October 2005
ORKNEY INTER-ISLAND
By Allan Lowson
The Ring of Brodgar – copyright Internet Guide to Scotland
“Beyond Britannia, where the endless ocean opens, lies Orkney”
Orosius, fifth century AD
The Orkney
Islands Inter-island
The Orkney Islands lie just
to the north of mainland
Orkney's administrative
capital is
The climate of
Orkney is quite temperate for such a northerly
latitude, but the winds and sea currents can be ferocious. Because of this, there
has been support for an air service from the time of the earliest aviation
links to the mainland.
The first inter-island
service was provided by Highland Airways in 1934 using Monospar and DH-84
Dragon aircraft. Scottish Airways was formed on 12 August 1937 after a merger
between Highland Airways, Northern Airways and Scottish Motor Traction Company.
During WWII the service was
provided by Scottish Airways using DH-89 Dragon Rapide aircraft.
Currently Loganair operate
the service on behalf of the Orkney Islands Council. Loganair also operate the
air services which link Orkney to the Scottish mainland and the Shetlands to
the North.
Timetables
A Loganair DHC-6
provides the Orkney Islands Council air services between
Monday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0910 |
1015 |
1115 |
1500 |
1555 |
1650 |
|
Sanday
arr. |
EGES |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1700 |
|
Sanday
dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
|
EGEN |
0830 |
-- |
-- |
1130 |
1515 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
0837 |
-- |
-- |
1137 |
1522 |
-- |
-- |
|
Stronsay
arr. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1712 |
|
Stronsay
dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1718 |
|
Westray
arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
0922 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray
dep. |
|
-- |
0929 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Papa Westray arr. |
EGEP |
-- |
0931 |
-- |
1145 |
-- |
1607 |
-- |
|
Papa Westray dep. |
|
-- |
0938 |
-- |
1152 |
-- |
1614 |
-- |
|
Stronsay
arr. |
|
-- |
-- |
1023 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Stronsay
dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1030 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday
arr. |
EGES |
-- |
-- |
1035 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday
dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1042 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray
arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1616 |
-- |
|
Westray
dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1623 |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0852 |
0950 |
1052 |
1205 |
1537 |
1635 |
1727 |
Tuesday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0910 |
1010 |
1450 |
1545 |
1645 |
|
Sanday arr. |
EGES |
-- |
0921 |
-- |
-- |
1556 |
-- |
|
Sanday dep. |
|
-- |
0928 |
-- |
-- |
1603 |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
-- |
-- |
1025 |
-- |
-- |
1700 |
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
1032 |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
Stronsay arr. |
|
-- |
0933 |
-- |
-- |
1608 |
-- |
|
Stronsay dep. |
|
-- |
0940 |
-- |
-- |
1615 |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
0827 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
0834 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Papa Westray arr. |
EGEP |
0836 |
-- |
-- |
1502 |
-- |
-- |
|
Papa Westray dep. |
|
0843 |
-- |
-- |
1509 |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1511 |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
1518 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0855 |
0948 |
1047 |
1530 |
1623 |
1722 |
Wednesday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0915 |
1015 |
1215 |
1445 |
1545 |
1645 |
|
Eday arr. |
EGED |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1653 |
|
Eday dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1650 |
|
Sanday arr. |
EGES |
0826 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday dep. |
|
0833 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
0838 |
-- |
-- |
1230 |
1500 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
0845 |
-- |
-- |
1237 |
1507 |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
0927 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1557 |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
0934 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1604 |
-- |
|
Papa Westray arr. |
EGEP |
-- |
-- |
1027 |
1245 |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
Papa Westray dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1034 |
1252 |
-- |
-- |
1714 |
|
Sanday arr. |
EGES |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1512 |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1519 |
-- |
-- |
