Kirkwall Travel

Kirkwall is the capital of Orkney, a busy port and attractive old town with winding streets and grey stone houses. Many buildings have steep gables with stepped edges, called crow steps. Main shopping streets paved and look to English eyes as if they are pedestrian precincts – don’t be misled, cars come belting down them. General greyness relieved by Orcadians’ strange colour sense – they seem especially fond of lemon-yellow houses with maroon trimmings – and by red sandstone of cathedral and two ruined palaces that dominate the town.