Welcome to Kirkwall!
Kirkwall is the chief town of the Orkney Islands, which lie off the north tip of mainland Scotland. With a population in 2011 of 9293, Kirkwall has accommodation and other amenities and is the obvious base for exploring these islands.
Kirkwall (Scots: Kirkwaa, Scottish Gaelic: Bàgh na h-Eaglaise, Norn: Kirkavå) is the largest town in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland.
The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvágr (Church Bay), which later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa, and Kirkwall. Kirkwall was formerly the site of an ancient Norse town founded approximately 1000 years ago. Today, it is a transport hub with ferries to many locations.