|
Stronsay arr. |
|
-- |
0943 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1613 |
-- |
|
Stronsay dep. |
|
-- |
0950 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1620 |
-- |
|
Eday arr. |
EGED |
-- |
-- |
1041 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Eday dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1048 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0900 |
0958 |
1056 |
1305 |
1530 |
1628 |
1726 |
Thursday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0910 |
1010 |
1345 |
1450 |
1545 |
1645 |
|
Sanday arr. |
EGES |
-- |
0921 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1556 |
-- |
|
Sanday dep. |
|
-- |
0928 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1603 |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
-- |
-- |
1025 |
1400 |
-- |
-- |
1700 |
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
1032 |
1407 |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
Stronsay arr. |
|
-- |
0933 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1608 |
-- |
|
Stronsay dep. |
|
-- |
0940 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1615 |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
0827 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
0834 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Papa Westray arr. |
EGEP |
0836 |
-- |
-- |
1415 |
1502 |
-- |
-- |
|
Papa Westray dep. |
|
0843 |
-- |
-- |
1422 |
1509 |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1511 |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1518 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0855 |
0948 |
1047 |
1435 |
1530 |
1623 |
1722 |
Friday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0815 |
0910 |
1010 |
1345 |
1450 |
1545 |
1645 |
|
Sanday arr. |
EGES |
0826 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1501 |
-- |
-- |
|
Sanday dep. |
|
0833 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1508 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
-- |
-- |
1025 |
1400 |
-- |
-- |
1700 |
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
1032 |
1407 |
-- |
-- |
1707 |
|
Stronsay arr. |
|
0838 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1513 |
-- |
-- |
|
Stronsay dep. |
|
0845 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1520 |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
0922 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
0929 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Papa Westray arr. |
EGEP |
-- |
0931 |
-- |
1415 |
-- |
1557 |
-- |
|
Papa Westray dep. |
|
-- |
0938 |
-- |
1422 |
-- |
1604 |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1606 |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1613 |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
0853 |
0950 |
1047 |
1435 |
1528 |
1625 |
1722 |
Saturday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
0900 |
1000 |
1430 |
1530 |
1635 |
|
Sanday arr. |
EGES |
0911 |
-- |
-- |
1541 |
-- |
|
Sanday dep. |
|
0916 |
-- |
-- |
1546 |
-- |
|
|
EGEN |
0921 |
-- |
1445 |
1551 |
-- |
|
|
|
0927 |
-- |
1502 |
1556 |
-- |
|
Stronsay arr. |
|
0934 |
-- |
-- |
1604 |
-- |
|
Stronsay dep. |
|
0940 |
-- |
-- |
1609 |
-- |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
1012 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
1017 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Papa Westray arr. |
EGEP |
-- |
1019 |
-- |
-- |
1647 |
|
Papa Westray dep. |
|
-- |
1024 |
-- |
-- |
1654 |
|
Westray arr. |
EGEW |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1656 |
|
Westray dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1702 |
|
|
EGPA |
0947 |
1036 |
1517 |
1617 |
1714 |
Sunday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EGPA |
1000 |
1245 |
1350 |
1600 |
|
|
EGEN |
1015 |
1300 |
-- |
1615 |
|
|
|
1022 |
1307 |
-- |
1622 |
|
Papa Westray arr. |
EGEP |
-- |
-- |
1402 |
-- |
|
Papa Westray dep. |
|
-- |
-- |
1409 |
-- |
|
|
EGPA |
1037 |
1322 |
1421 |
1637 |
Orkney History
Don’t just hop round the airfields, check out some of the local sights and heritage.
Viking settlers
comprehensively occupied Orkney, and the islands became a possession of
Rich in ancient sites, the
Orkneys have remains of prehistoric villages, stone circles and tombs.
Among these is Skara Brae, a Neolithic village more ancient than the
Pyramids. This is a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site. The ten houses that
can be seen today were occupied from about 3100 to 2500 BC. Over the centuries
it was covered with sand and remained untouched until a winter storm blew up in
1850, bringing the Stone Age into the modern era.
The Ring of Brodgar stone
circle has been dated to at least 1560 BC. Even though today only thirty-six
stones remain out of the original sixty, the size of the site is breathtaking.
