The R30 road between Bothaville and Orkney is “under water” due to “heavy down pours” Chairperson of the Free State Road Incident Management Systems (RIMS) With waterlogged conditions posing significant risks road users are urged to exercise extreme caution The warning comes amid widespread flooding concerns in the region exacerbated by high water levels at the Vaal Dam and ongoing heavy rainfall linked to the La Niña weather system “Heavy Rains Resulting in Waterlogged Roads The R30 between Bothaville & Orkney is under water following the recent heavy down pours.” The flooding has rendered sections of this key route impassable with standing water obscuring the road surface and creating dangerous driving conditions The Free State RIMS is coordinating with local authorities to monitor the situation and assist stranded motorists a vital link connecting Bothaville in the Free State to Orkney in North West driven by intense rainfall across the Upper Vaal Catchment particularly as the region braces for more rain over the weekend according to the South African Weather Service 🔴 Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 102 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: “Hope for Matjhabeng as Executive Mayor Khalipha Rolls Out Plan for Renewal After ANC Reinstatement” Direct PDF Link:https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Central-News-Issue-102.pdf https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin and website in this browser for the next time I comment AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale ORKNEY - Scores of alleged illegal miners resurfaced from a North West mine on Tuesday morning This after about 500 of them were forced to resurface from a disused shaft over the weekend READ: Dozens of alleged illegal miners appear in court They are expected to appear before the Stilfontein magistrate’s court in the North West. The miners are believed to be from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. A squad of nine riders will head to July’s biennial games The Isle of Man cycling team has been confirmed for this summer’s Island Games in Orkney. A squad of nine riders will head to the biennial games which take place between July 12-18 in the Scottish archipelago. Unfortunately, there will be no women as Ruby Oakes, Jess Pickavance and Sophie Smith have had to pull out through other commitments. Five men will tackle the road events, namely Tyler Hannay, Callum Salisbury, Ivan Sorby, Mark Horsthuis and Niall Quiggin, while Ross Thorley, Eric Kelly, Cian Howard and Owen Collins will compete in the mountain bike events. Rob Sorby will manage the team and is also a reserve rider. There is the possibility that Horsthuis may ride MTB as well, with Howard tackling the road time trial instead. Hannay, Sorby and Salisbury will all be competing at the Island Games for the first time, although Hannay has previously represented the Isle of Man at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The team will be sponsored by Robinson’s. Tel: 01624 695695[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd. | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Please contact icit@hw.ac.uk for further details and the accommodation list you should expect to pay around £400-£500 per month per person this can be £600 upwards for sole occupancy The costs may be shared if more students are renting the property so you should also consider additional expenses (if not included in the rent) such as: Electricity costs: energy costs in Orkney during winter months can vary depending on several factors you can expect to pay around £30-50 per week during winter months Internet costs: usually included in the rent but if not is around £25-£30 per month based on 2 students sharing social and other living costs: remember to factor these into your budget Orkney.com is a good source of information on accommodation and for finding out more about living and studying in the area It also provides information about the marine and renewables industry as well as information about things to do in Orkney Please be sure to organise your accommodation well in advance of coming to live in Orkney as there is often a high demand for it icit@hw.ac.ukPhone+44 (0)1856 850605© Heriot-Watt University South African police have announced that 565 illegal miners have been arrested after many were forced out of an abandoned mine in Orkney, North West Province known locally as “zama zamas” (Zulu for “those who try”) were detained in an ongoing crackdown on illegal mining in the area The first group of 225 miners emerged on Saturday reportedly due to starvation and dehydration after police blocked supply routes to the mine An additional 340 miners surfaced on Sunday Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service confirmed that over 13,691 suspected illegal miners have been arrested across seven provinces since December 2023 Authorities have seized R5 million in cash and uncut diamonds valued at R32 million in recent operations endure hazardous conditions in South Africa’s mineral-rich mines Residents and mining companies have expressed frustration with the miners who are viewed as a source of crime in affected communities Authorities said the operation remains active as more miners are expected to surface. Nigeria now bears the highest burden of child malnutrition on the African continent, according to… At least 225 illegal miners resurfaced from an old mining shaft in Orkney The Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS commended the Vala Umgodi task teams in the North West for asserting the authority of the state are part of a larger group believed to be hundreds or necessities because the Vala Umgodi teams led by SAPS and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are blocking routes used to deliver supplies SAPS and SANDF members prevented communities around the abandoned mining shafts in Orkney from delivering food parcels and water to these illegal miners This enforcement action ultimately forced the miners to resurface with SAPS and SANDF continuing to monitor the old mine shafts as more illegal miners emerge Sibiya noted that Operation Vala Umgodi is yielding positive results nationwide “We are closely monitoring the situation in the North West province; we will not back down until all those illegal miners resurface and are arrested over 13 691 suspects have been arrested in the seven provinces that are hotspots for illegal mining We have seized R5 million in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32 million through Operation Vala Umgodi,” Sibiya stated The majority of those arrested include South Africans concerned community members in Matlosana and other mining areas have expressed worries about a potential humanitarian crisis stemming from the operation have remained trapped underground for extended periods sometimes going days without food or water we face a life-threatening crisis that demands immediate intervention The government’s current approach to illegal mining is not only about enforcing laws but is tragically endangering human lives “Recent actions – where military and police have blocked entry and exit points to disused mines – have left illegal miners trapped underground for weeks This blockade of essential supplies amounts to collective punishment of these individuals,” a prominent community leader told Independent Media on Sunday This community member indicated that without guarantees for their freedom these miners would prefer to die underground Officers attached to Operation Vala Umgodi made another breakthrough arresting five suspects at Kopanang Mine in the Free State The suspects aged between 24 and 33 were arrested for illegal mining attempted theft of State minerals and precious metals and Contravention of Immigration Act was opened at Vierfontein police station “The Combat and Proactive teams together with Private Security Companies once again intercepted foodstuffs intended for underground illegal underground miners at Beatrix Mine Shaft 4 “The members braved the heat and threats in the ventilation shaft and lifted the packaged foodstuffs to the surface The goods were then booked in the Evidence Management System at Theunissen police station,” said Covane Acting on information received from intelligence about a farm in the Ficksburg area officers attached to the same operation conducted a at Rensberghoek Farm homestead where they discovered a Black 9mm Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre pistol with a filed off serial number and four rounds of ammunition “Maloti notes cash (Lesotho currency) was also found on the premises The members then arrested a 44-year-old female for possession of an illegal firearm A case of possession of unlicensed firearms was opened at Ficksburg police station.” Cape Times aim to make the editorial mix such that readers get everything they need between pages first thing in the morning: news lifestyle and provocative commentary from leading columnists Read more The North West police have smoked out 225 illegal miners in Orkney JOHANNESBURG - The North West police have smoked out 225 illegal miners in Orkney The Vala Umgodi Task Team blocked routes used to deliver food and other necessities to the illegal miners The task team comprises SAPS and SANDF members Acting National Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya has commended the team — SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) November 2, 2024 SearchMenuHome...Toggle menuCampusesOrkneyOrkney Nestled in the picturesque town of Stromness right at the heart of Orkney’s world-leading energy industry our Orkney campus offers one of the UK's most stunning and unique university locations It is an ideal setting for both academic excellence and outdoor pursuits Our Orkney campus offers a unique environment for studying marine science and energy-related programmes Our students quickly become part of the local community often joining local clubs and societies alongside their studies our graduates have made huge contributions to Orkney’s world-leading energy cluster and those who leave become global ambassadors for both Orkney and Scotland and welcoming community which for 75 years has been at the forefront of major innovation and change in energy systems and the marine environment Home to a cluster of organisations including the European Marine Energy Centre the islands act as a “living laboratory” for understanding the future of energy and society Our research-led postgraduate programmes in marine and environmental science offer students the opportunity to study in a vibrant community with a rich learning environment working alongside academics and industry professionals and across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact Search through our degrees and programmes we teach in Orkney Orkney offers an almost unparalleled range of sports and leisure activities The Orkney campus offers a number of specialist facilities There are no halls of residence or University leased flats at the Orkney Campus but our Orkney Professional Services Staff are happy to help you find private accommodation locally Explore OrkneyOut and aboutWhether it’s adventure activities Orkney’s friendly community has something for everyone Take advantage of the breath-taking summer landscape - kayaking, hiking, or exploring ancient ruins.  Alternatively, you can take part in one of the many cultural festivals that make up Orkney’s busy festival calendar.   In the winter months enjoy a range of indoor activities including museums Orkney offers a rich array of activities to suit all interests.     You can get to Orkney either by air or by car/bus/train and ferry While in Orkney there is a regular bus service between the two main towns of Kirkwall and Stromness NATIONAL NEWS - A case of attempted murder against three men was postponed to February 24 in the Orkney Magistrate’s Court to allow for further investigation Potchefstroom Herald reports that according to Sivenathi Gunya the men were granted bail ranging from R1 000 to R1 500 The charges stem from an incident on December 16 at a day resort in Orkney and Pitso Radebe (47) were charged following an altercation at the resort the accused were smoking a ‘hubbly bubbly,’ an activity prohibited on the resort’s premises Attempts by staff to stop them were unsuccessful The trio allegedly displayed aggressive behaviour Hanscombe was rushed to a local hospital for medical treatment The accused surrendered to the police on December 24 and were subsequently charged with attempted murder,” says Gunya in a statement Bail conditions require the accused to report to the Jouberton Police Station between 06:00 and 09:00 daily and prohibit them from interfering with witnesses or the complainant until the case is finalised Read original story on www.citizen.co.za ‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’  SearchMenuHome...Toggle menuCampusesOrkneyClubs and activitiesClubs and activitiesOrkney offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities and facilities that suit a wide variety of interests and abilities Being part of a small community means that facilities are easily accessible and local clubs warmly welcome new members Located in Kirkwall, this is the main venue for sports Stromness has a swimming pool, steam room, sauna, spa and gym, fitness centre located at the Stromness Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre archaeological riches and its 20th-century naval heritage Most of the islands’ attractions are outdoors and you’ll need to prepare for anything: it’s one of the windiest places in Europe which also explains why Orkney is a centre for cutting edge wind and wave energy research But if you are prepared to brave all that the weather gods of the Northern Isles have to throw at you Your own transport is essential; though Kirkwall you’ll need to get out and about to get a sense of all"},"children":[]},{"name":"paywall","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":" that Orkney has to offer along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners especially for Times+ members"}}]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"This article contains affiliate links which may earn us revenue"}}]}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"1 Skara Brae is open to the public; explore the surviving houses an informative visitor centre and a replica house illustrating how the village’s original residents may have lived Skara Brae is recognised as part of Unesco’s Heart of Neolithic Orkney world heritage site the Churchill Barriers now serve as a series of causeways linking four of the smaller southerly islands to mainland Orkney by road They’re impressive enough to merit a road trip in themselves — offering spectacular views of rusting shipwrecks and the Scapa Flow — and helpfully take you past the turn-off to the Italian Chapel on tiny Lamb Holm Make sure you stop for a wander along the wide sandy beach that has formed up against the fourth barrier the Stenness Stones feature four massive uprights They’re neighboured by the remains of the Barnhouse Neolithic settlement Maeshowe (above) is the most extraordinary of them all: a true masterpiece of ancient engineering the setting sun aligns perfectly with the entrance passageway and illuminates the back wall with a pure Look out for the runic graffiti left by a band of Viking warriors while they sheltered from a snowstorm Advance bookings can be made via Historic Scotland who was given the task of transforming two Nissen huts into a Catholic chapel Now one of the quirkiest and most popular sites in Orkney the Italian Chapel — whose modest interior has been painted to resemble vaulted ceilings and buttresses Its two traditional pagoda-topped kilns are fired by hand-cut local peat from Hobbister Moor; clearly the effort pays off as Highland Park 18 has three times been declared the best spirit in the world known as “tammie norries” in the local dialect are spring and summer visitors to the Orkney Islands and can be seen at a number of locations although you’re best off heading to Westray where a sea stack called the Castle o’Burrian plays host to up to 300 puffins at a time during the breeding season (April-August) Other known puffin hangouts include Marwick Head on the west mainland and at the cliffs on Burgh Head on Stronsay It’s home to the ruins of a Pictish settlement and some later structures including a Romanesque church that was a place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages Follow the cliff path around the island’s perimeter this Romanesque cathedral was built of local red and yellow sandstone over a period of 300 years and remains at the heart of spiritual and cultural life in Orkney access is free and guided tours of the upper levels are available on request The cathedral is also a key venue for the renowned St Magnus International Festival a midsummer arts celebration featuring live orchestral before cutting inland over heath and rolling farmland An interactive app and website provide GPS waypoints and prompts for self-reflection along the route before the journey concludes on the small isle of Egilsay where Orkney’s patron saint was martyred in the 12th century is littered with shipwrecks — most notably the German fleet scuttled in 1919 to stop it falling into the hands of the British a number remain in situ and have been transformed into rich natural reefs It’s now considered one of Europe’s premier wreck-diving sites Local scuba school Kraken Diving offers guided dives from £175 or simpler snorkel safaris around the more easily accessible sites from £60."