Regional Spotlight

Orkney and Shetland are located off the North Coast of mainland Scotland, they are two chains of islands consisting mainly of volcanic rocks, lavas, and sandstones. Orkney has more agricultural land while Shetland is surrounded by seas thereby making fishing a prominent source of income and oil wealth. Originally a part of the Kingdom of Norway until they were absorbed by the Kingdom of Scotland in the 15th century, they both played a major part in the 20th-century world wars. Tourism is a huge contributor to their economy with ferry and air connections linking them to mainland Scotland. Prehistoric ruins are a major tourist attraction in this area and local folklore is largely rooted in Norse heritage with some pre-Celtic elements.