Orkney is an island chain in the Northern Isles of Scotland. It is situated 10 miles north of the coast of Caithness and includes 70 islands, of which 20 have settlements. The island chain has a total area of 523 square miles, meaning that it is the 6th largest Scottish island and the tenth largest island in the UK. Kirkwall is Orkney's most substantial administrative centre. Orkney comprises one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, alongside being a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, a lieutenancy area and a former county. The regional council is Orkney Islands Council, being one out of three councils in Scotland that have a majority of elected members who are independents. Most of the islands are divided into two groups, the North and South Isles, and a feature of all the islands is the presence of Old Red Sandstone. With a mild climate and remarkably fertile soil, farming remains to be the most considerable area of the economy. Exportation of beef, cheese, whisky, beer and fish additionally continues to have a part in the economy, however there has actually been an increase in areas such as retail, making up 17 per cent of overall employment. Growing in prominence are the wind and marine energy sources, and the island produces in excess of its yearly electricity requirement through these techniques. In accordance with the 2011 census, Orkney has a population of 20100, growing 11 percent since the 2001 census. A range of festivals occur on the islands which entice great deals of locals and residents, including the Orkney International Science Festival and the St. Magnus International Arts Festival occurring each year in June. For all of your house upgrades, make sure to make use of reliable professionals in Orkney to make certain of quality.