"the big city" Kirkwall by iaint

Kirkwall is the largest town on the islands - so the centre of attention.

The main feature is the historic cathedral - tip to follow.

It has a busy little pedestrianised main street - so narrow that banning cars was probably the only option.

The harbour is also a busy spot, with ferries to the mainland, Shetland and some of the north islands of Orkney. Then there's fishing and the marina.

My Orkney tips are spread over the Stromness, Burray, S Ronaldsay & Lamb Holm pages - check them out if you're thinking of a trip.

• Pros:the best of the shopping
• Cons:bigger & not so charming as Stromness
• In a nutshell:go check it out