1,420 VAT registered enterprises 55% were in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 12% in manufacturing and construction, 12% in wholesale, retail and repairs, and 5% in hotels and restaurants. A further 5% were public service related.<ref name=OER/> 55% of these businesses employ between 5 and 49 people.<ref name=HIE/>

[[File:Pelamis at EMEC.jpg|thumb|left|Pelamis wave energy converter off Billia Croo]]
Orkney has significant wind and marine energy resources, and renewable energy has recently come into prominence. The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has installed a wave testing system at Billia Croo on the Orkney Mainland and a tidal power testing station on the island of Eday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emec.org.uk/|title=European Marine Energy Centre|accessdate=3 February 2007}}</ref> At the official opening of the Eday project the site was described as "the first of its kind in the world set up to provide developers of wave and tidal energy devices with a purpose-built performance testing facility."{{#tag:ref|"The centre offers developers the opportunity to test prototype devices in unrivalled wave and tidal conditions. Wave and tidal energy converters are connected to the National Grid via seabed cables running from open-water test berths. Testing takes place in a wide range of sea and weather conditions, with comprehensive round-the-clock monitoring."<ref>{{cite press release |title=First Minister Opens New Tidal Energy Facility at EMEC |publisher=Highlands and Islands Enterprise |date=28 September 2007|url=http://www.allmediascotland.com/media_releases/1687/first_minister_opens_new_tidal_energy_facility_at_emec |accessdate=1 October 2007}}</ref>|group="Notes"}} Funding for the UK's first [[wave farm was announced in 2007. It will be the world's largest, with a capacity of 3 MW generated by four Pelamis machines at a cost of over £4 million.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6377423.stm "Orkney to get 'biggest' wave farm"] BBC News. Retrieved 25 February 2007.</ref> During 2007 Scottish and Southern Energy plc in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde began the implementation of a Regional Power Zone in the Orkney archipelago. This scheme (that may be the first of its kind in the world) involves "active network management" that will make better use of the existing infrastructure and allow a further 15MW of new "non-firm generation" output from renewables onto the network.<ref>[http://www.scottish-southern.co.uk/SSEInternet/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Our_Businesses/Energy_Systems/Regulated_Accounts/SSERPZReport%200607.pdf ''Registered Power Zone Annual Report for period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007''] (pdf) Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution and Southern Electric Power Distribution. Retrieved 18 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.ensg.gov.uk/assets/kel003110000.pdf ''Facilitate generation connections on Orkney by automatic distribution network management''] (pdf) DTI. Retrieved 18 October 2007.</ref>

==Transport==
===Air===
The main airport in Orkney is Kirkwall Airport, with services to [[Aberdeen]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Glasgow]] and [[Inverness]], as well as to Sumburgh Airport in Shetland.<ref name=visork>[http://www.visitorkney.com/gettinghere.asp "Getting Here"] Visit Orkney. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref>

Within Orkney, the council operates airfields on most of the larger islands including [[Stronsay]], [[Eday]], [[North Ronaldsay]], [[Westray]], [[Papa Westray]], and [[Sanday]].<ref>[http://www.hial.co.uk/kirkwall-airport.html "Air Travel"] Orkney Islands Council. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref> Reputedly the shortest scheduled air service in the world, between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray, is scheduled at two minutes duration<ref>[http://www.westraypapawestray.co.uk/getting-here.html "Getting Here"] Westray and Papa Westray Craft and Tourist Associations. Retrieved 7 January 2010.</ref> but can take less than one minute if the wind is in the right direction.

===Ferries===
Ferries serve both to link Orkney to Great Britain, and also to link together the various islands of Orkney. Ferry services operate between Orkney and the Scottish mainland and Shetland on the following routes:
*Gills Bay to [[St Margaret's Hope]]
*John o' Groats to [[Burwick, Orkney|Burwick]] on South Ronaldsay
*[[Lerwick]] to Kirkwall
*Aberdeen to Kirkwall
*[[Scrabster]] Harbour, [[Thurso]] to [[Stromness]] (operated by Northlink Ferries)

Between the islands, ferry services connect all the inhabited islands to Orkney Mainland.

