The Orcadian Online Archive - Tourist Board guidance

Orkney Tourist Board's
Guidance for Travellers to Orkney

The Orkney Islands are heavily dependent on a high quality agricultural industry that values its clean, disease free status. Naturally, islanders are very concerned that every effort should be made to avoid any transfer of the Foot and Mouth virus into Orkney. As such, a number of measures to restrict access to the countryside are in operation and these are having the effect of limiting the range of sites that visitors can experience directly. Ancient monuments and areas of special natural interest are particularly affected, as are outdoor activities such as loch fishing. While designed to restrict movement in the countryside, the measures in place are not geared to discourage travellers from holidaying in the islands and this guidance -note alms to help you get the most from your visit to Orkney. Please heed the advice offered here, help Orkney to stay clear of Foot and Mouth and have a relaxing and refreshing stay.

Before leaving home: You should make efforts to clean and disinfect your car paying attention to wheels and floor mats. All footwear should be cleaned as should outdoor or over-clothing. Visitors who may have had contact with farm stock must be particularly careful. Pack clean clothing and footwear that you will wear in Orkney and keep it packed until you arrive. There are disinfectant facilities at the ferry and airport terminals, please do use them. If you would normally travel with a dog, please consider how you will ensure it remains under control in Orkney - you should also check that your accommodation is still prepared to accept it under the current circumstances.
When in Orkney: Since many of the renowned sites cannot be accessed (this is because they are generally surrounded by farmland) do take advantage of the alternative itinerary planning service on offer from Orkney Tourist Board. There are many places of interest, attractions, museums and galleries that remain very much open, not to speak of hotels, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, craft workshops, specialist retailers and sports facilities. Do please pay heed to the guidance to stay out of the countryside, off farmland and away from farm stock. If you are out and about, do stick to the main roads and if stopping at view-points or close to attractions, don't be tempted to wander from your car, climb fences or approach sites that are intended to be restricted. Do please act within the spirit of this guidance ... and with respect for the well being of Orkney's agricultural industry.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR ORKNEY HOLIDAY

Most visitors will by now be aware that there is a range of movement restrictions in place to counter the risk of transfer of the Foot and Mouth virus into Orkney. During this difficult time Orkney is working to help people met the best from their visit while at the same time respecting the preventative measures that are in operation.

The best advice we can give at this stage is that you do actively seek out advice as to what is or is not accessible. A first point of call should be Orkney Tourist Board. There are information Centres in Kirkwall, next to the Cathedral, and in Stromness at the Ferry Terminal.

Telephone (01856) 872856 or e-mall info@otb.ossian.net. Information is also available at www.visitorkney.com.

You may also wish to talk with your accommodation operator and check whether they have additional information.

With a number of the renowned sites closed or only viewable from the roadside, you may want to take advantage of one of a range of professional guiding services available in Orkney. The Orkney guides know all the sites, natural attractions, landscapes and social history and can help you to make the most of a panorama tour by bringing it all to life with a blend of knowledge, understanding, humour and the telling of tall tales! There are a number of services available:

Scheduled tours leave daily Mon-Fri from Kirkwall and Stromness Information Centres
A number of tour guides run tailor-made service and can help you to create your own itinerary given the restrictions in place
An in-your-own-car-guide service is available where you can take a guide along with you to help interpret and enliven your own tour itinerary.
Guided town walking tours are available

For details on the various services available, schedules and prices please contact Orkney Tourist Board on (01856) 872856

If you are keen to strike out on your own, there is plenty to see and do around the Mainland and in the isles. Here are just a few itinerary ideas.

Around Kirkwall

The capital and commercial centre of the islands has much to offer. Pick up a copy of the town heritage guide and spend anything from an hour to a day exploring the wynds and closes. Highlights include the 12th Century St Magnus Cathedral, founded by Earl Rognvald Kolsson and dedicated to his martyred uncle Magnus Erlandsson. The Orkney Museum and Tankerness House Gardens forms a centrepiece for Orkney's social and cultural heritage with a wide rance of artefacts dating from Neolithic, Iron and Bronze Ages. From April, visitors can enjoy "The Unknown Cathedral" with many exhibits on display for the first time. The Original Bishop's Palace was built in the mid 12th Century for Bishop William the Old, friend and crusading companion of Rognvald Kolsson and beside it the Earl's Palace, built by Patrick Stewart. Visit both and consider the changing times in Orkney from Norse to Scots rule. For a real taste of Orkney take a trip up to Highland Park, Scotland's most northerly distillery and arguably producer of her finest single malt. The distillery visitor centre offers audio-visual presentation of Orkney, its island characteristics and the making of her malt whisky.

