Information for the tourist going to Orkney...
Orkney: For tourism information, go to http://www.visitorkney.com or http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/areaorkn/index.html, or call VisitBritain,(800) 462-2748. If travelling from the U.S., check out http://www.visitbritain.com/usa.
Getting there: British Airways runs daily flights from Aberdeen, on the Scottish mainland, to Kirkwall, capital of the Orkney island group. You can also take ferries from the mainland. A car ferry runs from Scrabster, near Thurso, while day trippers and tour parties can take the shorter passenger ferry route from John O'Groats, http://www.jogferry.co.uk.
Ferries also run from the main Orkney island to the outer islands - schedule at http://www.orkneyferries.co.uk - but most are best reached by plane. Loganair - http://www.loganair.co.uk - runs most of the flights, including the world's shortest scheduled flight, an 80-second hop from the island of Papa Westray to neighbouring Westray.
Accommodations: Kirkwall and Stromness both have a number of hotels, which can be booked through Orkney tourism. Bed-breakfast accommodation is widely available. There are camping and caravan sites at Kirkwall and Stromness.
Day trippers staying on the Scottish mainland will find thinner pickings, with Thurso or Wick the only nearby towns with a reasonable number of hotels. Camping is available at John O'Groats. An abridged version of the day trip also is offered by coach from Inverness, which has more extensive accommodation.
Highland Park Distillery: http://www.highlandpark.co.uk.