==Media==
Orkney is served by two weekly local newspapers, The Orcadian and Orkney Today.<ref>[http://www.orkneytoday.co.uk "Orkney Today"] ''Orkney Today''. Retrieved 16 February 2008.</ref>

A local BBC radio station, BBC Radio Orkney, the local opt-out of BBC Radio Scotland, broadcasts twice daily, with local news and entertainment.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/news/orkney/index.shtml "Radio Orkney"]. BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> Orkney also has a commercial radio station, The Superstation Orkney, which broadcasts to Kirkwall and parts of the mainland and also broadcasts to most of [[Caithness]].<ref>[http://www.thesuperstation.co.uk/ "Superstation Orkney"] thesuperstation.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> Moray Firth Radio broadcasts throughout Orkney on AM and from an FM transmitter just outside Thurso. The community radio station Caithness FM also broadcasts to Orkney.<ref>[http://www.caithnessfm.co.uk/ "Welcome to the Caithness FM website"] Caithness FM. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref>

==Language, literature and folklore==
[[File:Odin-Stone sketch.jpeg|thumb|The Odin Stone]]
At the beginning of recorded history the islands were, it is believed, inhabited by the Picts, understood to speak a variety of the old British language from which Welsh is descended, although no written records survive. No certain knowledge of any pre-Pictish language exists anywhere in the north, and many suggestions have been made as to whether the ordinary people of the islands spoke Pictish or a proto-Celtic or indeed a non-Indo-European language.  The Ogham script on the Buckquoy spindle-whorl is cited as evidence for the pre-Norse existence of Old Irish in Orkney.<ref>{{Cite journal| author=Forsyth, Katherine| title=The ogham-inscribed spindle-whorl from Buckquoy: evidence for the Irish language in pre-Viking Orkney?| journal=The  Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland| volume=125| year=1995| pages=677–96| url=http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_125/125_677_696.pdf|format=PDF| publisher=ARCHway| accessdate=27 July 2007}}</ref>

After the Norse occupation the place-names of Orkney became almost wholly West Norse.<ref>Lamb, Gregor (1995) ''Testimony of the Orkneyingar: Place Names of Orkney''.  Byrgisey. ISBN 0-9513443-4-X</ref> The Norse language evolved into the local Norn, which lingered until the end of the 18th century, when it finally died out. Norn was replaced by the Orcadian dialect of Insular Scots. This dialect is at a low ebb due to the pervasive influences of television, education and the large number of incomers. However attempts are being made by some writers and radio presenters to revitalise its use<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/dialect/index.html "The Orcadian Dialect"] Orkneyjar. Retrieved 4 October 2008.</ref> and the distinctive sing-song accent and many dialect words of Norse origin continue to be used.{{#tag:ref|Lamb (2003) counted 60 words "with correlates in Old Norse only" and 500 Scots expressions in common use in the 1950s.<ref>Lamb, Gregor "The Orkney Tongue" in Omand (2003) pp. 250-53.</ref>|group="Notes"}} The Orcadian word most frequently encountered by visitors is "peedie", meaning "small", which may be derived from the French ''petit''.<ref>Clackson, Stephen (25 November 2004) ''The Orcadian''. Kirkwall.</ref>{{#tag:ref|The word is of uncertain origin and has also been attested in the Lothians and Fife in the 19th century.<ref>Grant, W. and Murison, D.D. (1931-1976) ''Scottish National Dictionary''. Scottish National Dictionary Association. ISBN 0080345182.</ref>|group="Notes"}}

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.<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/trows/ "The Trows"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> Local customs in the past included marriage ceremonies at the Odin Stone that forms part of the Stones of Stenness.<ref>Muir, Tom "Customs and Traditions" in Omand (2003) p. 270.</ref>

The best known literary figures from modern Orkney are the poet Edwin Muir, the poet and novelist George Mackay Brown and the novelist Eric Linklater.<ref>Drever, David "Orkney Literature" in Omand (2003) p. 257.</ref>

==Orcadians==
An Orcadian is a native of Orkney, a term that reflects a strongly held identity with a tradition of understatement.<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/orcadian.htm "The Orcadians - The people of Orkney"] Orkneyjar. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> Although the annexation of the earldom by Scotland took place over five centuries ago in 1472, most Orcadians regard themselves as Orcadians first and Scots second.<ref>"'We are Orcadian first, and Scottish second' many people would tell me during the course of my fieldwork." McClanahan, Angela (2004) ''The Heart of Neolithic Orkney in its Contemporary Contexts: A case study in heritage management and community values''. Historic Scotland/University of Manchester, p. 25 (§3.47) [http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/orkney-case-study.pdf#xml=http://web1:10700/texis/webinator/pubssearch/pdfhi.txt?pr=publications&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&rdepth=0&sufs=0&order=r&id=4b2056937] Retrieved 8 January 2010.</ref>