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"krakendiving.co.u"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]}]},{"name":"inlineAd4","children":[]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"12 it’s now a bucket-list destination among rock climbers There are a variety of routes up the stack A number of specialist outfits offer guided climbs including Abacus Mountain Guides and the Peak Climbing School Others may enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the stack from the cliffs above via a circular path from Rackwick Bay."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"peakclimbingschool.co.uk"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]},{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":" "}}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"13 takes only 90 seconds in one of its eight-passenger Britten Norman Islander planes — and less when the wind is behind you (The shortest hop between the islands was recorded at 53 seconds.) Both islands are worth a visit in any case: among other things Westray is home to beautiful beaches and the 16th-century fortress Noltland Castle; Papa Westray has the Knap of Howar a pair of stone houses dating from around 3,500BC which pick you up and drop you back at Kirkwall airport."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"loganair.co.uk"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"14 including around the scenic Deerness peninsula a collapsed sea cave whose walls are now often crowded with nesting seabirds or take a trip over to the uninhabited island of Copinsay The island is a RSPB bird reserve and seal colony Half and full-day tours available and all levels of experience are catered for."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"seakayak59.co.uk"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"15 Its remote location makes it an excellent stopping-off point for migrant birds on their seasonal journeys across oceans and the North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory has a strong record in rare “vagrant” birds seen well beyond their normal range Past avian stars including a Cretzschmar’s bunting (above) and a possible Pallas’s rosefinch have drawn huge crowds; it’s also known for lesser rarities such as Arctic redpoll and the Blyth’s reed warbler Accommodation and food are available at the observatory at very affordable rates."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"nrbo.org.uk"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"16 The Hoy Heritage Centre has produced a podcast-cum-audio guide full of local voices that leads listeners from the pier at Moaness along the old road “between the hills” to the famous beach at Rackwick and back stopping off at Second World War gun emplacements the (still-used) peat cuttings and the Dwarfie Stane a prehistoric chambered tomb hollowed out of a massive block of sandstone See the website for an interactive map."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"hoyheritage.wordpress.com"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"17 a low-lying island 500m off mainland Orkney which has been uninhabited since a plague epidemic in the 1850s after which the laird dismantled the roofs of the houses to “disinfect” the land and prevent residents from returning the remaining ruinous stone walls were revealed to be that of a 12th-century kirk which may have formed part of an early Christian monastery Once said to have been wrested from the shapeshifting “fin folk” it seems they — and the birds — have reclaimed it."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"orkneyheritagesociety.org.uk"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"18 thanks to its well-regarded collection of British modernist art Wilhelmina Barnes-Graham and Sir Eduardo Paolozzi as collected by the philanthropist Margaret Gardiner and held in trust for the people of Orkney More recent acquisitions include artworks by Olafur Eliasson and Anish Kapoor a small island accessed by ferry from Tingwall is known as the “Egypt of the north” thanks to its archaeological riches The most impressive can be viewed from the Westness Heritage Walk where the remains of 25 people were found crowded inside during excavations in the 1930s It then winds past the Midhowe Broch (an Iron Age fort) and the ruins of a 15th-century church."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"discoverrousay.co.uk"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"20 and you may find yourself hopping on and off ferries on your way from place to place throughout your stay Orkney Boat Charters offer wildlife excursions all through the year departing from Kirkwall Harbour at two-hourly intervals during daylight (from £60pp) also offer wildlife tours and whole-boat charters by arrangement."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"orkneyboatcharter.co.uk"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]},{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":" "}}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"21 clean waters of the Orkney Islands are a great favourite among wild swimmers and there’s a thriving local community of people who swim in the sea all year round Popular spots include the shallow turquoise waters of Waulkmill Bay (best visited at low tide) and the beach at Inganess where bathers can easily swim out to the wreck of the picturesque Juniata The island of Sanday (above) has arguably the most spectacular beaches on Orkney — and often you’ll have those white sands all to yourself "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"adventureorkney.com"}}]},{"name":"break","children":[]},{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":" "}}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"22 and every summer a cheery bunch of volunteers descends on the island to help build it back up North Ronaldsay Sheep Festival is a week-long gathering featuring workshops instructed building sessions and fun activities for visitors and islanders but you’ll need to cover your own accommodation and meals Places are very limited; you’ll need to book your place weeks or months in advance from chambered tombs to sea kayaking trips.","slug":"21-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-orkney","categoryPath":"/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/orkney/21-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-orkney-znrvm9wg0","__typename":"Article"},"Image:9c979ded-9784-487e-9578-2382bfdd8752":{"caption":"Brough of Birsay Lighthouse Scotland is the ideal setting for an outdoorsy escape We pick the best of the bunch.","slug":"best-places-to-stay-in-scotland","categoryPath":"/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/best-places-to-stay-in-scotland-xf5qgxr87","__typename":"Article","summary({\"maxCharCount\":105})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"If we had a pound for every “Where’s the best place to stay in Scotland?” we’d be swanning about in"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":125})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"If we had a pound for every “Where’s the best place to stay in Scotland?” we’d be 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in"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":225})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Whether you’re planning a shopping weekend in Edinburgh or hoping to go hiking in the Highlands there’s self-catering accommodation to suit every taste — and budget — in Scotland mighty mountains and incredible beaches all await on Scotland’s fringes.","slug":"best-scottish-islands-to-visit","categoryPath":"/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/best-scottish-islands-to-visit-0wv5cgzp0","__typename":"Article","summary({\"maxCharCount\":105})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Around 800 islands festoon Scotland’s shores and lochs From the"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":125})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Around 800 islands festoon Scotland’s shores and lochs From the west-coast Hebridean"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":145})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Around 800 islands festoon Scotland’s shores and lochs strung out"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":160})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Around 800 islands festoon Scotland’s shores and lochs strung out like a meteor"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":175})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Around 800 islands festoon Scotland’s shores and lochs to the"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":225})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Around 800 islands festoon Scotland’s shores and lochs to the northerly Orkney and Shetland archipelagos these are the top experiences in Scotland’s most absorbing archipelagoBrough of Birsay Lighthouse OrkneyGETTY IMAGESCal FlynMonday March 31 2025 The TimesOrkney is a group of about 70 islands — 20 of them inhabited — off the north coast of Scotland you’ll need to get out and about to get a sense of all that Orkney has to offer island-hopper planes also offer unusual means of transport to some of the remoter corners of the archipelago — though you’ll need to book in advance Become a subscriber and ALAMYThis prehistoric settlement on mainland Orkney’s wild west coast was discovered in 1850 when freak waves ripped a sand dune apart to reveal a number of ancient houses hidden inside Stenness Stones and Maeshowe chambered tomb ALAMYBuilt during the Second World War as naval defences GETTY IMAGESThere are two main stone circles on Orkney: the Ring of Brodgar (pictured above) and the Stones of Stenness All three of these attractions are open access ALAMYOrkney’s chambered cairns date from Neolithic times Spiritual Orkney is among the groups running tours of sites with folkloric or pagan significance ALAMYHundreds of Italian prisoners of war were held on Lamb Holm and Burray during the Second World War and bears accomplished frescoes of angels and the Madonna and child — attracts about 100,000 visitors a year for a small admission fee (children free) ALAMYOrkney’s biggest and best-known whisky distillery is Highland Park on the outskirts of Kirkwall Highland Park distillery tours cost from £30; Scapa distillery tours cost from £25 See The Orkney Pocket Book of Puffins by Tim Dean for tips ALAMYThis tidal island off the northwest coast of mainland Orkney is accessible on foot by causeway for about two hours either side of low tide passing a small lighthouse — looking out for puffin burrows — but make sure to cross back over before the waves cut off your escape route GETTY IMAGESFounded in 1137 by the Viking earl Rognvald ALAMYThe St Magnus Way is a 58-mile self-guided pilgrimage route taking in some of Orkney’s most significant religious sites and beautiful landscapes offers a special package for pilgrims including daily transfers and packed lunches or simpler snorkel safaris around the more easily accessible sites from £60 ALAMYThis 449ft needle of red sandstone is one of the tallest sea stacks in the UK Others may enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the stack from the cliffs above via a circular path from Rackwick Bay ALAMYThe flight from the island of Westray to its sister island which pick you up and drop you back at Kirkwall airport ALAMYKristian Cooper of Sea Kayak 59° North offers kayaking tuition and guided kayak tours of Orkney’s most spectacular stretches of coastline Half and full-day tours available and all levels of experience are catered for ALAMYTwitchers will be in heaven on Orkney’s most northerly island Accommodation and food are available at the observatory at very affordable rates ALAMYHoy is Orkney’s second-largest island and home to some of the most impressive scenery ALAMYOnce a year the Orkney Heritage Society organises a trip to Eynhallow it seems they — and the birds — have reclaimed it It then winds past the Midhowe Broch (an Iron Age fort) and the ruins of a 15th-century church Stromness MarinaGETTY IMAGESLife in an archipelago is necessarily amphibious also offer wildlife tours and whole-boat charters by arrangement ALAMYNorth Ronaldsay is famous for its flock of seaweed-eating sheep — and the painstakingly-built 13-mile drystone dyke that encircles the island • Best hotels in Scotland• Best Scottish islands to visit Sign up to the travel newsletter for weekly inspiration, advice and deals here the award-winning Single Malt Scotch whisky distillery brand world and packaging to mark the company’s step into a new era Inspired by the unique Orkney provenance that makes Highland Park different by nature the bold new look celebrates the creativity Highland Park has released a new campaign featuring a cast of real-life Orkney local legends who represent the brand’s uniquely different approach to whisky making Shot in Orkney by photographer Tom Johnson and accompanied by a film directed by Sam Johnson the campaign follows these local legends across key landmarks in Orkney that inspire Highland Park's whisky making process Scenes include shots from the Highland Park distillery itself and the heather-strewn landscape of Hobbister Moor where the brand responsibly sources the unique heather-infused peat that gives Highland Park whisky its distinctive hint of aromatic smoke The ensemble cast features local legend Phylida Wright Highland Park warehouse operator Gary Skea farmer and ecologist Noel Thomson and artists Louise Barrington and Megumi Barrington multifaceted Orkney that's a daily inspiration to Highland Park: a place of friendship Highland Park commented: “Highland Park has always been an incredibly special whisky embracing the very real charm and originality of the place we are lucky enough to call home.” reinvigorated packaging designs for Highland Park’s core products inspired by Orkney’s culture of creative craft and awe-inspiring natural beauty Currently being rolled out across Highland Park’s classic range (12 Year Old 18 Year Old) and travel retail editions (Land of Orkney 14 Year Old Sky of Orkney 18 Year Old) the new packaging design pays tribute to Orkney’s ethereal light and invigorating climate in its fresh The packaging also nods to the unique flavour profile of Orkney peat smoke through heather-flecked labels visible on the labels and cartons Highland Park’s dedication to craft and creativity is represented through a subtle wood-grain pattern inspired by its dedication to using the finest sherry-seasoned oak casks Highland Park’s distinctive square-shaped glass bottle has been simplified to allow the natural colour of the whisky “Product of Orkney” has also been proudly cut into the glass to celebrate the whisky’s unique provenance The campaign and updated packaging