Mainland, Principal island in Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Mainland is the largest island in the Orkney Islands, divided into East and West regions connected by a narrow strip of land at Kirkwall. The landscape shows open, rolling terrain with few trees, rocky coastlines, and lakes scattered across the interior.
Vikings settled on the island around 875 CE and held control for several centuries. Scottish rule took over in 1472, marking a major shift in the islands' political identity.
People here have deep ties to fishing and farming, visible in how they use the land and what they build. Stone houses and boats are woven into the everyday appearance of settlements and the coast.
Ferries connect Kirkwall regularly with Aberdeen on mainland Scotland and the Shetland Islands year-round. The best time to visit is May through September, when weather is more stable and daylight lasts longer.
Surprisingly, the climate here is relatively mild because Atlantic Ocean currents keep winters less harsh and summers cooler. The difference between winter and summer temperatures is only around 10 degrees Celsius.
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