Those with an interest in more recent history should take time to visit The Orkney Wireless Museum - where there's much more to appreciate than the progress of radio!

In Stromness

Stromness, or Hamnavoe as it was known in earlier times, is a fine deep anchorage sheltered from everything but a south-easterly gale. Here the Scrabster-Stromness Ferry Terminal ensures that the town, little changed in 300 years, remains the gateway to Orkney. Its heritage is recognised as being of national importance, with some 70 buildings listed for their historical and architectural interest.

Pick up a copy of the Stromness Heritage Guide at the Tourist Information Centre in the Ferry Terminal building and take yourself on a tour that brings in aspects from colonial India to Hudson Bay.

Visit Stromness Museum and take time to appreciate the displays and interpretation on Orkney's natural history, sea-faring traditions, her role in two World Wars and the close and lasting links with the Nor' Wast.

Contrast this with time at the Pier Arts Centre, where you can enjoy the fine permanent collection of 20th Century British art including Hepworth, Nicholson, Gabo, Wallis, Frost and Lanyon as well as changing exhibitions of local, national and international works.

Around the West Mainland

Create your own panorama tour with magnificent views over Scapa Flow from Stenness and Orphir, or to the west in Sandwick and Birsay. From Evie and Rendall the North Isles come into view.

From the road you can travel through the World Heritage Site designated area, taking in the Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe. There are many good stop off points where visitors will be warmly welcomed at the Merkister, Barony, Smithfield and Standing Stones Hotels or at Woodwick Gallery or Woodwick House. Why not hunt hidden craft gems perhaps at Applehouse or Quoyloo, at Orquil or The Woolshed.

Follow the Craft Trail

Orkney's reputation as a producer of high quality craftwork continues to grow. Follow the Orkney Craft Trail and you will see craftwork in progress, have an opportunity to purchase directly from the producer and be assured of a warm welcome. Orkneyinga Silversmiths, Celtian, Aurora, Ortak, Traditional Orkney Crafts, Scapa Crafts, Sheila Fleet, Stephane Jaeger, The Workshop and Hoxa Tapestry Gallery are all open and welcoming visitors daily.

Pick up a copy of the Craft Trail brochure from the Tourist Information Centre and discover treasures of jewellery, pottery, knitwear, ceramics, textiles, traditional furniture, paintings or tapestries.

The East Mainland

A trip round the East Mainland offers views over sandy bays, to the North Isles and east to Copinsay. The story of the role of Scapa Flow in the defence of Britain unfolds as you cross the Churchill Barriers, pass the Italian Chapel, and marvel and the blockships and growing, beaches. There are good opportunities for seal and birdwatching without leaving the roadside view points.

In South Ronaldsay the Olad Brae viewpoint offers 360 degree panoramas, which on a clear day extend as far as the mountains of the North West Highlands of Scotland.

The village of St Margaret's Hope, with gables set to the sea, is a lasting reminder of the Fair Maid of Norway, Princess Margaret, whose dowry Orkney became in 1468. Take time to wander the Front and Back Roads or drop in to The Smiddy to experience life as it was in a busy rural blacksmith's shop or watch Elli Pearson at work in the pottery.

The North and South Isles

If you are visiting any of the North or South Isles, we strongly recommend that you talk either to the Tourist Board or to your island accommodation operator.

While much of the attraction of the outer isles is based around the unspoiled natural environment, access restrictions are in place and shoreline and heath may be out of bounds.

North Ronaldsay in particular is asking visitors to respect its isolation in an effort to protect its indigenous flocks of shore-feeding sheep.

Guided panorama tours are available on Hoy, Sanday, Papa Westray and Rousay. Elsewhere you will require to make your own way but please do heed the guidance offered.

In Stronsay, the hotel and fishmarket welcome visitors but check your itinerary in advance to make sure you can get to the places you want to. The two-minute rise and fall of the world's shortest scheduled flight draws visitors from around the globe to Westray and Papay (the islands hospitality and fine sea-fayre are also legendary). Flotta, Graemsay, Eday, Wyre and other smaller isles merit a phone call to check access to attractions.

Again, please do take advantage of the Visitor Information Services, and if in doubt about access, err on the safe side in keeping away from agricultural land.

Telephone (01856) 872856 for further information, e-mail info@otb.ossian.net or see www.visitorkney.com