mark a new era for Highland Park in which the brand is celebrating the uniqueness of its Orkney provenance and the distinctive character that it brings to its whisky—all encompassed by Highland Park’s new strapline Key to this is the influence of the local heathered peat that Highland Park uses to smoke its malt just a few miles down the road from the Highland Park distillery in Kirkwall infused with aromatic heather rather than woody tree roots subtle hint of aromatic smoke—resulting in a whisky that is not only characterfully complex and expressively deep naturally different flavour that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world packaging and different by nature brand world begin to roll out globally in April 2024 Home | Business Illegal mineworkers are continuing to resurface from mine shafts around Orkney in the North West National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says more than 500 mineworkers have been arrested to date and the number is expected to increase Police say the miners resurfaced due to starvation and dehydration after members of the police and the SANDF in the past week stopped communities from supplying them with food and water “The Vala Umgodi task teams led by the SAPS and SANDF in the North West are intensifying their operations and ensuring that illegal mining operations are dealt a blow an additional 340 illegal miners have resurfaced and have been placed under arrest The police in the North West have 565 miners in custody,” Mathe added Illegal Mining | Hunger and dehydration force illegal miners to re-surface: North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi says it is time that the state acts on this criminality He maintains that the police must leave no stone unturned in stamping its authority in dealing with these criminal activities Orkney is a charming archipelago of some 70 islands and skerries – 20 of which are inhabited – ten miles north of mainland Scotland It’s closer to the Arctic Circle than it is to London It is also at the heart of the wider geographic and cultural Nordic region Iceland and the Faroe Islands to its west and Norway is nearer to Tórshavn than it is to Glasgow As Arctic shipping routes become more navigable Orkney’s strategic location between the North Sea and the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap may make it the most important gateway for ships coming in from the north and sailing onwards to the ports of western Europe or the North Atlantic While Russia has several major ports along its Arctic coastline northern European nations have only a few large deep-water ports that can serve the evolving needs of the High North as melting polar ice makes the Northwest passage and Northern Sea Route more navigable Already a subscriber? Log in Dr Dwayne Ryan Menezes is Founder and Managing Director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in Volume 10 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1524618 The 2014 Orkney earthquake caused significant damage to unreinforced masonry buildings in the surrounding townships field surveys were conducted to assess the extent of damage in the affected areas This study reviews data collected from the 2014 Orkney earthquake to investigate damage patterns Damage was quantified based on the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98) to assess building safety and conduct regression analysis The results indicate that the collected data is suitable for investigating damage patterns and determining building safety for occupancy it is not suitable for constructing fragility curves Empirical fragility curves are typically developed using logistic regression but this study found the data unsuitable for regression analysis due to sampling errors and limited data quantity This study recommends the use of first-order approximation methods to supplement the dataset reducing sampling errors and increasing data quantity While there are specialized tools available for conducting these studies they are usually not accessible in regions with less advanced seismic monitoring and analysis systems This study aims to evaluate the collected damage dataset from the Orkney earthquake of 5 August 2014 to determine its suitability for assessing building safety for occupation To date, the seismic vulnerability of unreinforced masonry buildings in South Africa is poorly understood. This is due to the lack of historic damage data and the fact that analytical approaches are not suitable for assessing the seismic vulnerability of non-engineering structures such as unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings (Shabani et al., 2021) This assessment will help ascertain the potential utility of historic earthquake damage data for future studies including the development of fragility curves that could enhance the planning and design of unreinforced masonry buildings in South Africa Areas that are notably affected by mine-induced seismicity are the deep-level gold mining areas of Orkney as well as the gold mining areas around Welkom in the Free State and the iron ore mining areas of the Northern Cape along with the gold mining areas in Gauteng The remaining earthquakes are natural geological occurrences stemming from tectonic activity along fault lines mainly happening in the Western Cape and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal The 1969 Ceres-Tulbagh earthquake, which is the most powerful and destructive earthquake in South Africa in the 20th and 21st centuries, had a local magnitude (ML) of 6.3 on the Richter scale and a maximum felt intensity measure level (IML) of IX on the Modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) scale (Green and Bloch, 1971). It caused an estimated economic damage of $24 million (Terblanche, 2018) Some other significant natural geological earthquakes include the 14 April 1970 Tulbagh earthquakes the 31 October 2019 earthquake near Port Shepstone and the 5 November 2022 earthquake 23 km from Umvoti local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal Effect of the 2014 Orkney earthquake according to EMS-98 These are the most common buildings in the study area and they were also the ones most severely affected by the 2014 Orkney earthquake Structural layout of a common unreinforced masonry building in South Africa top left) floor plan; top right) side elevation; bottom left) front elevation; and bottom right) cross section of the foundation and roof structure which offers strategies and guidance for designing buildings that may encounter seismic forces primarily aimed at mitigating significant structural failures and preventing loss of life ground acceleration is the main reason for damage and Z directions and shakes unpredictably along each of these axes buildings are engineered to resist vertical forces so the vertical shaking caused by earthquakes is addressed through safety measures incorporated into the design to withstand vertical loads The structure’s performance relies on horizontal shaking in the X and Y directions as it creates inertia forces and lateral displacement it is essential to ensure there is a proper load transfer path in place to mitigate any negative impact on the structure Every building has a specific resonance frequency that is unique to its structure Effect of building inertia during an earthquake and their connections can create an effective path for transferring inertia forces It is important to note that walls and columns are key in transferring these forces It is evident that stiff and weak masonry walls can create weak points in the inertia force transfer path making unreinforced masonry structures highly susceptible to earthquake damage Unreinforced masonry is considered the most unsuitable type of structure for earthquake-prone regions Typical deformation of masonry building walls due to earthquake loading: left) in-plane deformations; and right) Out-of-plane deformations This is consistent with damage descriptions in widely used intensity scales such as the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98) and the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Figure 5. Typical pushover curve of URM buildings (Azizi, 2019) Figure 6. Common URM building failure mechanism (El-Maissi et al., 2022) Poorly unsupported wall openings such as windows and doors present unavoidable weak points, and that is where most of the damage starts to occur (Figures 4, 6). Doğangün et al. (2008) noticed a pattern of damage in URM buildings in Turkey caused by earthquakes between 1992 and 2004 Most of the damages were cracks propagating from structural openings such aswindows and doors When the actual stresses in bricks exceed their design strength then these brick units become weak points of the structure and may fail when subject to earthquake loading Low-cost URM buildings are vulnerable to earthquake damage; even minor earthquakes can damage them (Shabani et al., 2021). In North America, Bruneau (1994) established that old URM buildings suffered considerable damage from minor to moderate earthquakes. In central Italy, Sorrentino et al. (2019) reported that most URM buildings had severe damage from minor to moderate shaking after the 2016 earthquake The ground acceleration is typically greater closer to the epicentre and the impact decreases as the distance increases the greatest amount of damage is anticipated near the epicentre it is important to consider that other factors like directivity effects The analytical method and hybrid approach both require calculating or simulating seismic hazard in the studied area and using ground motion models (GMMs) South Africa currently lacks well-established GMMs due to the lack of historical ground motion data the empirical method can be utilized in underdeveloped regions without advanced technologies for earthquake simulation and established GMMs This method is especially suitable for non-engineering structures constructed with materials of uncertain strength making it difficult to calculate their earthquake resistance The study employs quantitative methods and utilizes secondary data sourced from post-field assessment surveys and literature from the 2014 Orkney earthquake This data includes completed damage survey questionnaires which provided detailed descriptions of the damage; photographs offering a visual representation of the damage; and the coordinates of the investigated buildings supplying spatial information about their locations The decision to use secondary data was primarily driven by project budget limitations considering that the earthquake occurred in 2014 it is likely that most of the affected buildings had already undergone repairs potentially distorting the accuracy of any damage data collected This study will characterize and review the damage observed after the earthquake to determine if it is suitable for determining damage patterns suitability for constructing the fragility curves this approach is considered to be quite reliable and provides comprehensive damage data it demands a significant investment of time and resources had a timeframe of just 3 days to assess more than 3,000 ha of land containing over 75,000 buildings it was impossible to survey every single building within the area the survey focused solely on buildings that were identified as damaged in the municipal database the survey team consulted structural engineers from the University of KwaZulu-Natal to prepare a questionnaire for assessing post-earthquake damage The survey was conducted within 25 km from the epicenter where there was a highest concentration of damaged buildings The field survey specifically targeted buildings that were reported in the municipal database as damaged 2D coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the buildings were captured description of damage and pictures of damage were captured A total of 61 buildings were surveyed over a period of 3 days Classification of damage to unreinforced masonry buildings according to EMS-98 damage scale The measured damage was used for determine building safety for occupancy this is to ensure that the buildings will not experience further damage which might be hazardous to occupants According to EMS-98 damage scale buildings with DS 1 to 2 have negligible to moderate strcurural damage and are considered safe for occupation Buildings with DS 3 have heavy structural damage but are not considered safe for occupation without further assessments Buildings with DS4 to 5 have heavy to very heavy structural damage to total destruction and are considered not safe for occupation this study will review the data collected after the 2014 Orkney earthquake in South Africa to determine if it can be used for constructing fragility curves of URM buildngs by reviewing the requirements for fragility curve construction such the relationship between the seismic hazard (IML) and the observed damage (DSI); minimum number of data points; distribution of data points and number of buildings reaching or exceeding DSI After these questionnaires that were used to capture details about the damage and images were analysed, the most observed types of damages captured following the 2014 Orkney earthquake included, diagonal cracks (Figures 7, 8), horizontal cracks (Figure 9), vertical cracks (Figure 10), cracks at window/ door frames and cracks between the walls and the roof (Figures 7–10) The most observed type of damage were damages between the roof and walls Some of the buildings were un-plastered and some were plastered; most of the damages were observed in unplastered buildings Common observed damages after the 2014 Orkney earthquake Diagonal cracks observed in low-cost URM buildings after the 2014 Orkney earthquake Horizontal cracks observed in low-cost URM buildings after the 2014 Orkney earthquake Vertical cracks observed in low-cost URM buildings after the 2014 Orkney earthquake The observed damages were measured using the EMS-98 damage scale. After the damage was assigned using the EMS damage scale, the majority of buildings had a damage state index (DSI) of 2, while the maximum damage had a DSI of 5 (Figure 11) buildings with DSI of 1 and 2 are considered safe for occupation; hence a total of 44 buildings are safe for occupation while 12 buildings would need further investigation and a total of 5 buildings are considered unsafe for occupation Distribution of damaged buildings according to damage state index numerous other buildings with similar typology in the three townships were not reported as damaged that are closer to the epicentre that had no reported damage The propagation direction of an earthquake from the epicentre to the damaged buildings in the townships surrounding Orkney Effects of epicentral distance level on damage state index this trend does not account for buildings that were not damaged which significantly reduces the reliability and validity of the trendline Spatial representation of damage and intensity measure level Damaged buildings arranged according to DSI and IML (A) Weighted mean DSI per IML (B) Accumulative of number of buildings reaching or exceeding DSI for all IML These figures show numerous buildings with an IML of 7 that were not reported as damaged According to the generated fragility curves indicating that the fragility curves are unreliable and invalid This highlights the importance of including all buildings in the study area for constructing reliable fragility curves Constructed fragility curves of URM buildings in South Africa using the data collected after the 2014 Orkney earthquake This study reviewed the damage observed after the 2014 Orkney earthquake in South Africa to determine if it is suitable for determining damage patterns A primary use of post-earthquake damage data is to determine building safety for occupancy. The determination of building safety after an earthquake depends on the type of post-earthquake survey method (Kalantoni et al., 2013; Kassaras et al., 2015; Marshall et al., 2013) The damage data captured after the 2014 Orkney earthquake was detailed enough to accurately determine the damage state index (DSI) of each building using EMS-98 This was then used to assess building usability post-earthquake this data was suitable for determining building safety for occupation