Kirkwall Harbour

1.   Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of northern Scotland. The town is first mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046. It was the settlement of Rögnvald II, Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his successor, Thorfinn. In 1486 King James III of Scotland elevated Kirkwall to the status of a Royal Burgh, as is shown by the road signs as you enter Kirkwall, 'The City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall'. The name Kirkwall is derived from the Norse name Kirkjuvagr, or 'church bay'. This was later corrupted to 'Kirkvoe' and then 'Kirkwaa'. English cartographers mistook the latter part 'waa' as the Scots wa meaning wall, hence the town became 'Kirkwall'.

This shot, taken from the top of Wideford Hill. We were there not on a sailing trip, but on a weekend away. However as the harbour dominates the town, we spent a bit of time there.

In the early days the bay extended further south than it does now, to the Peerie Sea. These days this is an inland lake. In the 1100s it formed the harbour and extended almost to the west end of the Cathedral.

In 1811 work began on a series of harbour improvements at the north end of the town, on the site of today's harbour. These improvements have continued over the years, and the late 1990s saw a significant extension to the main pier. 2003 saw the trend continue with the completion of deeper water port facilities a little around the bay at Hatston.

Kirkwall is also the terminal for many of the ferries to Orkney's north isles. The ferry to Shapinsay departs from a slipway on the west side of the lifeboat pier. Ferries to Westray, Stronsay, Sanday and Eday depart from the linkspan on the main pier.

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