Attractions of the Orkney Islands: ancient monuments of Celtic culture

Orkney Islands - an archipelago in the north of Scotland, consisting of 70 islands. Known for its numerous Neolithic monuments and tombs of Celtic tribes. Tourists are also attracted by the rocky coast of the islands and unique flora and fauna. What to see on the Orkney Islands tourist who is going to make a trip to Scotland?

History of the islands

Since the Stone Age, the territory of the Orkney Islands is inhabited by people who call themselves Picts. The first written mention of the settlements in this part of Scotland is dated to the 1st century AD. E. - the time of the Roman conquests of the British Isles. In the IX century, the Orkneys were colonized by warlike Vikings, who sailed to the islands from far-off Norway. They in 995 baptized the inhabitants of the islands in the Christian faith.

In 1468, the islands were transferred as a dowry to the Scottish King Jacob III. Subsequently, Norway has repeatedly tried to buy them back, but their attempts were unsuccessful. Later, in the 17th century, the Orkneys, together with Scotland, became part of the UK, to which they still belong.

On the territory of the Orkney Islands, peat industry has always flourished. There are also several factories involved in the production of Scotch whiskey. In the 20th century, the islands had a naval base that was disbanded after the Second World War.

How to get to the Orkney Islands?

Orkney Islands are remote from the civilized world, but it's not difficult to get to them. In the largest city of the archipelago, Kirkwall can be reached by airplane. Flights from the airports of Edinburgh, Inverness, London and Birmingham depart for the islands almost every day.

There is also a ferry service between Inverness and Kirkwall. The journey takes approximately 3 hours. From Edinburgh to Inverness can be reached by buses, the timetable of which is specially drawn up so that in time for the departure of the ferry. Before a trip it is necessary to take care of tickets in advance and book them a few days before sailing. In summer, especially in July and August, ferries can be overcrowded. South Orkney Islands are connected to the central by motorways.

Tomb of the Eagles

The eagle's tomb is located north-west of Kirkwall on the island of Maynland, near Eastbysters. This is an ancient chamber tomb of the Neolithic times. It is located in a rocky cliff. According to archaeologists, there are at least 15,000 human remains and about 700 remains of birds. According to legend, burials here have occurred for many years. Local residents caught the eagles and sacrificed them to the goddess of death.

The burial was discovered in 1958 by Scottish archaeologists, and the main excavations were carried out in the 1970s. Now the Tomb of the Eagles is open to tourists, regular excursions are organized here.

St. Magnus Cathedral

Attractions of the Orkney Islands are not only archaeological monuments, but also architectural masterpieces. One of them is the Cathedral of St. Magnus in Kirkwall - the northernmost church in Britain. The temple was built in the XII century by Norwegians, who at that time inhabited the archipelago. The name he received in honor of St. Magnus - the son of the Norwegian king, who was famous for his meekness and piety. His relics are still kept in the temple.

The cathedral is the oldest monument of Norman architecture. It is built of red sandstone in Romanesque style. On its territory there is also an ancient Catholic cemetery. Not far from the temple are the ruins of the bishop's castle, and here are the remains of an ancient castle of counts that once ruled the Orkney archipelago. Under the cathedral are numerous dungeons, once serving as a prison. The cathedral regularly conducts tourist excursions, which also sanctify the ruins located nearby.

Skara Bray

Skara Bray is a unique settlement of the Neolithic age, which has almost completely survived to this day. Archaeologists believe that the village existed for 600 years in the period from 3100 to 2500 BC. E. It is assumed that it, like Pompeii, was destroyed as a result of a natural cataclysm that concealed the settlement from the eyes of people. Scarabe Bray was discovered accidentally in 1850 after a violent storm. Initially, archaeologists could not determine the age and culture of the settlement, taking him for a village of Vikings. Later, during the excavations in 1926, it turned out that Scara-Bray is one of the oldest monuments of human culture.

The settlement consists of 10 round houses, deepened underground to protect from the cold. Each of them is equipped with doors with bolts, as well as a primitive sewage system. It is believed that Scara-Brey is the birthplace of modern toilets. Residents ate seafood: fish, mussels and oysters. They were skilled stonemasons. In some houses, decor elements have remained: beads, necklaces, rings with ornaments of unknown science languages.

Dwarven-Stein

Dwarven-Stein, in Scottish language, means "dwarf stone". On the territory of the Orkney Islands, many monuments of this kind, but this ancient stone is considered the oldest and valuable for science. Monolith is a one-piece tomb carved from red limestone. The entrance to it was closed with the help of a plate, which now lies not far from the stone. The cemetery was allegedly plundered in the 16th century, but it is not known by whom. Also on the stone there are several inscriptions in Persian, carved presumably in the XIX century. Dvorfi-Stein is located on the island of Hoi An.

Small South Orkney Islands, whose fauna is one of the most unique in the UK, are indispensable for tourists. In addition to the Dwarven-Stein, you can see beautiful rocky landscapes that are almost untouched by people. Here lives the only species of sheep in the world that feeds on algae.

Orkney Islands, whose attractions are removed from the eyes of ordinary tourists, will be a real godsend for lovers of something new. People interested in ancient history and northern scenic landscapes should definitely visit this archipelago.