SCOTLAND
F IVE MOR E
ORKNEY HIGHLIGHTS 1
The Italian Chapel On the pint-sized island of Lamb Holm stands
the Italian Chapel, a remarkable relic of the Second World War. When Italian prisoners were sent to Orkney to build the Churchill Barriers — four causeways linking the mainland to its smaller neighbouring islands — they asked for a place of worship. With little more than concrete, scrap metal and leftover paint, they transformed two humble Nissen huts into a Catholic church. Among the 550 men transported to Camp 60 from North Africa was artist Domenico Chiocchetti, who, with the help of fellow tradesmen, adorned the chapel with frescoes, faux stone columns, vaulted ceiling murals and delicate wrought-iron gates. In 2015, it was lovingly restored by Antonella Papa, an expert whose previously worked in the Sistine Chapel. Admission is £4 per person, with free entry for ages 12 and under.
orkney.com/listings/the-italian-chapel
2
Skara Brae On the western edge of Mainland Orkney,
overlooking the Bay of Skaill, lies Skara Brae. This is one of the most complete and accessible Neolithic settlements in Europe, and inside its nine stone dwellings are strikingly familiar features. Box beds, hearths, dressers, shelving units and living areas all give the homes a startling sense of intimacy. Archaeologists have also uncovered tools, jewellery and even board games, now displayed in the visitor centre, while outside, narrow covered passageways link the village together. Thought to be around 5,000 years old, Skara Brae was once inhabited by a small community of around 50- 100 people. Preserved by its semi-subterranean construction, the site remained hidden until a storm in 1850 revealed it to the world. Today, it forms part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site and welcomes visitors year-round. Admission starts at £10 for a standard adult ticket, with free entry for those aged under seven.
historicenvironment.scot
3 74
The Hoxa and Balfour Batteries Follow the grassy coastal path around Hoxa
Head and you’ll come to the Hoxa and Balfour Battery complexes. Built in both of the Wars to defend a once vital anchorage for the British navy, it was here, in June 1919, that the German High Seas Fleet was scuttled by its own sailors’
NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL
crews. A staggering 52 of the 74 interned vessels were deliberately sunk to stop them falling into allied hands, and many still rest on the seabed. The batteries themselves once bristled with vast guns, their scale still hinted at in the crumbling gun pits, alongside the remains of searchlights and observation posts. As you wander the ruins today, you might glimpse orcas or dolphins slipping through the Sound of Hoxa, while shags and guillemots wheel overhead.
4
Kirkwall Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, is a compact,
walkable town that more than makes up in character what it lacks in size. Founded in the 11th century on Mainland Orkney’s northern coast, it grew into an important Norse port — and traces of that heritage remain everywhere. At its heart stands St Magnus Cathedral, a striking red-and- yellow sandstone landmark known as the ‘Light of the North’. Britain’s most northerly cathedral, it was built by the Vikings in 1137 and then expanded over the next 300 years. Beside it lie the ruins of the Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces: the former built in the 12th century to house clergy. Today, the town’s narrow streets are lined with craft shops and cafes, and each midsummer, Kirkwall bursts into life with the St Magnus Festival, a week-long celebration of arts and culture.
orkney.com/explore/kirkwall
5
Highland Park Whisky Distillery Highland Park Whiskey Distillery was founded
in 1798 by Magnus ‘Mansie’ Eunson — a church beadle by day and whisky smuggler by night, who was said to have hidden bottles of contraband beneath his pulpit. Officially licensed in 1826, the distillery now sits on the edge of Kirkwall as Scotland’s northernmost single malt Scotch producer. Its reputation rests on a signature balance of smoky, sweet and spicy notes, shaped by Orkney’s heather-rich peat, Oloroso sherry- seasoned oak casks and the traditional practice of floor malting. After more than a year-long ‘silent season’ from April 2024 to March 2025 — during which environmental upgrades cut the distillery’s carbon emissions by 20% — Highland Park has reopened its doors with a range of tours and tasting experiences. Distillery experiences start from £30 and tastings are available from £7.50 at Highland Park’s store in Kirkwall town centre.
highlandparkwhisky.com
Clockwise from top: The name Kirkwall comes from the Old Norse Kirkjuvágr, meaning Church Bay; Highland Park Whisky Distillery produces batches with a distinctive sweet, smoky character; black guillemots can be spotted in Orkney year-round
IMAGES: ALAMY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260
