Orkney
Orkney is an island chain in the Northern Isles of Scotland. It is situated 10 miles north of the coast of Caithness and is composed of 70 islands, of which 20 have settlements. The archipelago 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 extensive administrative centre. Orkney constitutes one of the 32 council regions of Scotland, as well as being a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, a lieutenancy area and an one-time county. The local council is Orkney Islands Council, being one out of 3 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 characteristic of all the islands is the presence of Old Red Sandstone. With a moderate climate and considerably fertile soil, farming continues to be the most considerable portion of the economy. Exportation of beef, cheese, whisky, beer and fish also continues to have a role in the economy, however there has been an increase in areas like retail, representing 17 per cent of overall work. Raising in importance are the wind and marine energy sources, and the island produces more than its yearly electrical energy requirement through these techniques. In accordance with the 2011 census, Orkney has a population of 20100, growing 11 per cent from the 2001 census. A wide range of festivals occur on the islands which entice great deals of residents and locals, for example the Orkney International Science Festival and the St. Magnus International Arts Festival occurring each year in June. For all your home upgrades, make sure to make use of reputable contractors in Orkney to make certain of quality.
