An archipelago twenty miles north of mainland Scotland, Orkney for many centuries had a culture more Scandinavian than Scottish. Strong westerly winds account for both its scarcity of trees and its tradition of well-constructed stone structures, and as a result, the islands boast a large number of exceptionally well-preserved remains which help us form a detailed picture of Orcadian life through the ages.
Sites and remains to be explored include settlements from the Stone Age, stone circles and burials from the Bronze Age, Iron Age brochs, Viking castles, the magnificent cathedral of St. Magnus in Kirkwall, Renaissance palaces, a Martello tower from the Napoleonic Wars, and numerous remains from the Second World War. In this updated edition of her bestselling book, Caroline Wickham-Jones, who has worked extensively on Orcadian sites for many years, introduces the history of the islands-and provides a detailed survey of the principal places and sites of historic interest.
