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History
is layered deep into the Northern Archipelagos that form Orkney,
Shetland and Scotland's Western Isles - the settlements of the earliest
peoples to the Viking Invaders. Today's invasion is from the thousand
of sea birds and other wildlife that make their home in these magical
isles.
Orkney - A Viking Legacy
Orkney
- a gathering of islands, mostly lying low and green. Centuries before the Norsemen
arrived, early settlers erected stone monuments which survive today; cairns, brochs
(round towers), tombs and standing stones.
 Orkney's
most famous prehistoric site is the stone age village of Skara Brae where a new
visitor centre portrays the life of these distant ancestors of Orcadians. The
burial chamber of Maeshowe is also impressive. It dates from around 2,750 BC,
though robbed by Vikings some 3,000 years later. The Broch of Gurness was in continuous
use over ten centuries, from the late Iron Age to the coming of the Vikings. .
Tankerness House Museum, in the main town of Kirkwall, has displays covering 5,000
years of island life.
St
Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall was founded in 1137 and is one of the best examples
of Norman architecture in Europe. Skaill House at Sandwick is one of Orkney's
finest mansions, with imposing architecture spanning four centuries. Much more
recently, naval history associated with the anchorage of Scapa Flow is explained
in the interpretation centre at Lyness on Hoy. On the other side of Scapa Flow
is the Hoxa Tapestry Gallery, just one example of the wide range of art and craftwork
inspired by the island's land and seascapes. Good
internal ferry and air links make excursions to the many outer islands easy.
Shetland
- Crossroads of the Northern Seas
Shetland is unlike anywhere else in Scotland. These islands lie 112 miles (180km)
beyond the Scottish mainland. Their culture and dialect has a strong Scandinavian
flavour The Shetland
Museum in Lerwick, the main town, takes up the island's sea-going theme, while
you can even take a harbour trip in the replica Viking longship, Dim Riv. Crofting
life in Shetland comes alive at the Shetland Croft Museum, a traditional dwelling,
complete with corn drying kiln. A little further south is Jarlshof, where excavations
show various dwellings, from neolithic earth houses to a 17th century laird's
mansion. The most northerly castle in Scotland is Muness Castle on the island
of Unst.
The
finest example of a broch surviving today is on the island of Mousa, south of
Lerwick. This makes a fascinating excursion, as does Old Scatness Broch,  claiming
to be the world's best preserved Iron Age village.
Shetland's
seabird colonies are spectacular. Gannets and puffins on cliffs and the aerobatics
of skuas will enthral you. Noss, Hermaness or Sumburgh are just a few of many
excellent sites.
The Outer Islands - The Western Isles
Lying
at the very edge of Europe, these peaceful islands have a rugged natural beauty
with unspoilt beaches, plentiful wildlife and unique culture and traditions.
The Western Isles is a chain of islands off the north west coast of Scotland.
Today, excellent air and ferry links bring them close to the mainland but they
keep their own distinctive heritage. Heartland of the Gaelic language (though
everyone also speaks English), the Western Isles stretch from the Butt of Lewis
down to Barra and beyond. White beaches are backed by shell sand pasture (called
machair) rich with wild flowers. There are many prehistoric sites, for example,
the Dun Carloway Broch with its own Interpretative Centre. Lewis
and Harris are one island, and both have spectacular beaches with more examples
of this type of brilliant white Hebridean beach on the islands to the south. The
Uists and Benbecula are linked by causeways. Wildlife abounds, with nature reserves
at Balranald on North Uist and also Loch Druidibeg. Environment and natural history
is the theme of the MacGillvray Centre at Northton, on Harris, recalling the life
of the renowned naturalist and wildlife artist William MacGillvray, who grew up
in the area. The
rich Gaelic culture of the Western Isles can be discovered in the Museum nan Eilean
in Stornoway. Also in the same town is An Lanntair (Gaelic for lantern), a gallery
shedding light on contemporary Gaelic interpretations of the visual arts. The
Black House at Arnol on the west coast of Lewis is a preserved example of the
once typical rural dwelling, with its central peat fire filling the house with
its characteristic smoky dimness. North Uist has Its own museum and art gallery,
the Taigh Chearsabhagh Visitor Centre close to the ferry pier at Lochmaddy, while
South Uist offers the new Kildonan Museum and Heritage Centre with its emphasis
on the community's history. Kisimul Castle on the Isle of Barra is reached by
boat, and the island's story is told in the Barra Heritage Centre. Finally,
please note that, on Sundays, because of deeply held religious beliefs in the
Western Isles, some shops and petrol stations are closed and there is limited
public transport.
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