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Looking for an escape from the rat-race, the concrete and the traffic? Scotland is not just Edinburgh, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness or even the Highlands: only two hours north of Inverness is a group of small islands, a favourite haunt of those who like their relaxation to be luxurious but different, and who value some space.
The Gulf Stream gives these islands – known as Orkney, the Orkneys, the Isles of Orkney or even the Orkney Isles – a mild climate and although north of Moscow, the landscape is spectacularly lush and green. With clean air and clear seas, countless birds – puffins, corncrakes, harriers, bonxies - and fish abound and the Islands are a must-do destination for birdwatchers and sea-fishermen. The lochs are world-famous for their superb (and free!) trout fishing while for divers, the scuttled WW1 German fleet makes Scapa Flow an internationally famous dive site. Orkney’s history predates the pyramids and the World Heritage Site is only a part of the greatest concentration of Neolithic remains in Europe. Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae and literally hundreds of cairns, tombs and stones are there for you to explore. Eating well here is not a luxury, it’s a way of life and if you value good food, you may already know Orkney produce is exported world-wide. Free from additives and with a clear trace to your table, Orkney food, whether fish such as haddock, skate, kippers and herring to lobster, crab and scallops or the spectacular North Ronaldsay lamb and Aberdeen-Angus beef, is internationally famous. The oatcakes and cheeses win awards, while the Scapa and Highland Park whiskies are second to none. Such a lifestyle encourages creativity and with the greatest density of silversmiths north of Birmingham, Orkney hand-made jewellery is found in the world’s most exclusive stores. There is much more - something for everyone, in fact - but the beauty is that on Orkney, you can have it all to yourself…….
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