Earthquake damage data can be combined with seismic hazard data to construct fragility curves for the affected buildings (Rossetto et al., 2014) The reliability of these fragility curves is heavily influenced by the quality and quantity of the damage and intensity data the accuracy of fragility curves relies on the chosen survey method they require an accurate depiction of the relationship between damage and intensity it only included damaged buildings and did not account for undamaged buildings leading to a sampling error known as exclusion bias making it unsuitable for fragility curve construction in its current form Post-earthquake data has a variety of applications such as determining the safety of buildings for occupation This data is especially useful with regions that are prone to seismic activities but have less advanced seismic monitoring and analysis systems While South Africa is situated in an intraplate region Most of the earthquakes in South Africa are related to mining activities as highlighted by the 2014 Orkney earthquake post-earthquake field surveys were conducted to determine the damage in URM buildings within 25 km from the epicenter This study evaluated the collected damage dataset from the Orkney earthquake of 5 August 2014 to determine its suitability for assessing building safety for occupation The results indicated that the study was detailed enough to be able to use for damage pattern investigation; noted damages included diagonal as well as cracks at window and door frames and between walls and the roof The data was detailed enough to be used for determining building safety for occupancy This is because the survey method employed during the post-earthquake surveys was reconnaissance team surveys; this survey method yields reliable and detailed damage data The data was not suitable for constructing fragility curves primarily due to sampling errors and the limited number of data points While reconnaissance team surveys are effective for collecting reliable and detailed damage information which reduce the overall quantity of collected data the post-earthquake field surveys included only damaged buildings resulting in a dataset of just 61 structures This small sample size led to inflated mean damage values which in turn produced significantly higher and invalid fragility curves this study recommends that post-earthquake damage surveys include all buildings in the study or sample area regardless of whether they sustained damage While the current dataset is not suitable for fragility curve construction due to the issues mentioned it can be supplemented using techniques such as first-order approximations Such methods can expand the dataset by accounting for undamaged buildings the fragility curves developed with supplemented data can be validated by comparing them with fragility curves from other studies For cases where historical damage data is unavailable or incomplete analytical methods can be used as an alternative approach to construct fragility curves These analytically derived curves can then serve as benchmarks to calibrate fragility curves developed using first-order approximations When constructed successfully these fragility curves will be essential for planning and the design of URM buildings developments in South Africa The data analyzed in this study is subject to the following licenses/restrictions: Datasets may be provided upon request and with approval from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Requests to access these datasets should be directed to Thando Nqasha: bnFhc2hhdEB1a3puLmFjLnph The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher Analytical fragility functions for reinforced concrete and masonry buildings and buildings aggregates of Euro-Mediterranean regions—UPAV methodology Google Scholar Azizi, H. (2019). Irregular masonry buildings, torsional effects and the N2-method - histructural. SAHC. 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Thando Nqasha, bnFhc2hhdGhhbmRvQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish We use cookies to improve your experience of using our website Please let us know if you agree to the use of these cookies The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is embarking on the second leg of a tour across the Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson said he is very much looking forward to learning more about the life and work of the church in Orkney and Shetland 29 April and provides an opportunity for him to engage with congregations and communities serving Christ in diverse settings He will meet local church members and others from the communities they serve including school children teachers and residents and staff at a CrossReach care home Dr Paterson said: "I am really excited about the trip when I will get the opportunity to see first-hand some wonderful church and community projects "As I said at the General Assembly in May last year I am eager to meet as many people as possible and have the opportunity to convey the good wishes of the General Assembly and remind them that they are valued and appreciated." the presbytery brings together the former presbyteries of Aberdeen and Shetland clerk to the Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles said: "We're very excited to be welcoming the Moderator to Orkney and Shetland he will see some of the great community and other work that makes our area such a great place to live "We also hope that his visit will encourage the faithful and committed people of God who belong to our churches as they continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed." the Moderator visited churches and other communities in Aberdeen Moderator embarks on Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles tour Moderator embarks on second leg of South West Presbytery tour New video highlights Moderator presbytery tour Contact us Tommy Budge and Thelma Bruce had a joint ceremony with Tommy's older sister Violet Budge and Leslie Flett in Kirkwall The four have now marked the rare double platinum anniversary together grandchildren and great-grandchildren for company They described their earlier times together as days of leaving post-it notes for each other rather than phone calls or modern-day text messages and joked that time spent apart had helped them stay together ShareSave'My jaw stopped growing after a bike accident when I was 10'When Alana Brownie was 10, a horrific bike accident stopped her jaw from growing. 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Watch the moment a skate attacks a fisherman's boat off ShetlandRNLI technician Paul Hutchison was out at sea at Muckle Roe when the large fish began to ram his boat. Pudsey flies in to meet children on Fair IslePudsey Bear has made a special visit to one of the most remote island communities in Scotland. ️The orphaned otter that is now part of the familyA man's bond with orphaned otter becomes a movie hit️. Shetland oysters back on the market after 130 yearsA family-run croft in Shetland has made history by exporting oysters for what is thought to be the first time in more than130 years. Watch: 40 years of Jim McColl on Beechgrove GardenFormer Beechgrove Garden presenter and "Scottish national treasure" Jim McColl has died aged 89. 'I've had difficult moments but my rugby family was always there'Scotland rugby internationalist Emma Wassell has told how her "family" of teammates cared for her through tumour surgery months after her mother died. Hysteroscopy felt like insides were being 'clawed'Wendy McLean took over-the-counter pain killers before the procedure at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Meet the primary school class who are all boysA primary school on Orkney is starting its new P1 class with and intake of only boys. The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V., its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply. Published: Apr 25, 2025written by Alex Johnson On the Wednesday following the last Tuesday in January It is the only place in Scotland to have an extra public holiday The reason is simply because everyone is exhausted They’ve been up all night burning a Viking galley they’re a little less obsessed with flames but that doesn’t mean they value their Viking heritage any less they play “The Ba,” a mass football game on the streets of Kirkwall Every match sees the Uppies versus the Doonies — which team you side with Separated from the British mainland by the hostile North Sea the sea is still a key feature of daily life for these Scottish Islands Despite recent oil and gas discoveries opening up new possibilities for Islanders most prefer to rely on the sea for their livelihoods While much of British history was shaped by the Romans following their invasion they never made it to Orkney or Shetland Viking warriors landed and soon learned that these islands were far too valuable to plunder They set up a base here and made the Northern Isles their home A strategic halfway point between their Nordic homes and the British mainland Shetland and Orkney were placed under Norwegian Rule and stayed under it until 1468 It was a pure chance that control of the isles was rescinded by Norway. In 1468, Norwegian King Christian I pledged the Northern Isles to King James III of Scotland in return for a dowry for his daughter and there are some historians who state that Orkney and Shetland should still be Norwegian and as recently as 2023 a member of the Orkney Islands Council tabled a motion for a referendum that could see the islands return to Norwegian control it should come as no surprise that both Orkney and Shetland feel more Nordic than they do Scottish The only way to truly understand these unique Red and blue Norwegian flags outnumber the Saltire classic folk songs echo through the streets in place of the sound of bagpipes and if you ask an islander what they wear under their kilt they’ll simply tell you that they don’t own one From the 9th Century CE right up until 1472 Orkney and Shetland were a Norse territory known as the Earldom of Orkney and governed locally by the Earl — or Jarl as they were known in the Norse language the Earldom was comprised of both Orkney and Shetland along with the northernmost part of mainland Scotland And not only because of the abundance of Viking sites Both islands are home to some historically significant spots from the Neolithic age right through to the Second World War The top Viking sites in Orkney are all located on the Mainland the main island and home to the islands’ capital This makes getting around them all easily achievable in a couple of days St Magnus Cathedral is a good starting point holds many accolades; it is Britain’s most northerly cathedral with construction starting in 1137 and additions continuing for the next 300 years it was created for the bishops of Orkney and named after Magnus Erlendsson He was known to be a gentle man (by Viking standards at least) and he notably refused to fight during raids Right opposite the cathedral are the ruins of the earl and bishops’ palaces The Bishop’s Palace was built during the Viking era and is one of the best-preserved buildings of its time It was here that King Haakon of Norway died in December 1263 The Earl’s Palace was added two centuries after Norse rule ended Birsay is another must on a Viking voyage around the islands it once played a far more significant role as the capital of Orkney until the administrative center moved to Kirkwall in the 11th Century is built on the site of the first cathedral in Orkney is home to the remains of the Viking settlement that once stood there Another, perhaps unlikely, contender for a stop is Scapa Flow. This sheltered body of water is perhaps best known as the location of the scuttling of the German fleet during the First World War, but its history goes back much further. The Vikings used it as a safe harbor for their longships; King Haakon moored the Norwegian flagship In Stenness, famous for the neolithic Standing Stones, visit Maeshowe was visited by the Viking settlers who left their mark in the form of graffiti the best Viking sites in Shetland are a little more spread out you’ll see why; the archipelago is long and thin while you’re never more than three miles from the sea it’s 116 miles from the southern tip of Fair Isle to the most northerly point of Unst where the impressive stained-glass windows depict events and figures from the Viking era worth the drive out of town for the views alone on a small outcrop of land jutting out into Tingwall Loch is the place at which important decisions were made; laws were interpreted Another one of Shetland’s most-visited sites Most commonly celebrated for its significance as the best-preserved prehistoric archaeological site on the islands it also played a key role in the Viking era Norse settlers occupied the site for the entirety of their rule with the first remains of a Viking longhouse anywhere in Britain being discovered here in the 1930s A number of more recent digs have unearthed tools used by the Vikings for fishing and farming there is one place in Shetland that holds more significance than any other: Unst Representing the northernmost part of the islands the journey from Lerwick involves two ferries and requires a full day It is thought that Unst was the first place Viking settlers landed in the United Kingdom, which makes perfect sense as it is the first land they would have reached. Three longhouses have been excavated on the island and a replica has been built in Haroldswick which stands alongside a replica longship — the Skidbladner Unst Heritage Centre provides a fascinating exhibition and the Heritage Centre offers an insight into everything from prehistoric times to the present day where a life-size galley boat is waiting to be burned squads head for the town’s community halls and schools where they put on themed displays all through the night Every squad moves from hall to hall so visitors can witness every one of them without having to move The following Wednesday is designated as a bank holiday in Shetland with everything grinding to a halt; the shops are closed Tickets to the event are very limited and get snapped up quickly but if you ever get the chance to witness it it is a sight like no other — a true once-in-a-lifetime experience for all except those of us lucky enough to have lived in the isles manage to pack in some of the best-preserved and most significant sites from the Viking Era A visit to the islands is a pilgrimage for Viking history enthusiasts ticking off two of the British Isles’ most out-of-the-way archipelagos is an achievement in itself and one well worth adding to your bucket list these islands are some of the most tranquil or as the locals would tell you — on earth but one thing is for sure: you’ll rarely find anyone who has made the journey who doesn’t say they want to come back time and time again the Northern Isles aren’t the easiest places in Scotland to reach But this only adds to the appeal — and the feeling of being on the edge of the world Alex splits his time between rural North Yorkshire and the remote Shetland Islands spending every minute possible discovering new places is always on the hunt for new destinations to provide the inspiration for more but his main areas of interest are transportation He has a particularly keen interest in the UK In a tragic incident at Hanscombe Haven Holiday Resort in Orkney owner Mark Hanscombe was fatally stabbed after a confrontation with guests over the use of a hookah pipe on the premises The altercation began when an employee informed a group of guests that the resort’s rules prohibited the use of hookah pipes This enforcement of policy led to a heated argument A video circulating on social media shows Hanscombe being attacked by multiple individuals with at least two assailants wielding knives Hanscombe sustained multiple stab wounds to his lung and liver where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit The violent attack has shocked the local community and the broader public noting that in the resort’s 20 years of operation He emphasized that the resort has always prioritized the safety and enjoyment of its guests South Africans have expressed outrage and condemnation of the attack on social media platforms Many are calling for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice highlighting the need for respect towards property owners and adherence to established rules Local law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the incident Authorities are reviewing the video footage and interviewing witnesses to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for the attack The community is urged to cooperate with the investigation to ensure that justice is served 🔴Central News Weekly Edition 087🔴 Download the Latest Edition | Top Story: “Building ‘The Ngwathe We Want’:Dr Mothamaha Drives Cost-EffectiveSolutions with New Fleet Acquisitions” on an island off the northern tip of Scotland the owners of a farmhouse decided to plow a small patch of land to plant wildflowers Their neighbor was looking out of the window while doing the dishes and saw the plow bring up a huge flagstone entangled in its teeth but could not possibly have foreseen just how important the find would turn out to be This flagstone turned out to be just one small building block of a huge Neolithic structure among over a hundred other monumental buildings over 20 years of excavation and research later has transformed our understanding of Neolithic northern Europe We now have a picture of a culture — spanning thousands of miles — that expressed itself in monumental stone buildings generations built and rebuilt huge statements in stone a testament to immense skill and labor as well as huge ambition in intention and design.  