In 1918, to celebrate the end of hostilities in the First World War, Bassett’s sweet manufacturers brought out a new jellied sweet called Peace Babies. Production ceased during the Second World War, and when they were relaunched in 1953 after the end of rationing, they were renamed Jelly Babies.

Not an Orkney fact, but brought to mind after the death of Harry Patch, the last Tommy.

Mount Everest was climbed before the Old Man of Hoy! This 450ft sea stack off the Orkney island of Hoy was scaled in 1966 by Chris Bonnington, Tom Patey and Rusty Baillie. It took three days to get to the top, and the wooden wedges they hammered in are still firmly in place. Edmund Hillary and Tezing Norgay reached the summit of Everest in 1953.

Orkney sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea and is subjected to the turbulence of both! There are thought to be more than 5,000 shipwrecks in Orkney waters, victims of tide races, whirlpools, strong currents and treacherous skerries. (more…)

The shortest ‘A’ road in Britain is in Orkney. It is the A963 and is better known as Castle Street in Kirkwall. Yet another reason to visit!

Saturday, May 17, is Norwegian Constitution Day! As Orkney used to be in Norway, we celebrate the occasion here with a parade known as a tog, concerts, speeches and dinners. Lots of Norwegian folk come dressed in national costume. Skal!

The Vikings in Orkney gave really obvious names to things! Hoy = High Island, Flotta = Flat Island, Sanday = Sandy Island.

Say what you see, folks!