Kirkwall is the largest town in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland. The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvágr, which later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and Kirkwall. Kirkwall was formerly the site of an ancient Norse town founded approximately 1000 years ago.
When we got to land, we met up with my brother Mark and headed to St. Magnus Cathedral. St Magnus Cathedral dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is the oldest cathedral in Scotland, and the most northerly cathedral in the United Kingdom, a fine example of Romanesque architecture built for the bishops of Orkney when the islands were ruled by the Norse Earls of Orkney. Construction began in 1137, and it was added to over the next 300 years.
Next to St Magnus Cathedral is the ruins of Bishop’s & Earl’s Palace which built around the same time as St Magnus Cathedral, in the early 1100s.
Our next stop was the Orkney Museum, where we saw historical artefacts like Viking helms and photos of ancient cairns.
We also stopped at local grocery store and got candy, fudge, and crackers for the kids that were made in Kirkwall.
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