Orkney

Orkney is a small traditional county that covers the Orkney Islands off Scotland's northern coast. All of the islands in the archipelago, with the exception of Stroma which is within Caithness are within the county.

Geography & Economy

The B9061 on Stronsay

With the exception of Hoy, the islands are generally low lying and relatively flat. Although almost entirely treeless, the land is often fertile, particularly on some of the northern isles which have sandy soils. This offers good farmland, and combined with fishing off the shore in the sheltered waters between the isles has helped sustain the islands population for centuries. In more recent times, tourism has boosted the economy, largely centred around the 'Neolithic Orkney' group of ancient monuments. Walking and cycling on the outer isles is also a popular option for visitors.

The vast natural harbour of Scapa Flow served as a Naval base in both world wars, and led to the construction of the Churchill Barriers, over which the A961 was later extended. The isle of Flotta in Scapa Flow is now also an important link in the North Sea Oil and Gas industry, which whilst nowhere near as important as it is in Shetland, has brought money onto the islands. Green Energy is also likely to boost the islands economy as the oil boom tails off, with tidal and wind energy the main projects.

Roads

A stormy day on the Churchill Barriers

The Mainland has a good network of A and B roads, most of which are good quality routes with little traffic except in the peak summer season. The south eastern chain of isles down to South Ronaldsay are connected up by the A961 as it crosses the Churchill Barriers. The south western and northern Isles only have B roads serving them, but nevertheless a good network of unclassified routes serve the out lying farms and houses, as indeed they do on the mainland.

The islands are all connected by a network of ferries, with three routes from the Scottish Mainland, and a network of interlinked routes serving the outer isles. Many of these sail from the island capital of Kirkwall, but Stromness and Houston are the ports for the southern isles. All the roads in the county are non-trunk roads and are maintained by Orkney Islands Council.

Route	From	To	Length
A960	Kirkwall	Gritley	9.9 miles	View
A961	Kirkwall	Burwick (South Ronaldsay)	20.3 miles	View
A962	Albert Street	Junction Road	0.06 miles	View
A963	Kiln Corner Roundabout	Holm Road	1.7 miles	View
A964	Kirkwall	Stenness	15.0 miles	View
A965	Kirkwall	Stromness	15.8 miles	View
A966	Finstown	Birsay Bay	17.4 miles	View
A967	North of Stromness	Birsay Bay	11.9 miles	View
A986	Finstown (W)	Twatt	8.2 miles	View
B9040	Water Sound Ferry	Burwick	8.0 miles	View
B9041	Burwick	Cleat	1.0 mile	View
B9042	Eastdam	Herston	2.7 miles	View
B9043	St Margaret's Hope	Hoxa	2.5 miles	View
B9044	Water Sound	South Cara	1.3 miles	View
B9045	Sutherland	Kirk Bay	1.8 miles	View
B9046	Whome	Pan	1.1 miles	View
B9047	Osmondwall	Bu	20.3 miles	View
B9048	Lyness	Ore Bay	0.6 miles	View
B9049	Linksness	Quoyness	0.8 miles	View
B9049	Quoyness (W)	Burra Sound	1.2 miles	View
B9050	Gritley	Skaill	2.2 miles	View
B9051	Gritley	Deer Sound	1.8 miles	View
B9052	St Mary's	Foubister	3.5 miles	View
B9053	Upper Scapa	Scapa Bay	1.0 mile	View
B9054	Harbour	Palace Road	0.5 miles	View
B9054	Finstown (W)	Twatt	8.2 miles	View
B9055	Stenness	Aith	5.5 miles	View
B9056	Voy	Swannay	8.7 miles	View
B9057	Aith	Evie	9.4 miles	View
B9058	Elwick	Ness of Ork	5.0 miles	View
B9059	Balfour	Sandgarth	3.6 miles	View
B9060	Whitehall Village	South Schoolhouse	4.1 miles	View
B9061	Aith	Millgrip	3.4 miles	View
B9062	Sandybank	Odie	1.7 miles	View
B9063	Backaland	Calfsound	6.1 miles	View
B9064	Wasbister	Westness	8.9 miles	View
B9065	Rousay Ferry Terminal	Trumland House Lodge, Brinian	0.34 miles	View
B9066	Rapness	Rackwick	7.9 miles	View
B9067	Braehead	Nether House	3.3 miles	View
B9068	Kettletoft	Scar	4.5 miles	View
B9069	Kettletoft (N)	Saltess	7.6 miles	View
B9070	Loth	Broughtown	6.3 miles	View
B9148	Kirkwall	Scapa Bay	0.9 miles	View

Key

Motorway

Primary Route

Non Primary Route

Former Motorway

Defunct Route

E Road

Future Motorway

Future Primary

Future Non Primary

Historical Route

Tourist Route

Roman Road

Unbuilt Motorway

Unbuilt Primary

Unbuilt Non Primary

National Cycle Network

Cycle Route

Eurovelo Cycle Route

Junctions

Main Article: Junctions in Orkney

Bridges, Tunnels, and other Crossings

Main Article: Crossings in Orkney

Links

• The Orkney Site
• Visit Orkney site