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Kirkwall is the capital and largest town of Orkney, sitting on the northern shore of the Mainland's central isthmus between the Wide Firth and Scapa Flow.

The town is dominated by St Magnus Cathedral, founded in 1137 by Norse Earl Rognvald in honour of his uncle - a red and yellow sandstone landmark that remains one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Scotland.

The harbour is the hub of Orkney's inter-island ferry network and receives cruise ships throughout the summer. The town centre has a good range of independent shops, cafes and services clustered along the narrow, flagstoned main street.

Kirkwall is the administrative, commercial and transport centre of the islands, home to the council offices, Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall Grammar School and Orkney's airport at nearby Grimsetter.

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Orkney is an archipelago of around 70 islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland, separated from Caithness by the Pentland Firth - one of the most powerful tidal races in Europe.

Of those 70 islands, roughly 20 are inhabited and most of the population of around 22,000 lives on the largest island, known simply as the Mainland, where the towns of Kirkwall and Stromness serve as the administrative and cultural centres.

Orkney's history stretches back over 5,000 years. The Heart of Neolithic Orkney - a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising Skara Brae, Maeshowe, the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness - represents some of the best-preserved prehistoric sites anywhere in northern Europe. The islands were under Norse rule for around 600 years and that Scandinavian heritage remains visible in place names, dialect and culture.

The islands are reached by ferry from Scrabster and Aberdeen and by air from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. Orkney's economy is built on agriculture, fishing, renewable energy, whisky and tourism and the islands have a quality of life consistently rated among the highest in Scotland.

Orkney is at the forefront of marine renewable energy, home to the European Marine Energy Centre which tests tidal and wave power devices in the waters around the islands. The strong community life, low crime and dramatic landscape make Orkney one of the most distinctive and self-reliant places in Scotland.