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Kirkwall (Scots: Kirkwa, Kirkwaa, or Kirkwal; Norn: Kirkavå) is the largest town in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland. There is no history of Gaelic in Orkney. The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvágr ("Church Bay"), which later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and Kirkwall. Kirkwall was formerly the site of an ...
Kirkwall is a bustling, busy town, but it's one with a historic centre full of character. Officially a Royal Burgh since 1486, Kirkwall’s name comes from the Norse ‘Kirkjuvagr’, meaning ‘Church on the bay’, and a Viking spirit still runs through the town, focused on the magnificent St Magnus Cathedral.
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Kirkwall (from the Norse ‘Kirkjuvagr’, meaning ‘Church on the bay’) is Orkney’s largest town, founded by Viking settlers over 1,000 years ago. The town is full of independent shops including abundant locally made arts, crafts and textiles.
Overview. Centuries before Orkney joined Scotland, Kirkwall was a bustling Norwegian port. Discover the town’s oldest surviving domestic building – part of the medieval cathedral complex at its heart. Along with St Magnus Cathedral itself, the Bishop’s Palace is one of the best-preserved buildings from this era.
Uncover the history of the Bishop’s Palace – Norse Scotland’s only episcopal palace and the place where Haakon IV died – and the Renaissance Earl’s Palace.
Kirkwall is the chief town of the Orkney Islands, which lie off the north tip of mainland Scotland. With a population of about 10,000 in 2020, Kirkwall has accommodation and other amenities and is the obvious base for exploring these islands.
The Kirkwall Scroll is a hand-painted floor cloth depicting a myriad of symbolism – Masonic and otherwise. It hangs on the west wall of the temple of Lodge Kirkwall Kilwinning No. 38(2) in Orkney , Scotland, but at 18ft 6in long and 5ft 6in wide it is too large to be displayed fully and is stored in scroll form.
