Orkney Islands

Country Coastal Beaches Riverfront

Population: 22k

Cost of Living: Moderate

Train Access: No

Bus Access: Yes (Orkney Islands Council public bus services; local bus routes on the Orkney Mainland and inter-island connections where available)

Weather: Orkney has a cool maritime climate, with windy conditions, frequent cloud, and changeable weather that can shift quickly in a single day. Summers are mild rather than warm, and winters are relatively moderate for the latitude, though storms and strong gales are part of life.

On a first visit, what stands out about the Orkney Islands is how the landscape keeps opening and opening: low green fields, pale stone walls, wide skies, and water always close by, even when you are inland. This is an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland, and life here feels shaped by ferries, weather windows, and short distances between settlements rather than by any single town center. Kirkwall, the main town, has the practical feel of a place that serves the islands around it, with shops, services, and a working harbor, while smaller communities spread out across the larger islands and the smaller isles. The pace is measured, but not sleepy; there is farming, fishing, public services, tourism, and a strong sense that daily life depends on knowing the land and sea well. The coastline is the constant backdrop, with cliffs, bays, and sheltered inlets changing character from one island to the next. Inland, the terrain is generally gentle rather than mountainous, which makes the horizon feel broad and exposed. Archaeological sites, standing stones, and old stone buildings are part of the everyday scenery rather than separate attractions, so the past feels embedded in the place rather than displayed behind glass. The light can be striking, especially when the wind clears the sky and the sea turns bright and metallic. For visitors, the Orkney Islands can feel remote in the best sense: self-contained, distinctive, and shaped by a close relationship with the elements. For residents, that same remoteness is balanced by a strong local identity, reliable routines, and the practical advantages of a compact island community where many needs can be met without long travel. It is a place where the geography is not just a backdrop but the organizing principle of life, from transport and work to how people plan a week, a season, or a journey off the islands.

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