Orkney travel guide. Holiday tips and expert advice for the Mainland, Hoy, Graemsay, Flotta, Burray, South Ronaldsay, Rousay, Egilsay, Wyre, Shapinsay, Sanday, Stronsay, Eday, Westray, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay. Plus Skara Brae, Old Man of Hoy, Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe, Scapa Flow, wildlife, beaches, walking, genealogy and archaeology.

Mark Rowe (markrowe.eu) is a journalist and author specialising in travel, the great outdoors, wildlife and the environment. A former staff writer for the Independent, he writes for national newspapers and magazines, is dossiers editor at Geographical and author of the 'Behind The Headlines' column for BBC Countryfile. Since his first trip in 1988, Rowe has visited Orkney over 20 times and has travelled widely across the island archipelago, camping on moorland, kayaking and birdwatching. His favourite experiences there include emerging from Sanday's sea mist onto dunes at Cata Sands and watching gannets fly past at arm's length on Westray. Rowe is the author of Bradt's best-selling Outer Hebrides, which was reprinted inside three months, and Slow Travel: Isle of Wight. Although currently living in Bristol, he remains optimistic that he will one day finally persuade his wife and three children to relocate to a Scottish island.