Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands are a group of about 200 small islands 10 miles north of Caithness? in northern Scotland. The largest island in the group is known as "Mainland"; about 20 are inhabited in total.

The most significant islands in the group are:

• Mainland, which is connected by causeway to:
  • South Ronaldsay
  • Burray
• /Hoy (which is also the highest)
• Flotta (a large oil processing centre is located here)
• Eday
• /Rousay
• Westray
• Stronsay

Orkney's administrative capital is Kirkwall? on Mainland, a small city (due to the [Saint Magnus Cathedral]?) with a large port. The only other sizeable town is Stromness? at the western end of Mainland.

Communications

Frequent ferry services operate on the following routes:

• Aberdeen to Stromness
• Scrabster to Stromness
• John o' Groats to St Mary's

A locally owned cargo service also takes passengers on its services from Kirkwall to Invergordon.

Heritage

The famous Neolithic sites of Skara Brae and Maes Howe are located on the Mainland.