Orkney

“An unusual combination of illustrated guidebook and in-depth narrative” on the hidden treasures of these islands just north of Scotland ( Scots Magazine ).   An archipelago twenty miles north of mainland Scotland, Orkney for many centuries had a culture more Scandinavian than Scottish. Strong westerly winds account for both its scarcity of trees and its tradition of well-constructed stone structures, and as a result, the islands boast a large number of exceptionally well-preserved remains