When an Orcadian speaks of "Scotland", they are talking about the land to the immediate south of the [[Pentland Firth]]. When an Orcadian speaks of "the mainland", they mean [[Mainland, Orkney]].<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/index.html "Where is Orkney?"] Orkneyjar. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> Tartan, clans, bagpipes and the like are traditions of the Scottish Highlands and are not a part of the islands' indigenous culture.<ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/faq.htm Orkneyjar FAQ] Orkneyjar. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> However, at least two tartans with Orkney connections have been registered and a tartan has been designed for Sanday by one of the island's residents,<ref>[http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tartan_info.cfm@tartan_id=4091.htm "Orkney tartan"] tartans.scotland.net Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.clackson.com/tartan/sanday-tartan.htm "Sanday Tartan"] www.clackson.com. Retrieved 2 June 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tartan_info.cfm@tartan_id=8160.htm "Clackson tartan"] tartans.scotland.net. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> and there are pipe bands in Orkney.<ref>[http://www.kirkwallcity.com/ "Kirkwall City Pipe Band"] kirkwallcity.com. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.stromnesspipeband.co.uk/ "Stromness RBL Pipe Band"] stromnesspipeband.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref>

Native Orcadians refer to the non-native residents of the islands as "ferry loupers", a term that has been in use for nearly two centuries at least.<ref>Vedder, David (1832) ''Orcadian Sketches''. Edinburgh. William Tait.</ref>{{#tag:ref|The expression "ferry louper" has  a literal meaning of "ferry jumper" i.e. one who has jumped off a ferry as distinct from a native.|group="Notes"}}  This designation is celebrated in the Orkney Trout Fishing Association's "Ferryloupers Trophy", suggesting that although it can be used in a derogatory manner, it is more often a light-hearted expression.<ref>[http://www.orkneytroutfishing.co.uk/competition_pages/c_programme2009.html "2009 Competition Programme"] Orkney Trout Fishing Association. Retrieved 16 November 2009.</ref>

==Outside links==
{{Commons|Orkney Islands}}
*[http://www.orknet.co.uk/ Orknet]
*[http://www.orkney.com/ Orkney.com] The gateway to everything Orkney
*[http://www.orkneyjar.com/ Orkneyjar, an Orcadian History and Heritage Site]
*[http://www.spirit-of-orkney.com/contents1a/ Spirit-of-Orkney,  History and Heritage Site]
*[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/entry_page.jsp;jsessionid=83591791380FA8D941CC8FB0C7DA218B?text_id=135520&word=NULL Vision of Britain - Groome Gazetteer entry for Orkney]
*[http://www.orkney.gov.uk/ Orkney Islands Council], the local authority website

==References==
{{Reflist|group="Notes"}}

{{Reflist|2}}

*Armit, Ian (2006) ''Scotland's Hidden History''. Stroud. Tempus. ISBN 075243764X
*Benvie, Neil (2004) ''Scotland's Wildlife''. London. Aurum Press. ISBN 1854109782
*Ballin Smith, B. and Banks, I. (eds) (2002) ''In the Shadow of the Brochs, the Iron Age in Scotland''. Stroud. Tempus. ISBN 075242517X
*Clarkson, Tim (2008) ''The Picts: A History''. Stroud. The History Press. ISBN 9780752443928
*{{Haswell-Smith}}
*Moffat, Alistair (2005) ''Before Scotland: The Story of Scotland Before History''. London. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0500051337
*Omand, Donald (ed.) (2003) ''The Orkney Book''. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1841582549
*Thomson, William P. L. (2008) ''The New History of Orkney''. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 9781841586960
*''Whitaker's Almanack 1991'' (1990). London. J. Whitaker & Sons. ISBN 0850212057
*Wickham-Jones, Caroline (2007) ''Orkney: A<!--sic--> Historical Guide''. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1841585963

===Books===
*Fresson, Captain E. E. ''Air Road to the Isles.'' (2008) Kea Publishing. ISBN 9780951895894
*Lo Bao, Phil and Hutchison, Iain (2002) ''BEAline to the Islands.''  Kea Publishing. ISBN 9780951895849
*Warner, Guy (2005) ''Orkney by Air.'' Kea Publishing. ISBN 9780951895870
*Batey, C.E. ''et al'' (eds.) (1995) ''The Viking Age in Caithness, Orkney and the North Atlantic''. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780748606320

{{British county}}