Kirkwall

Kirkwall is the capital of the amazing Orkney archipelago, standing at the dividing point between East and West Mainland.

Founded around 1035 by Earl Rognvald Brusason, Kirkwall is the administrative centre of Orkney. With its harbour and airport, it is the arrival point for ferries from Shetland and Aberdeen, cruise ships, and flights from the UK, and departure point for ferries to the other islands in Orkney. It is the best place to stock up on supplies for heading on, as it boasts the only large supermarket in Orkney.

Kirkwall's best feature is perhaps its sandstone cathedral, widely considered the finest medieval building in the north of Scotland. The original town is one of the best preserved examples of an ancient Norse town.