Hi everyone, I will visit Orkney Islands during next summer and I really want to see Sanday. Do you think I should book a ferry or is it no use cause there will be availability ? Thank you !

Hi all,

Didn’t want to post this in the Orkney FB groups with my name attached.

Just curious what bank you all use - do you use one that has a branch on the island (or should I say on the Mainland) or do you find that having a physical branch doesn’t matter and you bank elsewhere?

Reason for asking is that my husband and I are moving there this summer (yes, we have housing sorted).

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

Hi all, I recently got an offer for a masters program from UHI based in Orkney and am currently looking for rented housing in or near Kirkwall over the summer and the next academic year. I know renting is difficult so I just wanted to make a post advertising my interest :). I've spent most of my life in cities so was also wondering if anyone could tell me a bit about Island life and some of the things to bare in mind? Thanks!

Hello! I'm taking a trip through Orkney and Shetland and both of their surrounding islands soon, coming on a ferry with my car and a tent.

I love wild camping and did something similar in thr outer hebrides so would love if anyone had some recommendations for good wild camping spots. Places a little out of the way so I can stay discreet, but also with nice surroundings!

For the record, I will of course be very respectful, minimise my presence and leave everything exactly how I found it with no litter or damage.

Thank you!

Hello, me and my partner will be moving to Orkney in August and staying in Kirkwall. I have lots of experience running community events, especially with kids, and would be interested in setting up an after school club for kids to do various creative activities (writing, improv, craft and such). We're coming from Edinburgh so the set up for community centres is very different and I am looking for advice from locals.

My main questions are:

Is this something that would be of interest on the island?

Where is the best place to hold the course in terms of transport for the kids?

Is there something similar and how is it priced?

any advice is greatly appreciated!

I will be moving to Orkney to start a new job. I have been doing some online research but would like first hand experience of life on the Islands as well as pointers towards what to expect when I first arrive. Important things to do early enough to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Thanks Orcadians!

As reported in the Orkney News and The Orcadian.

Orkney residents aged under 22 will soon be able to travel between islands free of charge, the Scottish Government has announced.

The new scheme comes into force at the beginning of April, allowing young residents to travel for free as foot passengers on inter-island ferry services within Orkney by showing their Young Scot or National Entitlement Card.

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The free inter-island travel for under 22s applies to foot passenger fares on the inter-island ferry services within the Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides island groups, operated by Orkney Ferries, Shetland Islands Council and CalMac respectively.

For more detail on how to apply for a Young Scot Card or National Entitlement Card, please visit www.getyournec.scot or alternatively contact your local Council for assistance.

Hi All! Is there any options to go whale watching in/from Orkney in September?

We're selling our 3 bedroom family home has a garage and parking for two cars view of the top of cathedral from back bedrooms

Would be really useful to know what’s around! For example, I’ve found The Space in Rousay but it looks like it might not operate any more?

Also worth knowing if there’s anyone at all who offers microphone hire on the islands!

Does anyone know where this is and where it's taken from? Possibly Hoy? Thank you

22-25 May, 2025.

Orkney Folk Fest Official Website

There will be a 10% price increase to the Individual and Family ActiveLife memberships:

• An Individual membership will now be £30.25 per month

• A Family membership will now be £42.35 per month

Council tax will increase by 15 per cent after councillors doubled down on implementing the highest rise in Scotland so far.

An amendment to invoke an 11 per cent rise — as per the original recommendation by OIC officials — failed to win the required support at today's meeting of the full council.

The amendment was proposed by Councillor Steven Heddle and seconded by Gillian Skuse. However, it gained just six votes inside the OIC chamber.

The motion to stick with 15 per cent was proposed by council leader Heather Woodbridge, seconded by Councillor Sandy Cowie. This was supported by 13 of their fellow councillors.

It means that Orkney householders will face the biggest percentage increase in Scotland so far, surpassing Clackmannanshire's 13 per cent rise.

At a 15 per cent increase, council tax for a Band D property will be £1,574.60.

Hopefully this will succeed; https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/tomb-of-the-eagles/backers#start

If you are a podcast listener or have a spare 10 minutes here is a bit of history about how Orkney became Scottish.

Does the Kirkwall to Papa Westray flight always stop in Westray? We are hoping to do the shortest flight but ideally coming from Kirkwall due to time limits rather than getting to westray first (we have plans to visit other islands but really love the novelty of the shortest flight).

Hello,

I hope this is appropriate for this sub.

My partner and I are visiting Kirkwall for the month of April while I am on clinical placement. Currently I have been offered accommodation via the placement site, but they do not allow guests to stay overnight and was wondering if anyone has advice on accommodation options for my partner? The current plan was for her to stay with her parents who are also visiting for a week then she would join me in the accommodation with me for the remainder of the month. But currently seeking advice on alternative accommodation for either herself or both.

Link to the You Tube video HERE

Archie Brown shares a visit with Mick Braddock.

Mick lives at Graemsay's Hoy Sound High Lighthouse.

If you've taken the Hamnavoe, you've passed Graemsay on the way in to Stromness.

Hello! I’m visiting Orkney for the first time in June as part of a UK cruise. I’m a huge military history nerd so I really wanted to visit the Scapa Flow museum in Lyness. The ship docks in Kirkwall and I’ve already determined that a bus and ferry is necessary to get there. Is there anything else I need to know about the museum and/or how to get there that I wouldn’t be able to find online? Forgive my vagueness, I’m American and not used to traveling without a car, and I want to have as much time as possible to explore the museum.

The end of an era.

"Repairing shire-wire fences on for our flock of rare-breed sheep! It's a beautiful day so come along with me as I get to work. "

"My parents have been farming sheep on a remote Scottish island for nearly 50 years. For half that time, they've had a flock of North Ronaldsays, or Rollies, an ancient breed of seaweed-eating sheep native to the Orkney Islands. I took a sabbatical from my job in 2023 as a TV news reporter to help for four months and decided to film a documentary series about their unique lifestyle while I was there. Sadly, due to ill-health age advancing age of my parents, as a family we are having to accept that our chapter on this island is approaching its end. If you're interested in taking over the farm, check out my mum's website where there are more details: www.isleofauskerry.com "

Link to the YouTube video HERE

Planning a trip to Orkney at the end of May. We were looking at an Airbnb in Sanday. I'm curious to know how convenient or inconvenient it might be to get to the main island from that location. Thank You.

STROMA – ISLAND OF STORMS AND TIDES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBXNABvqJJk