Scotland's finest: island-hopping in the Orkneys | Scotland holidays

Last modified on Mon 31 May 2021 02.02 EDT
This morning, before breakfast, I was out on the water: silk-smooth in front, and streaming away behind, the ferry cutting a path from the island of Hoy, via the island of Graemsay, to the island where I live, confusingly called Mainland.
Though this name creates some conversational ambiguity (are they referring to mainland Orkney, or the Scottish mainland, seven miles to the south across the Pentland Firth?), I’ve always admired the way it subtly shifts the centre of gravity closer to home. By considering all else relative to our own largest island, it resets the dial on what it means to be remote. Remote, us? Hardly. We’re at the heart of the action.

Related Keywords

Kirkwall ,Orkney Islands ,United Kingdom ,Shapinsay ,Papa Westray ,Stromness ,Graemsay ,Egypt ,Heathrow ,Hillingdon ,North Ronaldsay ,Rousay ,Rackwick ,Pentland Firth ,North Sea ,Oceans General ,Oceans ,Britons ,Scotland ,Amy Liptrot ,Knapo Howar ,Loganair ,Orkney Mainland ,Sian Tarrant ,North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory ,ஆர்க்நீ தீவுகள் ,ஒன்றுபட்டது கிஂக்டம் ,எகிப்து ,ஹீத்ரோ ,பென்ட்லேண்ட் ஃபர்த் ,வடக்கு கடல் ,பெருங்கடல்கள் ஜநரல் ,பெருங்கடல்கள் ,ஸ்காட்லாந்து ,ஆர்க்நீ பிரதான நிலப்பரப்பு ,சியான் டாரெஂட் ,