Island in Orkney Islands, Scotland
| Coordinates: | 59.018, -3.032 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | HY 40 14 |
| Dialling code: | 01856 (Orkney) |
The Mainland is the largest island in the Orkney Islands, a low‑lying mosaic of fertile fields, rugged coastline and small lochs. Its two main towns, Kirkwall and Stromness, act as administrative and cultural hubs, while the sheltered waters of Scapa Flow recall its strategic naval role in both world wars.
The island is famed for an extraordinary concentration of Neolithic monuments - Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe - which attract keen visitors and help sustain a lively tourism sector alongside agriculture, fishing and growing renewable energy projects. Strong Norse heritage shapes local festivals, music and place names, giving the community a distinctive Orcadian identity rooted in sea, land and history.
KW15 1AP, KW17 2LW, KW17 2PE, KW17 2RQ, KW15 1WW, KW16 3LN, KW17 2HW, KW15 1DZ, KW15 1NW … See all