# Orkney and Shetland | DMC Highlands

https://dmchighlands.com/destination/orkney-and-shetland

> Marketing copy from a destination management company — useful for travel ideas and highlighting attractions but should be attributed to DMC Highlands rather than treated as independent historical or factual scholarship.

## Summary

A destination page promoting travel to the Orkney and Shetland islands, describing key attractions such as St Magnus’s Cathedral, Skara Brae, the Italian Chapel, Scapa Flow and the Shetland Up Helly Aa fire festival, and noting transport by short ferry or plane from the mainland.

## Audience

travellers / people planning visits to Scotland

## Prompts this page answers

- What are the main attractions to visit in Orkney and Shetland?
- How can I travel from mainland Scotland to Orkney and Shetland?
- When is Up Helly Aa and what is it?
- What historic sites are on Orkney (e.g. Skara Brae, St Magnus’s Cathedral)?
- Are there opportunities to dive on wrecks in Orkney (Scapa Flow)?

## Purpose

Promote the Orkney and Shetland islands as visitor destinations and encourage travel interest (destination marketing).

## Highlights

- Orkney and Shetland are accessible from mainland Scotland by a short ferry or plane.
- Orkney attractions mentioned: St Magnus’s Cathedral, the Italian Chapel, Skara Brae, and Scapa Flow (noted for wreck diving).
- Shetland attractions mentioned: Unst island, Shetland Reel gin, and the Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick.
- Skara Brae is described as a 2,000-year-old settlement uncovered after a storm.
- Up Helly Aa takes place in January; end of June offers near-midnight daylight with opportunities such as playing golf at midnight.

## How to cite

DMC Highlands — https://dmchighlands.com/destination/orkney-and-shetland

## Publisher

**DMC Highlands** — A destination management company in Scotland (site footer lists contact details and describes the organisation as a DMC in Scotland).

## Topics

- Orkney
- Shetland
- Skara Brae
- Up Helly Aa
- Scapa Flow

## Key entities

- **Orkney** (location): Island group in the far north of the UK discussed on the page.
- **Shetland** (location): Island group north of Orkney discussed on the page.
- **St Magnus’s Cathedral** (other): Cathedral in Orkney referenced on the page. — https://www.stmagnus.org/
- **Italian Chapel** (other): WWII-era chapel on Orkney mentioned on the page.
- **Skara Brae** (other): Ancient settlement on Orkney described as 2,000 years old.
- **Scapa Flow** (other): Deep water anchorage in Orkney noted for diving on wrecks.
- **Up Helly Aa** (event): Shetland fire festival held in Lerwick mentioned on the page. — http://www.uphellyaa.org/
- **Unst** (other): Northernmost Shetland island mentioned on the page.
- **Shetland Reel gin** (other): Local gin referenced as a local product to sample.
- **DMC Highlands** (organization): The website/publisher presenting the destination content; footer includes contact details. — https://dmchighlands.com