Set on a promontory between the Lochs of Harray and Stenness, the circle is exactly 125 Megalithic yards across
(just over 100 metres).
The Mainland also includes
the site of the major naval base of
If all this culture has
developed your thirst, you could always pop over to the Highland Park
Distillery, the northern-most Scotch Whisky distillery
at www.highlandpark.co.uk
The Orcadians
are great craftspeople, with a strong tradition of jewellery making as well as
fine knitwear, weaving and pottery. More information on the Orcadians, their
history and culture can be found at the links below.
Skara Brae
- copyright Internet Guide to Scotland
The Northern Isles
Eday
Along with prehistoric sites
such as the Seter Stone and the Vinquoy
Cairn be sure to visit Carrick House, the place where John Gow,
Check out the Eday School Community website at http://www.eday.org.uk/
The most
northerly island in Orkney. A unique feature is the drystone
sheep dyke that surrounds the island. This keeps the unique
The original 1789 lighthouse
is still standing and was the third lighthouse built in
Sanday
Home of Viking
burial grounds and broch sites, plus the Quoyness chambered tomb dating from around 2900 BC. Also
home to the
Stronsay
You will see a photo of the airfield,
together with other island information, at www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stronsay/stronsay
You will find details of the
Stronsay Beast at www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/seabeasts.htm
, and if the link doesn’t awaken your curiosity – shame on you.
Westray
The ongoing excavation at Quoygrew on the island is becoming one of the most extensive
explorations of a Viking Age and medieval settlement in
Papa
Westray
The two oblong stone built
houses at Knap of Howar, preserved by wind blown sand
are the earliest North European dwellings known, dating back to 3800 years BC.
Check out the Papa Westray website at http://www.papawestray.co.uk/papay/pw_official2.html
Map
The clearest map for the
islands showing the airfield locations can be found on Joanne
Mackenzie-Winters’ site at http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/orkney.htm
Links
Apart from those
mentioned above check out :
Internet Guide to
Scotland
Joanne
Mackenzie-Winters has been particularly helpful in providing information and
permission to use pictures and her pages on Orkney can be found at:
http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/orkney.htm
Loganair
A brief history
of the company and details of current services can be found at
:
Orkneyjar
This site gives
information on the heritage of the
Wikipidia
The
internet free encyclopaedia
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Orkney_Islands"
Escape
to the Edge
A website dedicated to
travel to the
www.escapetotheedge.co.uk/orkney.html
is specific to this feature.
Aircraft
General Aircraft Monospar
The first aircraft used to
provide a link between the Islands and mainland
de Havilland DH89
Dragon Rapide
During the war years the
inter-island service was provided by Scottish Airways using a DH-89 Dragon
Rapide. Just such an aircraft is available as fs9-dh89.zip from
www.avsim.com and www.flightsim.com
Both these sites generally
host the files listed here, unless stated otherwise.
Even thought the timetable
above is for modern turbo-prop aircraft, the DH-89 will only be a couple of
minutes behind on even the longest legs. Granted they are only 15 minutes long!
Beechcraft D-18
Loganair took up
the inter-island service and one of the aircraft used was the Beech D-18. There
is a texture file available for the Loganair D-18 currently on display at the
Britten-Norman Islander
Loganair used the
Britten-Norman Islander for the inter-island service and still use it for the
Scottish Air Ambulance service to the islands. The base aircraft is available
from Marcel Kuhnt’s website http://www.m-r-software.de/. A Loganair
texture set has been produced by Mark ‘Dark Moments’
de Havilland Canada
DHC-6
The DHC-6 is the current aircraft
used by Loganair on the inter-island service. For those who have gone over to
the dark side of paraffin burners, there is a Loganair texture file. This is
d6logan4.zip and this requires the base file d6skybus.zip. Well at least it is
still a de Havilland and foregoes the fancy city slicker nonsense of
retractable under-carriages.