This extraordinary density of ancient buildings is a complex on the Ness of Brodgar a small strip of land (“ness” means “promontory”) running down the -middle of the biggest island of the Orkney archipelago The island is confusingly called Mainland; mainland Scotland is Create a free account to continue reading Already a New Lines member? Log in here Create an account to access exclusive content My account Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy A new map of the South Orkney Islands has been released by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) – the first UK published topographic map of the region in almost 40 years The South Orkney Islands lie roughly 650km north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula and 1250km south-east of South America The British research station on Signy Island and the Argentine research station on nearby Laurie Island rely on precise maps to navigate the region’s challenging terrain The new maps are a significant update on previously published versions which were produced by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS) in 1963 and by BAS in 1988 Both older maps were based on surveys conducted by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Surveys (FIDS) but are now considerably out of date and not comparable to the standard of modern maps a critical site for scientific research and home to the UK’s smallest research station in Antarctica has seen notable geographical changes since the last BAS map was created in 2010 Satellite imagery has revealed new features including two newly named lakes: Quicksilver Lake and Jobson Lake both formed by the retreat of the permanent ice cap on the island Other changes on the island include expanded regions of moraine around the edges of the glaciers left as the ice scours the landscape and retreats and an increase in the number of ponds that come and go each year Another useful addition to the new map is the inclusion of bathymetry data reproduced with permission from a UK Hydrographic Office chart The waters to the west of the island are still unsurveyed however due partly to the treacherous nature of this region and the presence of numerous rocks The shipwreck of an old whaling ship called the Tioga is shown on the map in Port Jebsen The map of the whole South Orkney Island group shows a similar story to the Signy map The ice has retreated around the coastline creating new islands and exposing rocks in the water that were previously covered by the ice Many areas of exposed rock outcrop and moraine have also been revealed on land as ice retreats and melts The accurate location of these exposed rocks are important for anyone traversing over the land and for identifying locations in a satellite image New mountain spot heights were calculated for the maps using the most recently available high-resolution elevation data Some of the peaks were more than 200m taller than previously thought with Worswick Hill changing from 575m to 794m Bathymetry depths are also shown on this South Orkneys map with the data reproduced from an Argentinean hydrographic chart with permission from the Servicio de Hidrografía Naval (SHN – the Argentine Hydrographic Service) This new map is available in two formats: a folded version with a card cover and a flat version suitable for wall display It joins the ‘BAS Topographic Series’ and can be purchased from various online retailers For more information on BAS maps and where to purchase them, visit BAS Maps Website Contact the Press Office British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Madingley RoadCAMBRIDGECB3 0ETUnited Kingdom Contact usFamilies and friends supportLocation map SearchMenuHome...Toggle menuCampusesOrkneyFacilitiesFacilitiesIn August 2019 the Orkney Campus relocated to its new home as part of the Orkney Research and Innovation Campus (ORIC) was aimed at supporting the growing research and innovation activity of organisations working in Orkney’s world-leading marine renewables The fully refurbished building includes an IT lab There is a bright and spacious breakout area which is a great space for socialising or working while enjoying the stunning harbour views The teaching rooms are equipped with high-quality audio-visual capabilities The spaces provide a modern and comfortable environment for learning ICIT's laboratory provides facilities for both staff and student research across a broad range of marine scientific fields MSc students use the laboratory for dissertation research projects while PhD students conduct long-term studies The laboratory also welcomes visiting scholars undertaking work in Orkney The library is a critical resource for staff and students As a branch of the Heriot-Watt University library Students in Orkney also have full access to the physical and online collections of the main university library in Edinburgh The Archaeology-Heritage-Art Research Network public programme will continue with an online talk given by Antonia Thomas (Lecturer in Archaeology University of the Highlands and Islands) on 26 March The archaeological imagination looms large in Orkney monuments and artefacts have inspired artists since the 18th century But Orkney is a place as much aware of its contemporary identity It is a world leader in renewable energy innovation and the islands’ hills and seas are home to large wind turbines and marine renewable devices contemporary archaeological monuments which are inspiring a new generation of interdisciplinary art-archaeology practitioners This rich setting provides the ideal environment for UHI Orkney’s MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology a unique postgraduate degree which encourages the blurring of distinctions between artistic and archaeological practice Developed and directed by archaeologists and visual artists based in Orkney it is the only course of its kind in the world Students are encouraged to take a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to research-led creative practice informed by critical engagements with archaeology Uniquely this teaching is delivered largely online and through video conference challenging traditional pedagogic models for such ‘hands-on’ subject areas and allowing participatory and conceptual art-archaeology practice in the digital realm and future of art and archaeology in Orkney have influenced creative research-led teaching at UHI Antonia will then use the MA in Contemporary Art and Archaeology as a case study for examining the wider challenges and opportunities of integrating art and archaeology based at the University of the Highlands and Islands Her interdisciplinary research focuses on the relationship between Art and Archaeology using these as reference points from which to explore wider creative engagements - across and beyond a range of different disciplines Her work explores experimental and creative approaches to archaeology and she has undertaken a number of trans-disciplinary art / archaeology collaborations and residencies Recent projects and publications have examined subjects such as prehistoric rock art a major inter-disciplinary and multi-institutional project focussed on marine energy transitions – whale oil and offshore renewables - in the three case study areas of Orkney Antonia’s contribution to TRANSECTS is exploring how approaches drawn from contemporary archaeology and creative practice can help coastal communities to explore their roles and responses to energy transitions The Archaeology-Heritage-Art Research Network examines the varied ways in which archaeology heritage and art converge across a broad range of concepts and practices from artistic interventions in the museum space to archaeological interpretations which deploy and take inspiration from contemporary art Image credit: ‘Brodgar Turbines’ (Antonia Thomas) Weeks after revelation that megalith came from Scotland The plot has thickened on the mystery of the altar stone of Stonehenge, weeks after geologists sensationally revealed that the huge neolithic rock had been transported hundreds of miles to Wiltshire from the very north of Scotland described as “jaw-dropping” by one of the scientists involved established definitively that the six-tonne megalith had not been brought from Wales but came from sandstone deposits in an area encompassing the isles of Orkney and Shetland and a coastal strip on the north-east Scottish mainland Many experts assumed that the most likely place of origin was Orkney based on the islands’ rich neolithic culture and tradition of monument building But a separate academic study has now found that Orkney is not meaning the tantalising hunt for its place of origin goes on were compared with those of the altar stone they were found to be strikingly different leading the authors to conclude that Orkney could not be its source The report’s lead author, Richard Bevins an honorary professor of geography and earth sciences at Aberystwyth University said Orkney had seemed “the obvious place to look” once initial research some years ago had pointed away from Wales to an unknown location in northern Britain Extensive evidence exists of long-distance communication between Orkney and Stonehenge around 3000BC and a number of key innovations in technology and culture are believed to have originated in the archipelago “Everybody and their dog would have said: ‘Let’s try Orkney first It’s going to be Orkney,’” agreed co-author Dr Rob Ixer an honorary senior research fellow at University College London was involved in the Australian-led research He added: “Life would have been far simpler had it turned out to be similar to the stones of Brodgar Ruling out Orkney so quickly could help narrow the search in other areas of old red sandstone adding that he was “optimistic” the specific source of the boulder would be identified one day “The Orcadian basin [the area of old red sandstone from which the altar stone originated] is quite a big area so I wouldn’t say it will be found quickly Free daily newsletterOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters Ixer said he would be “astonished if there weren’t other people shoving little probes around suitable stones” in Aberdeenshire and Caithness Alison Sheridan, the former principal curator of prehistory at National Museums Scotland (NMS) said the new findings were “an intriguing additional twist to the tale” She added: “As with many things from Stonehenge Attention had understandably turned to Orkney because of what was known of the sophisticated society that built the Ness of Brodgar “What we don’t know as much about is the social organisation of other parts of Britain at the time There’s clearly scope that people were just as sophisticated and well connected geographically and socially [elsewhere] “I think it would do no harm for us to reconsider what we already know about late neolithic communities in north-east Scotland.” The study is published in Journal of Archaeological Science. SearchMenuHome...Toggle menuCampusesOrkneyMaps and directionsMaps and directionsTravelYou can get to Orkney either by air or by car/bus/train and ferry For getting around and seeing more of what Orkney has to offer This is a popular choice for previous students who already have their own cars Hiring a car for the weekend is also another popular option Northlink Ferries run regular services between Aberdeen and Kirkwall and between Scrabster and Stromness (where campus is located)   Islander Discounts for ferry travel is available once resident in Orkney This can be a huge saving for students travelling on and off island.  Pentland Ferries run a regular ferry from Gill's Bay near Thurso to St Margaret's Hope in Orkney (around 30 miles from Stromness).    You can take a CityLink bus from central (Edinburgh & Glasgow) and northeast Scotland (Aberdeen) to Scrabster or the M96 from Aberdeen to Inverness and then from there take the X99 to Scrabster ScotRail operate rail services from centre and northeast Scotland to Thurso (around 2.5 miles from the Scrabster ferry port).    Kirkwall Airport is situated about 18 miles from Stromness and there are regular flights to the island. There is an airport bus that connects with the regular bus service between Kirkwall and Stromness There are also taxis available at the airport Exploring Orkney with a car is a great way to experience the islands at your own pace.  If you choose to take you own car it can a cost-effective way to travel.  Fuel is usually a few pence more than you would expect to pay on the UK mainland.   