The Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission

About Orkney

Orkney weaves a spell on all who stand on her shores. The main population centres are thebustling towns of Kirkwall - described by Historic Scotland as "Norway's oldest town" and still laid out in the Nordic fashion - and Stromness, whose rows of houses piled up on the steep hillsides sloping to the sea are reminiscentof the small fishing villages of Cornwall and Devon.

But total isolation is only a short boat trip from Stromness to uninhabited Fara and Cava, two of the 52 islands, which make up the Orkney Islands. Situated only 20 miles north of the Highland mainland, Orkney is afertile, flat land, reminiscent of the Netherlands, and in contrast to the large peaty moorlands of its near neighbours, Caithness and Shetland.

There are few trees - or traffic lights - to be found on the islands, but there is an abundance of history hidden beneath its green pastures and spectacular beach sand dunes. The ancient Stone Age village of Skara Brae, standing stones, ancient burial chambers and brochs dot the landscape. Modern hotels and small guest houses provide quality and affordable accommodation and the abundance of fresh seafood and quality beef is a gastronomes's delight.

Orkney has been at the maritime crossroads of northern Europe since pre-history. Scapa Flow's safe natural harbour has been the base for the British Fleet since Napoleonic times. Evocative block ships, used as First World War defences against submarines still remain.

Many of the barriers are now causeways, providing roads for remote communities. Orkney provides a very unique and atmospheric place to film. Although the winter days are short, this is amply compensated by the long summer days which are rarely darker than twilight. A clear, unpolluted atmosphere, provides the quality hours necessary for filming in a tight schedule.

For further information contact:

Morag Robertson,
Department of Development and Planning,
Orkney Islands Council,
School Place,
Kirkwall,
Orkney,
KW15 1NY.
Tel: 44 (0) 1856 873535; Fax: 44(0) 1856 875846.
Email: [email protected]

Getting Here:

For more information on how to get to the Orkney Isles please contact the Inverness office.

Local Links:

Orkney Islands Council

Orkney Tourist Board

Orkney Enterprise

The Orkney Website

Orkney Ferries

Northern Isles Weather Forecast

Annual Climate For Orkney

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sunshine - daily	1	2.3	3.1	4.9	5.2	5.4	4.3	4.1	3.4	2.4	1.3	0.7
Temp. (c)	3	3	5	6	8	10	12	12	11	8	6	5
Rain - mm	106	73	84	56	50	52	56	78	102	116	120	113

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