Kirkwall (Orkney Island, Scotland)

Kirkwall is a seaport, the biggest city and capital of Orkney Islands, located on Mainland Orkney Island (off Great Britain's northern coast). The town's population is around 10,000.

Located on Mainland Orkney's northern coast, Port Kirkwall serves mainly ferries to Lerwick and Aberdeen, as well as to the north Orkney islands.

The town was first mentioned in a 1046 saga as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason (Earl of Orkney), who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn. In 1486, King James III of Scotland gave Kirkwall the royal burgh status. The town's name comes from the Norse "Kirkjuvagr" (meaning Church Bay).

At the town's heart stands the St Magnus Cathedral, which was established in memory of Saint Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney (1108–1117) by Earl Rögnvald Kali. Next to the Cathedral are the ruins of former Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace. The town has two museums. The bigger (Tankerness House Museum) has items of local historical importance. Its prehistoric, Viking and Pictish collections are of international importance. The other museum (Orkney Wireless) is dedicated to the history of recorded sound and radio.

Orkney Islands' cruise ship tourism began in the 1980's. The archipelago is among UK's most popular British Isles (Around Britain) cruise itinerary destinations and Scotland's most favourite ship travel destination. An average of 125 ships visit Orkney Isles annually, carrying over 100,000 cruise passengers and around 30,000 crew.

Highlights: Orkney Islands, Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae Neolithic settlement

Kirkwall cruise terminal

Kirkwall tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Balfour Castle
• St Magnus Cathedral
• Earls Palace and Bishops (both are former Royal Residences)
• Highland Park is a distillery producing finest Scotish single malt whiskey.