then hiring a car for a day or weekend to explore the island or get some shopping at the bigger stores in Kirkwall There are a range of different car hire companies you can choose from Stagecoach runs a regular X1 bus service between Stromness and Kirkwall as well as to St Margaret’s Hope in the east of the Mainland. Operating 7 days a week with varying times throughout the day. Specific times can be found on the Orkney Council website While taxis are a convenient way to explore Orkney they can be an expensive way to travel around Orkney Advance booking is recommended especially in the summer months but most are available on the day of booking icit@hw.ac.ukPhone+44 (0)1856 850605LocationHeriot-Watt University Orkney CampusStreet addressFranklin RoadLocalityStromnessRegionOrkneyPost codeKW16 3ANCountryUnited KingdomView on map© Heriot-Watt University SSEN Transmission has broken ground on a new electricity substation that is part of the subsea link that will connect the Orkney Islands to the UK mainland for the first time The start of work at the Finstown Substation is said to mark a major step forward for the Orkney-Caithness 220 kV Subsea Link as it will serve as the main transmission electricity hub in the islands SSEN Transmission and the principal contractors BAM and Siemens Energy gathered at the site to mark the official start of construction. Nexans will manufacture the offshore sections for the interconnector at its plant in Halden the project will include the installation of around 14 kilometers of underground cable to where it makes landfall at Warebeth which will connect into a new substation at Dounreay in Caithness where connection will be made to Great Britain’s electricity transmission network the contractor is beginning with enabling works for the site such as setting up the temporary welfare compound for their workforce and SSEN Transmission staff before moving on to start earthworks in the area Work on the new Dounreay West Substation where the subsea cable will make landfall on the Scottish mainland began in the summer and full energization of the project is expected in 2028 “Breaking ground at Finstown is a huge moment for the Orkney-Caithness 220kV Subsea Link project and marks a significant step forward in connecting Orkney to the GB transmission network for the first time,” said Alan Redman “The link will allow over 220MW of renewable energy to be connected to the national grid helping to contribute to the fight against climate change and boost the country’s secure The Orkney-Caithness 220 kV Subsea Link is part of SSEN Transmission’s Pathway to 2030 investment program a £20 billion program of electricity transmission upgrades across the north of Scotland the projects are expected to support 9,000 jobs in Scotland and 20,000 throughout the UK UK energy regulator Ofgem gave its final approval of need for the subsea electricity transmission link to Orkney in July 2023 According to SSEN Transmission, the Orkney Islands are home to some of the world’s greatest resources of renewable electricity, from established onshore wind to emerging marine technologies, where Orkney is at the forefront of global developments in marine energy generation The company is hosting a community Q&A event in Stenness Hall on November 14 Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox The Pioneers of Offshore Engineering GustoMSC part of NOV’s Marine and Construction business is recognized for providing advanced design & engineering consultancy for mobile offshore units and reliable equipment and technical knowledge into realistic & innovative ideas The performance of new and existing jack-ups Ensuring better care and support for people where users of health and social care services can expect to be listened to to be involved in deciding upon the care they receive and to be an active participant in how it is delivered This will result in better outcomes for people enabling them to enjoy better health and wellbeing in their homes and communities (Orkney HSCP) is a partnership between Orkney Islands Council and NHS Orkney The Partnership aims to improve and develop social care We want to provide the best possible care for people in Orkney wherever they live and whatever their circumstances been responsible for the delivery of the full range of the Council’s social work and social services for all age groups and service user groups and NHS Orkney’s community based health services since 2011 The Partnership has continued to be accountable to both the Council and NHS Orkney for the effective delivery of these services through the Board Please use the buttons and links below to find out more about our service: SSEN Transmission principal contractor Bam Siemens Energy JV has commenced construction on a new electricity substation in Orkney which will facilitate the connection of Orkney to the Great Britain electricity transmission network for the first time This project is expected to play a crucial role in integrating new renewable energy into the national grid The £900M Orkney-Caithness 220kV Subsea Link project witnessed a ceremonial groundbreaking event attended by representatives from SSEN Transmission They marked the commencement of construction by turning the first shovel of earth at the Finstown Substation which is set to become Orkney’s primary electricity transmission hub An indicative view of Finstown Substation including temporary construction compound and temporary workforce accommodation The overall Orkney-Caithness 220kV Subsea Link project will involve the installation of a new high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cable linking Orkney to the Scottish mainland This connection is projected to facilitate up to 220MW of new renewable electricity contributing to the UK’s energy security and net zero targets The will see the installation of approximately 14km of underground cable and a 53km subsea cable extending to a new substation at Dounreay in Caithness This will connect Orkney to the broader Great Britain electricity transmission network Initial construction at Finstown is focused on setting up temporary facilities for workers and SSEN Transmission staff Work on the Dounreay West Substation on the Scottish mainland commenced in the summer, with the entire project expected to be fully operational by 2028. Nexans is supplying the cable for the project The Orkney-Caithness Subsea Link is part of SSEN Transmission’s wider Pathway to 2030 investment programme a £20bn initiative aimed at upgrading electricity transmission across northern Scotland Earlier in the year, NCE spoke to SSEN and Balfour Beatty about how early contractor involvement has been critical in Pathway to 2030 This programme is integral to meeting the energy security and clean power targets of both Scotland and the UK promising to secure energy for future generations these projects are expected to generate around 9,000 jobs in Scotland and 20,000 across the UK SSEN Transmission lead project manager Alan Redman said:“Breaking ground at Finstown is a huge moment for the Orkney-Caithness 220kV Subsea Link project and marks a significant step forward in connecting Orkney to the GB transmission network for the first time “With our contractor also progressing with construction work at Dounreay we’re making a strong start to the project We’ll do all we can to keep any disruption to a minimum and we’ll be sure to keep the community updated as the project progresses.” Bam Nuttall executive director Huw Jones said: “We’re excited to see this significantly important project take shape and to be working closely alongside our partners to deliver this critical piece of infrastructure which will help to safeguard our future energy supply and decarbonise our electricity grid as well as creating a lasting legacy for the local community.” Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. High Speed 2 (HS2) Ltd has said its work faces delays and… which shows the difference between the… National Grid has selected Siemens Energy as the preferred bidder for the… Orkney Islands Council has awarded a joint venture between Acciona and Jones… Metrics details For breast and ovarian cancer risk assessment in the isolated populations of the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland (in Scotland quantifying genetically drifted BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants is important Two actionable variants in these genes have reached much higher frequencies than in cosmopolitan UK populations found in breast and ovarian cancer families from Shetland We investigated the frequency and origin of this variant in a population-based research cohort of people of Shetland ancestry The variant segregates with female breast and ovarian cancer in diagnosed cases and is classified as pathogenic Exome sequence data from 2108 VIKING I participants with three or more Shetlandic grandparents was used to estimate the population prevalence of c.517-2A>G in Shetlanders Nine VIKING I research volunteers carry this variant on a shared haplotype (carrier frequency 0.4%) This frequency is ~130-fold higher than in UK Biobank where the small group of carriers has a different haplotype marriage and death indicate genealogical linkage of VIKING I carriers to a founder from the Isle of Whalsay similar to our observations for the BRCA1 founder variant c.5207T>C from Westray 93.5% of pathogenic BRCA variant carriers in Northern Isles exomes are accounted for by these two drifted variants We thus provide the scientific evidence of an opportunity for screening people of Orcadian and Shetlandic origins for each drifted pathogenic variant particularly women with Westray or Whalsay ancestry we survey the landscape of pathogenic BRCA1 (MIM#113705) BRCA2 (MIM#600185) and other breast cancer risk variants in the Northern Isles of Scotland we report the ascertainment of the BRCA2 pathogenic variant c.517-2A>G in both clinical care in cancer families We aimed to investigate relatedness of the variant carriers in Shetland using genealogy compare haplotypes in VIKING I and UK Biobank carrier participants and estimate population frequencies of pathogenic BRCA variants in Scottish island founder populations Thermo Fisher Scientific) were used to generate a PCR fragment of 268 base pairs from genomic DNA for analysis rs81002858 variant was confirmed in VIKING I carriers by Sanger sequencing on an Applied Biosystems 3730xl Genetic Analyser All nine heterozygous variant calls from the VIKING I exome dataset were verified Haplotypes were defined with custom-built in-house scripts in R Data handling was performed using data.table and tidyverse R packages A single variant-based haplotype search was performed to determine the haplotype length between the different VIKING I carrier kindreds and with the UK Biobank carrier individuals one SNP at a time was added to define a haplotype The procedure was repeated until haplotypes of two individuals (both known carriers) no longer matched both upstream and downstream of the rare variant providing variant-level resolution of the haplotype length The procedure was repeated for all pairs of individuals identified as carriers based on the exome sequencing data both in the VIKING I and UK Biobank datasets The shortest shared haplotype from VIKING I was then merged with the shortest shared haplotype from the UK Biobank without the context of the wider family health history The first seven bars are parishes or isles of Shetland The remainder are locations elsewhere in the UK with most of the remainder coming from other parishes or isles of Shetland The founder of the kindred was born in Whalsay in 1786 and all descendants enclosed by the blue line were also born there Red outlines are sequenced BRCA2 c.517-2A>G carriers in VIKING I dotted red outlines are obligate carriers (parents of carriers Sequenced VIKING I participants without the variant are shown in green There are many other family members not shown The phased Illumina GSA chip genotypes across an 8 Mb region on chromosome 13 are represented for one haplotype from each of the nine carrier individuals The pathogenic variant is at 32.33 Mb (arrow) and a multi-Mb identical-by-descent block is apparent in the centre of the plot the extent of sharing goes beyond the window shown with carrier frequencies between 1 in 138 in Iceland and 1 in 41 for the combination of three variants in the Ashkenazi community it is when the individual isle of origin is considered that the carrier frequencies rise an order of magnitude (e.g similar to the 1/41 observed for Ashkenazi Jews (three founder variants) Beyond the previously reported three heterozygotes and three homozygotes we identified one further heterozygote closely related to this family This may allow a better delineation of the size of the kindred and more accurate estimation of the frequency and any impact of the variant on breast cancer risk in the Northern Isles of Scotland No pathogenic exonic variants in other genes which confer an increased risk of breast cancer were discovered: TP53 PTEN – suggesting these are also essentially absent from the Northern Isles gene pools none of the BRCA2 c.517-2A>G carriers in VIKING I also carry known pathogenic exonic variants in the cancer susceptibility genes APC the effects of random genetic drift over the centuries have thus simplified the landscape of highly penetrant variants of large effect such that two variants account for almost all of the risk arising from rare pathogenic hereditary breast and ovarian cancer variants while the impact of all others is negligible high penetrance genes contribute only a proportion of genetic cancer risk whereas common low penetrance variants identified through genome-wide association studies explain a further component We recurrently identified the pathogenic BRCA2 variant c.517-2A>G in the population of Shetland both in clinical practice and in a population cohort The variant is found in ~0.4% of Shetlanders All carriers in the Shetland cohort VIKING I share the same haplotype background which is distinct from that observed in English UK Biobank carriers pointing to recurrent mutation at the site Genealogical analysis suggests the variant is likely to have originated or arrived in a founder individual from Whalsay The presence of the same variant in a Japanese study and in five non-white individuals in CanVar provides further evidence that this variant has arisen more than once worldwide has highlighted scientifically for the first time the extent of emigration Significant Northern Isles diasporas are found in mainland Scotland all locations where these alleles are therefore likely to be important for some families We show that the frequency estimates of pathogenic BRCA alleles in Orkney and Shetland are somewhat higher than those for women living in other areas of the UK We have also demonstrated that variation in ATM and CHEK2 does not contribute significantly to breast cancer in Orcadians the overall numbers affected by high penetrance variants will be low In the most recent census for which data is available (2011) the population of Whalsay was 1,061 and of Westray while Shetland and Orkney had 23,167 and 21,279 inhabitants The size of the extensive diasporas is unknown Given the combined population of over 64,000 in 1861 and the estimated number of living descendants that would arise in line with European population growth rates in this period we speculate that the diasporas number in the hundreds of thousands although the great majority will have inherited only a fraction of their genomes from Northern Isles ancestors but also increased within-archipelago migration and mixing are expected to similarly result in dilution of these high Northern Isles frequencies over time the challenges of potential reduced penetrance in those without a known family history have generally limited adoption of asymptomatic BRCA1 and BRCA2 screening but findings such as those presented here make it more compelling to test individuals with particular ancestries for specific variants We propose that awareness raising of this unlikely possibility in clinicians serving this population is important may in fact be more critical when considering genomic medicine screening in these populations There is a case for offering all Orcadian and Shetlandic women testing for the relevant drifted pathogenic BRCA variant particularly those with Westray or Whalsay ancestry A pilot of self-administered saliva-based testing is underway for the BRCA1 variant in Westray Given current fiscal constraints and the somewhat lower frequency of the Whalsay variant the immediate recommendation is that testing for BRCA2 c.517-2A>G should be offered to those of Whalsay ancestry with a first-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer to those with an affected second degree relative connected through an unaffected male Future research will explore additional genetically drifted loci in Orkney Shetland and the Western Isles of Scotland in the Viking Genes research cohorts implement the return of results to consented participants about actionable variants such as the drifted BRCA variants described here and evaluate the implementation of saliva-based BRCA testing of DNA in those of Westray and Whalsay origins There is neither Research Ethics Committee approval to permit open release of the individual level research data underlying this study The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are therefore not publicly available the research data and/or DNA samples are available from accessQTL@ed.ac.uk on reasonable request following approval by the Data Access Committee and in line with the consent given by participants Average risks of breast and ovarian cancer associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations detected in case Series unselected for family history: a combined analysis of 22 studies and Contralateral Breast Cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers BRCA Challenge: BRCA Exchange as a global resource for variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Cancer Risks Associated With BRCA1 and BRCA2 Pathogenic Variants Study of a single BRCA2 mutation with high carrier frequency in a small population Actionable Genotypes and Their Association with Life Span in Iceland Founder mutations in BRCA1/2 are not frequent in Canadian Ashkenazi Jewish men with prostate cancer Exome sequencing reveals a high prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 founder variants in a diverse population-based biobank The genetic landscape of Scotland and the Isles Increased ultra-rare variant load in an isolated Scottish population impacts exonic and regulatory regions Clinical case study meets population cohort: identification of a BRCA1 pathogenic founder variant in Orcadians An actionable KCNH2 Long QT Syndrome variant detected by sequence and haplotype analysis in a population research cohort Large scale multifactorial likelihood quantitative analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants: An ENIGMA resource to support clinical variant classification Guidelines for splicing analysis in molecular diagnosis derived from a set of 327 combined in silico/in vitro studies on BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants Characterization of splice-altering mutations in inherited predisposition to cancer a Worldwide Observational Cohort of Volunteers with Northern Isles Ancestry Prospective study design and data analysis in UK Biobank The UK Biobank resource with deep phenotyping and genomic data Exome sequencing and characterization of 49,960 individuals in the UK Biobank Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants Haplotype estimation using sequencing reads A general approach for haplotype phasing across the full spectrum of relatedness Chen S, Francioli LC, Goodrich JK, Collins RL, Kanai M, Wang Q, et al. A genome-wide mutational constraint map quantified from variation in 76,156 human genomes. bioRxiv. 