Kirkwall is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands. The town is first mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046. Founded by Earl Rognvald Brusason, the City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall is the capital and administrative centre of Orkney. The name comes from the Old Norse, 'Kirkjuvagar' meaning 'church-bay' and refers to a much older church than the present day Cathedral. The original town is one of the best preserved examples of an ancient Norse town. Kirkwall's geography takes a little working out, but is in reality pretty straightforward. Harbour Street runs east to west along the waterfront, with the port facilities extending to its north. It is connected to the south by the medieval dog-leg pattern of Bridge Street and Albert Street to Kirkwall's other main point of focus, Broad Street. This in turn is fronted by St Magnus Cathedral, the Tourist Information Centre, the Town Hall, and the Orkney Museum.
Transportation in Kirkwall
By Car: Kirkwall is 16 miles from Stromness, 7 miles from Finstown and 15 miles from St. Margaret's Hope.
By Bus: Buses on the Orkney Islands are very limited. Apart from the daily service between Burwick and Kirkwall, which meets with the ferry, there are buses from Kirkwall to Stromness, Evie/Tingwall, Dounby, St Margaret's Hope, Deerness and East Holm. There's also a bus that travels from Houton (Hoy) that connects with the ferry.
By Ferry: Kirkwall ferry port welcomes ferries from Aberdeen and Lerwick with the luxurious ferries of Northlink.
At the heart of the town stands St Magnus Cathedral, its tower and spire widely visible across both land and sea. It was founded in memory of St. Magnus Erlendsson. Next to the Cathedral are the ruins of the former Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace. The town has two museums: Tankerness House Museum, which is contained within one of Scotland's best-preserved sixteenth century town-houses, contains items of local historical interest. The prehistoric, Pictish and Viking collections are of international importance. The other museum is the small 'Wireless Museum', dealing with the history of radio and recorded sound. On the west edge of the town, surrounded by modern industrial buildings, is a prehistoric ancient monument, Grain Earth House (Historic Scotland), a short low stone-walled passage deep underground leading to a small pillared chamber.
