Kirwall

The town of Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands archipelago in northern Scotland. Orkney is made up of approximately 70 islands although it is only 20 of them that are inhabited. There has been habitation here for over 8,500 years, with the islands’ first inhabitants being Mesolithic and Neolithic tribes. The invasion of Orkney by Norway in 875 led to its annexation and settlement by the Norse. It was in 1742 that Orkney was annexed to the Scottish Crown. Orkney is designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site as it contains some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe. Kirkwall has two fascinating museums that tell of the history, the people and the heritage of the town and islands: the Tankerness House Museum located in one of Scotland's best-preserved 16^th century town-houses with prehistoric, Pictish and Viking collections of international importance as well as local artefacts and the Orkney Wireless Museum that focuses on the history of radio and recorded sound.

As the capital of Orkney, Kirkwall offers ample amenities, shops, eateries, pubs, historic sites and attractions along with some outstanding views and scenery. Within the town are wonderful examples of architectural history including St. Magnus Cathedral at the heart of Kirkwall which was founded in memory of Saint Magnus Erlendsson, the Earl of Orkney from 1108 to 1117. Right next door to the cathedral lay the ruins of the former Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace and around the town are many 17^th and 18^th century buildings. Kirkwall is also a port with ferry services to Aberdeen and Lerwick, making it an ideal base for exploring this diverse and beautiful area.