2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.03.20.485034v1 Li S, Carss KJ, Halldorsson BV, Cortes A, Consortium UBW-GS. Whole-genome sequencing of half-a-million UK Biobank participants. medRxiv. 2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.12.06.23299426v1 CanVar: A resource for sharing germline variation in cancer patients BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations in Japanese women with ductal carcinoma in situ Association between germline pathogenic variants in cancer-predisposing genes and lymphoma risk BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in Scotland and Northern Ireland Evidence of a founder BRCA1 mutation in Scotland Influence of family history on penetrance of hereditary cancers in a population setting ACMG SF v3.2 list for reporting of secondary findings in clinical exome and genome sequencing: A policy statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) ATM mutations and phenotypes in ataxia-telangiectasia families in the British Isles: expression of mutant ATM and the risk of leukemia CHEK2 and ATM rare variants and cancer risk: data from COGS The association between ATM variants and risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis Clinical utility of testing for PALB2 and CHEK2 c.1100delC in breast and ovarian cancer Analysis of rare disruptive germline mutations in 2135 enriched BRCA-negative breast cancers excludes additional high-impact susceptibility genes ACMG SF v3.1 list for reporting of secondary findings in clinical exome and genome sequencing: A policy statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Cascade screening in HBOC and Lynch syndrome: guidelines and procedures in a UK centre Web-based return of BRCA2 research results: one-year genetic counselling experience in Iceland Addressing the routine failure to clinically identify monogenic cases of common disease Routine germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing in patients with ovarian carcinoma: analysis of the Scottish real-life experience BRCA gene testing in women with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma Population choice in mapping genes for complex diseases An international policy on returning genomic research results A practical checklist for return of results from genomic research in the European context Genotype-first approach to the detection of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk and effects of risk disclosure to biobank participants Exome Sequencing–Based Screening for BRCA1/2 Expected Pathogenic Variants Among Adult Biobank Participants Download references The study team wish to thank staff from the NHS Grampian genetics team and the Viking Genes Study for their contribution to these datasets DNA extractions were performed at the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility Sanger sequencing was performed by Camilla Drake and the technical services team at the MRC HGU Emily Weiss and Reka Nagy assembled the ORCADES pedigree using records at the General Register Office and study information building on earlier pedigree work by Ruth McQuillan and Jim Wilson We thank Thibaud Boutin for phasing the GSA chip data and Kiera Johnston for help with analysis of other cancer susceptibility genes The data in the EHR was provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support We would also like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the research nurses in Orkney and Shetland and the administrative team in Edinburgh and the NHS Grampian genetic counselling team for counselling of the carriers identified in the cohorts we thank the people of the Northern Isles for their involvement in and ongoing support for our research This work was funded by the MRC University Unit award to the MRC Human Genetics Unit MC_UU_00007/10 and a Wellcome Trust Institutional Translational Partnership Award (University of Edinburgh 222060/Z/20/Z -PIII031) LK was supported by an RCUK Innovation Fellowship from the National Productivity Investment Fund (MR/R026408/1) Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine SK managed the project and drafted the manuscript EC and LS provided de-identified clinical data GT and ARS conceived and managed the Viking Genes exome sequencing ZM recognised carrier patients through the NHS Grampian clinical genetics service led clinical aspects of return of results planning and proposed policy JFW is the Chief Investigator of Viking Genes interpreted the data and helped draft the manuscript All authors provided input and feedback on drafts of the manuscript AS and GT are employees and/or stockholders of Regeneron Genetics Center or Regeneron Pharmaceuticals LK is an employee of BioAge Labs and holds share options the author has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission were derived from the UK Biobank Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) project and were obtained from the UK Biobank Allele Frequency Browser (afb.ukbiobank.ac.uk) which was generated by the WGS consortium under the UK Biobank Resource (project ID 52293) Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-024-01704-w Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Bird keepers in Orkney are being urged to be vigilant as a case of wild bird flu was confirmed in South Ronaldsay by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on Wednesday 5 February A dead buzzard near Windwick was sent to the APHA under the Dead Wild Bird Surveillance Scheme and found to have HPAI – more commonly known as bird flu The Local Health Protection Team at NHS Orkney and OIC have been advised in accordance with partner agreements said: “It is key that the public are vigilant in monitoring the health of their kept birds; in reporting any suspicion of disease promptly; and in applying strict biosecurity “By implementing biosecurity measures folk can reduce the likelihood of their kept birds being infected.”  equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry or other captive birds – if practical making use of disposable protective clothing vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and other captive birds are kept Keeping government-approved fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and poultry housing entry and exit points Minimising direct and indirect contact between poultry and other captive birds with wild birds Fencing off areas of standing water that may attract wild waterfowl More information about avian influenza, including biosecurity guidance, is available at www.gov.scot/avianinfluenza  Heart-wrenching story adapted from Amy Liptrot’s memoir is as tough as its Orkney landscapes but so continually windswept with Atlantic spray that its grass stays short as if naturally tended and so functions metaphorically in various ways healing place for troubled city dwellers; or a place whose restorative quality is an illusion a place every bit as violent and mysteriously destructive as the city; or it could even somehow stand for the actual person who has come there shaped and flattened by forces all but impossible to outrun Read moreIn every shot and every scene Ronan carries the film with her unselfconsciously fierce and focused presence Out-of-control-drunk acting in montage is a difficult thing to bring off – as is the representation of precarious sobriety – but she does it with intelligence and plausibility There is a powerful moment when Rona confesses in her 12-step group that what she mostly feels is a passionate longing for the happiness of being drunk Fingscheidt allows us to register a visually unemphasised row of bottles behind the shopkeeper while Rona is buying food and her blank The Outrun is in UK cinemas from 27 September but what’s it like to see your life turned into a movie A common delusion among the mentally ill is to think they are being played on screen. But for me it is really happening, or I’m pretty sure it is. My memoir of returning to the Orkney islands and recovery from alcoholism has been adapted into a feature film. I watch movie star Saoirse Ronan’s face reflected in her onscreen laptop The character she’s playing is based on me and making this film has been like going through the looking glass I clicked a link and watched Saoirse at the farm where I grew up My toddler son pointed at the screen: “Mummy!” My essence had been recreated authentically enough to fool my child and to confuse and thrill me The next uncanny experience was watching “chemistry zooms” – audition tapes of Saoirse alongside other actors Although she was still speaking in her Irish accent the way she spoke and moved channelled me – my nervous delivery and expressive hands I was freaked out but also immediately reassured by her talent We had only met briefly online but she seemed to have conjured my manner through reading my words – their rhythm and spirit embodied Having the story of your life adapted for cinema is a rare experience but some of the effects it has had on me are amplifications and accelerations of more common processes of memory and sense of identity Time and retelling bring distortions and realisations Saoirse Ronan Amy Liptrot and director Nora Fingscheidt at the premiere of The Outrun during the Edinburgh International Festival in August Photograph: Euan Cherry/Getty ImagesThe project had a long development process I first met dedicated powerhouse producer Sarah Brocklehurst eight years ago There were years of meetings when I thought nothing might happen I had long conversations with supersmart German director Nora Fingscheidt – her in LA me in Yorkshire – co-writing the screenplay We decided to name the main character Rona rather than Amy This gave me some psychological distance and Rona became “she” in our conversations rather than “I” we allowed ourselves to step away from the facts and events of my life and introduce some fictional elements while remaining true to the heart of the story and the realities of the time There is nothing too unlikely or exaggerated just scenes imagined for dramatic purposes although I am close to my real brother and he was a big part of my recovery We created a few fictional moments to solve a central problem of this adaptation: how to make visual what in the book is internal There’s a moment where Rona removes her headphones and lets the sounds of her natural surroundings come in Neither of these things actually happened to me but the emotions and decisions they convey did Nora was extremely clever at taking elements of the book and our conversations and combining them in new thinking only of how to make a good piece of art Occasionally a memory – lines based on a drunken fight I had with a boyfriend 15 years ago – would get me and a real feeling returned: that of knowing I had nowhere to turn but sobriety There was a point in the film’s development where things seemed to happen fast and suddenly the producers were securing investments I was buying apples at the market and getting my sons to put their shoes on A designer made a mood board of the 2009-ish east London party scene: my life as a costume drama I wrote the book alone at the kitchen table of a cottage on the tiny island of Papay and – astonishingly – location managers and directors of photography were searching Orkney for the right farmhouse and fields asking the RSPB for advice on how to film an actor being dive-bombed by Arctic terns Prop designers recreated a drawing described in the book and designed special beer bottles They decided the best location to use was the actual house on Papay The film’s method settled between fact and fiction islanders and actors who had been through rehab who workshopped scenes with a loose script She became not Lady Bird nor Jo March nor Mary Queen of Scots I began to see Rona as a collaboration between me my mind was blown by the daily call sheets – lists of the personnel I had 46 mornings of waking up to an intense link and they were no longer how they are in my memory or readers’ imaginations but a new physical manifestation I visited the set a handful of times and loitered among all the vehicles people in black puffer jackets and hi-vis vests with radios each focused on their task yet working as a group I had a sense of responsibility for the crew dedicating a summer of hard work and also for how the filming was received at home in Orkney I started smoking cigarettes and drinking Coca-Cola like I did 10 years ago I started dreaming about the film every night: that the crew was in my bedroom that I accidentally destroyed reels of film I was at home in Yorkshire doing the school run a big team followed in my footsteps of a decade ago A crew of around 30 filmed on Papay for three weeks increasing the population by half and filling every spare bed on the island in a culture clash described by Papay resident Jim Hewitson as “Beverly Hills came briefly to the isle of Celtic monks” Islanders were employed as runners and extras I travelled to Papay for the last days of the shoot and watched from a distance as Rona walked repeatedly up the beach gathering driftwood recreating my psychological state of a decade ago I had a weird sense I was doing an impression of Saoirse doing an impression of me I was hyper self-conscious of my face and mannerisms After watching a few scenes of this mirror world I decided that Rona is a better version of me than I am: she’s giving a more convincing performance I start to get confused and feel scenes from the film I don’t recall the face of the doctor who referred me to rehab 12 years ago but I can clearly picture the actor playing the part The film starts to replace the real events in my memory I look in the mirror with some disappointment: I’m 10 years older letting things I haven’t written fall away I am confronted by Nora’s strong directorial decision to stay with some of the drunken episodes It is difficult to watch and necessarily so The Outrun is at its heart a story of recovery – I am well beyond this time so it is distant for me the film team was more involved in my alcoholism than I now am I saw how small decisions can do a lot to change emphasis and signpost meaning which I saw as particularly cinematic and suitable for a film adaptation did not make the edit: the part where I ran naked around the Ring of Brodgar and the part where I found a washed-up bottle of vodka they were almost too unbelievable and cheesy I had a weird sense I was doing an impression of Saoirse doing an impression of meAmy LiptrotWhen I step back I think It’s truly the dream – although a dream that is not uncomplicated To have the most dramatic scenes from my life play out one after the other is intense the film concentrates on the family story and sharing these truths comes at an emotional cost something bigger than me: a story of the power of place and community of confronting your past and the elements that made you and the possibility of change.One of the themes of The Outrun is the link between mental illness and addiction and the desire to reach for extremes This film-making process has been another example of these extremes The film is a representation – an adaptation – of a particular time and I am finding a way to maintain my own sense of identity among it all I’m letting go and floating between the co-existing layers knowing I am real and alive and swimming out ahead The Outrun by Amy Liptrot (Canongate Books, £10.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media services and strategic partnerships across the entire electrification value chain Our sustainability strategy integrates environmental responsibility and social engagement to pioneer a sustainable future in electrification we played a central role in providing electrification to the planet We are determined to lead the way towards ab all-electric future Explore our up-to-the-minute news and press releases covering all aspects of our industry and beyond and learn why investing in our innovative cable systems and services can be a game-changer The significant contract includes both the production and the installation of the cable The 220kV high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cable will be largest capacity cable connecting the Orkney Islands to mainland Scotland and will span 53 km offshore and 16 km onshore route in total in Finstown The Orkney Link will exchange up to 220 MW of renewable energy between the islands and the mainland and is a critical step in strengthening the UK power network supplying demand centres in the North of Scotland and beyond with clean energy from one of the world’s greatest resources of renewable electricity which connect two areas of land together with an underwater electrical cable allow for the expansion of electrification and the growth of renewable energy there is an abundance of renewable resources from established and planned onshore wind farms to emergent technologies that harness electrical energy from the oceans and will all support delivery of the UK and Scotland’s Net Zero targets We are looking forward to working on the Orkney Link as it represents a major milestone in connecting remote renewable energy resources to the UK mainland Subsea interconnectors are critical for reliably delivering electricity across the oceans from the places with the greatest supply to those with the greatest demand thereby increasing network resilience and allowing access to reliable energy for consumers We’re delighted to have awarded these crucial contracts to Siemens-BAM JV Nexans and RJ McLeod for the delivery of the Orkney connection project All three have a strong track-record of delivering challenging projects and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with them A new training programme is having a big impact on sport in Orkney ahead of the Island Games in July The capacity of the sporting workforce in Orkney is on the rise thanks to a training programme for coaches and officials ahead of the 2025 Orkney Island Games sportscotland have been working with Orkney Islands Council to support the education and development of coaches and officials for the Island Games and beyond The programme will make sure clubs are well equipped with qualified coaches and officials for years to come and well placed to develop capacity and membership for any increased participation.  The programme has been funded by sportscotland So far there have been 174 participants across 27 different training courses and 10 sports Most of the development opportunities are sport specific with some for all sports Many of those who have been through the programme will be involved in the Orkney 2025 Island Games in some capacity In communities with smaller populations the development of people working in sport is crucial for the long term future of sport in the area Upskilling of coaches and officials in archery swimming and triathlon has been taking place since early last year and will continue in the build up to the Games making sure there is a lasting benefit for sport in Orkney.  The programme is part of a £1million package of investment from sportscotland for sport in Orkney The package has aided preparations for Orkney 2025 helping provide competition venues which will become homes for local sport clubs and the local community for generations Funding to increase staffing at Orkney Community Sports Hub and for athletes was also included Forbes Dunlop: “The upskilling of the sporting workforce in Orkney is something that will be of huge value in the area for years to come Combined with sportscotland’s other investment in Orkney’s sporting infrastructure it will leave sport in the area in a very good place “This programme is part of our ongoing commitment to support sport in Orkney and other rural and island communities across Scotland.”  Paddy Highley is one of the coaches to benefit Paddy coaches the youth section at Kirkwall Thorfinn Football Club which has players from primary one up to S4 while he is also involved with the seniors at Orkney FC He will be part of the coaching team for Orkney’s football team at the Island Games The coaching and official development programme has allowed Paddy to go through three levels of SFA coaching Paddy said: “I’ve really enjoyed going through the courses and feel I’m a better coach now One of the biggest things for me was learning how to approach coaching kids versus what I was used to in working with adults There’s obviously huge differences and I’m better equipped to do both now “It is important in Orkney that we do as much as we can with the resource we have It’s not like the central belt where coaches are far more readily available It’s been brilliant to see so many people able to increase the standard or their coaching through the programme.” The Orkney 2025 International Island Games will take place from 12-18 July 2025 Athletes from 24 island groups will travel to Orkney to take part in what is set to be the largest event ever hosted on the islands It will be the 20th International Island Games and will mark the event’s 40th year This week-long competition will see athletes from up to 24 island groups from across the world compete in 12 sports Gwenda Shearer chairs the Orkney Islands Council committee with responsibility for sport and leisure services in the county: “It’s been incredible to see Orkney’s sporting community rise to the challenge of the Island Games and grasp this opportunity to step up the coaching and officiating expertise available in the county “We’re grateful to sportscotland for recognising early on the huge potential to develop our sporting scene leading up to and beyond the Games and for investing in our people and infrastructure needed  – the benefits of which will be reaped for years to come by our clubs and athletes.” said: “One of the most important legacies of Orkney 2025 will be the lasting impact on sport in our community Thanks to support from sportscotland and Orkney Islands Council this training programme is not only preparing us for a world-class Island Games but also building strong foundations for the future of sport in Orkney “The investment in upskilling coaches and officials will ensure that clubs across the islands continue to thrive long after the Games have ended inspiring more people to take part and keeping the spirit of sport alive for generations to come.”  Subscribe now to receive regular alerts to our best stories The sportscotland and SAMH strategic partnership aims to build understanding confidence and capacity across sport and physical activity communities 91-year-old Ian Hunter reflects on his journey into archery The Supported Modern Apprenticeship programme celebrates the first year of the pioneering programme aiming to increase disability inclusion within the workplace Centuries-old exquisitely crafted weapons owned by Captain James Moodie – known locally for his dramatic murder in Broad Street Kirkwall - have been gifted to the people of Orkney by his modern-day family and have arrived in the county and into the care of Orkney Islands Council’s Museums service The three stunning Ottoman weapons – a sabre and scabbard and a dagger and sheath - date from the 1600s Images here are courtesy of Bloomsbury Historical Consultancy They were a diplomatic gift to Captain Moodie Aesthetically stunning and featuring superb quality craftsmanship and precious materials these weapons are believed to be items left behind in Austria and the Balkans by retreating Ottoman armies from around 1683 and into the first two decades of the 1700s Completing the collection is an autographed letter from the Archduke (who later became Emperor Charles VI Moodie to Queen Anne for his actions during the siege on the Archduke’s home city Denia and a portrait of Captain Moodie - by family tradition attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller but now thought to be possibly by Thomas Murray Described by researchers as ‘without parallel’ in any British museum the artefacts portray the achievements of a local Orkney family at the centre of pivotal moments in British and European history at a time of the British Empire the items moved to South Africa when Benjamin Moodie emigrated there in 1817 They then went back to the UK with Colonel George Pigot-Moodie of the Scots Greys then to Rhodesia with him to return to South Africa to General Graham Moodie more than 300 years after they were presented to Capt they have returned to Orkney as part of a wider collection known as ‘The Moodie Treasures’ James Moodie was an accomplished and enigmatic Orcadian who gained recognition in Europe as a Commodore in the Royal Navy Moodie’s naval career spanned more than five decades and was forged against the backdrop of power struggles throughout Europe – including a growing Christian alliance throughout Europe and tensions between Catholic and Protestant monarchs and peoples In June 1707 and during the War of the Spanish Succession Capt Moodie supported a small garrison against 9,000 French troops who had besieged Dénia At Moodie’s intervention the attackers were forced back The siege broke after 27 days - earning Capt Moodie the letter of commendation to Queen Anne which forms part of the Moodie Treasures Moodie brought that fighting spirit and stubbornness to his home ground – Melsetter House in Hoy In the Royal Navy supporting the Hanoverian Monarch he become embroiled in a family feud with Sir James Stewart from Burray whose Jacobite tendencies pitted him against the now retired and elderly Captain Around 2pm in the afternoon of 26 October 1725 outside Baillie Fea’s house in Broad St in Kirkwall Captain Moodie was shot in the chest at close range He was on his way to renew his appointment as Justice of the Peace – against the advice of many who knew the Stewarts were out for revenge for punishment Moodie had dispensed to a Stewart who had trespassed and shot wildfowl on his land Eighteen witnesses concurred that Sir James Stewart had commanded Moodie be fired upon “The Hanoverian dog still stands.”  No-one was detained or brought to court for the attack Moodie passed away days later from his wounds To date there has only been a pair of spectacles Moodie had on his person at the time of his attack in Kirkwall on display in The Orkney Museum The return to Orkney of The Moodie Treasures is the result of a concerted efforts over many years by the Council’s Museums team to secure the artefacts on behalf of the county the family has offered the artefacts for sale as a complete collection on a number of occasions the Council’s Museums team has attempted to raise the necessary funds to purchase the collection and bring it to Orkney acting either on its own or in partnership with partners such as Stromness Museum and The National Museum of the Royal Navy the extremely high valuation and the controversial nature of imperial history repeatedly thwarted success the family offered the collection to Orkney one more time – as a donation All that was requested was that the costs of transporting the collection to Orkney be covered said: “We’re very fortunate that throughout the years the Moodie family have always maintained a strong commitment to keep the collection together “Consistently faced with the choice of breaking the valuable collection up for sale on the open market or keeping it together and essentially gifting it to Orkney The Museum service - and in turn I’m sure the Orkney community - is profoundly grateful “Upon receiving the offer and against very tight deadlines our Museums team leapt into action and built a successful case to external funders to help with the costs of transporting this important collection back to Orkney – the result being people can expect to be able to view these items in all their splendour Nick Hewitt is Culture Team Manager for the Council: “We're all absolutely thrilled to be in this position From almost giving up any hope of acquiring this collection to now have welcomed specialist fine art movers carrying the artefacts here to Orkney is simply wondrous – we're still pinching ourselves!” The voyage home of the Moodie Treasures has been made possible with financial support from the Robertson Ness Trust (£2,000) the Museums Association Beecroft Bequest (£9,500) the National Fund for Acquisitions (£2,164) and the Orkney Heritage Society (£500) along with support in kind from Northlink and the Council's Marine Services Nick adds: “The intention is for the collection to be on display to the people of Orkney from May 2025 - following the necessary conservation assessments and the production of a display worthy of this spectacular acquisition.”  administered with Scottish Government funding by National Museums Scotland contributes towards the acquisition of objects for the collections of museums specialist libraries and archives throughout Scotland the NFA made 52 payments with a total value of £209,330 enabling 29 collections across Scotland to make acquisitions worth over £530,000 Find out more about the work of the National Fund for Acquisitions on our webpage:   https://www.nms.ac.uk/our-impact/national-work/national-fund-for-acquisitions  An additional 340 illegal miners have resurfaced from the depths of abandoned mines in Orkney This brings the total number of miners who have emerged to 565 following intensified operations by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) under Operation Vala Umgodi National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the latest figures stating that the miners resurfaced due to severe malnutrition and dehydration The SAPS and SANDF have been actively blocking routes traditionally used to supply food and necessities to these illegal miners effectively cutting off their support systems “We are closely monitoring the situation that is unfolding in the North West province We are not backing down until all those illegal miners resurface and are arrested.”  The recent surge in illegal mining activities in Orkney has raised significant concerns four SANDF soldiers died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while on duty as part of Operation Vala Umgodi They were stationed at a dormant mining shaft near the disused Harry Oppenheimer Stadium The SAPS has reported that since the inception of Operation Vala Umgodi in December 2023 over 13,691 suspects have been arrested across seven provinces identified as hotspots for illegal mining authorities have seized R5 million in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32 million The resurfacing of these miners underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating illegal mining continuing to monitor abandoned mine shafts to ensure that all illegal miners are brought to justice Central News Weekly Edition 080 | Download the Latest weekly Edition | Top Story: “Premier Lesufi refutes News24 report claiming he leads ‘Better Government’ than Ramaphosa’s administration” Read all our publications on magzter:  Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content,  Podcasts  To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements 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