Orkney Islands Travel Tips, Lore and News

Orkneyology.com is your online Orkney travel guide - with stories!

Let Orcadian storyteller Tom Muir and his American wife, Rhonda, help you find your best experience of Orkney.

Orkney Updates is like a helpful broonie. Find our latest articles, Orkney Islands travel tips, Orkney lore and news. Orkneyology.com is your online Orkney travel guide with stories!

We'd love to help you get carried away in Orkney.

Orkneyology Press - Indie Publishers in Scotland's Orkney Islands

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Orkneyology Press is an indie press based in Scotland's inspiring Orkney Islands. Tom and Rhonda Muir (Orkneyology.com) promise exciting, unusual niche titles.

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Orkney Storytelliung Festival 2023 Tickets

Orkney Storytelling Festival 2023: tickets go on sale on our website October 1st! https://rebrand.ly/lrldc

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Edinburgh Storyteller David Campbell Book Launch

David's two new books are being launched in Edinburgh on Thursday! Poems 1960-2020, published by our friends at Main Point Books, and Story Harvest, published by our own Orkneyology Press. Book free tickets to attend here: rebrand.ly/i2kf1en

If you can't make the launch, order David's wonderful Story Harvest here: https://rebrand.ly/d8qwmk9

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David Campbell's Story Harvest to be Published by Orkneyology Press

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David Campbell, Edinburgh native and beloved Scottish storyteller, shares favorite stories and folk tales gleaned from a lifetime of travels and storytelling.

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Edinburgh Storyteller David Campbell's Latest Book with Orkneyology Press

Tom and Rhonda Muir are thrilled to announce the next book from our Orkneyology Press. Edinburgh's dashing and much-loved storyteller David Campbell offers his favourite stories from Scotland and around the world in Story Harvest, including the bonus of professional tips for burgeoning storytellers! The book is available from our online shop in hardcover for £18.99 here: https://rebrand.ly/ihnt1xh and in paperback for £12.99 here: https://rebrand.ly/zf88m0f

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Visit Scotland's Museums On New App

Be inspired every day

Find things you love and discover remarkable stories, with recommended content from the world’s greatest collections.

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Folklore from the Enchanted Orkney Island of Eynhallow

Listen to a traditional Orkney story telling how the Finfolk lost the magical isle of Eynhallow, told by native Orcadian storyteller Tom Muir, and set to images taken on the rarely-visited island of Eynhallow.

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Sailing Scottish Islands with Adventure Canada

Get a wee taste of some of the Scottish islands with this personal travel video, recorded in June 2023 when Tom and Rhonda Muir of Scotland's Orkney Islands travelled on a small, friendly, socially aware, culturally sensitive, family-run adventure cruise with the good folks at Adventure Canada.

I (Rhonda) recorded this just to show to our family, but you might enjoy it too, as we went places that aren't that easy to get to. You'll see snippets of our visits to: Hirta, St Kilda; Islay; Fair Isle; Foula; Kirkwall and Hoy, Orkney; Stornoway, Lewis; Iona; Skye, Staffa and more ... and puffins! We hope you enjoy this peedie Scottish island escape.

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Orcadian Historian Tom Muir's Talk on John Rae

Tom recently sailed on the Ocean Endeavour with the wonderful folk at Adventure Canada. Please enjoy this recording of a talk he gave onboard about arctic explorer John Rae.

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Hear Tom Muir's Walter Traill Dennison Talk in Sanday, Orkney

Fans of Orkney Islands history and folklore will enjoy this recording of a talk Tom Muir gave in Sanday last weekend on the Orkney folklorist Walter Traill Dennison.

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Tom Muir Goes to Budapest!

Here's a little behind-the-scenes peek for our buddos and all our supporters: clips from our trip to Budapest, Hungary, for the International Theatre Olympics. Karinthy Theatre in Budapest hosted their very first storytelling festival, to which Tom was honored to be invited. And what a hoot watching Tom and his Hungarian-Scottish interpreter, Mark Alan Wodala, performing together! We hope you enjoy these clips.

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25th anniversary edition of Tom Muir's Orkney Folk Tales, The Mermaid Bride

The long-awaited 25th-anniversary edition of The Mermaid Bride and other Orkney folk tales is out! With new stories and illustrations added, this book is a real bargain. Believe it or not, it's still at the original price. Buy it at your local bookstore or online. https://rebrand.ly/18sx5z0

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Sneak peek for buddos!

We've shared a sneak peek from Tom's upcoming book, Scottish Folktales of Coast & Sea, on our Ko-fi page, exclusive to all our buddos (supporters). Thank you! https://ko-fi.com/orkneyology

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Enjoy a night of Orkney and Scotland Coastal Stories from Tom Muir Free!

Tom recently had a lovely night spinning a few yarns for an online audience which, fortunately, was recorded for you to enjoy ... so enjoy!

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Shonaleigh Cumbers ~ Garment for the Moon, Jewish Wonder Tales

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Shonaleigh Cumbers is a storyteller of rare giftedness and is possibly the last surviving Drut’syla, female tradition-bearer of traditional Jewish story cycles.

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Moving to Orkney - the update!

Alison and Alastair of Where Can I Live, a website filled with moving-abroad tips, asked me for an update on life in Orkney as a US expat. You can read it here: https://wherecani.live/blog/view/moving-to-the-uk-and-the-orkney-islands/

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A Seaside Winter Orkney Walk ~ A Slow and Relaxing Nature Walk in Orphir, Orkney Islands, Scotland

Relax to a slow, meditative winter nature walk starting at the Viking era Round Kirk, Orphir, Orkney Islands, Scotland. For once, it wasn't a blustery day! Very unusual for January in Orkney. My tiny camera's audio isn't the best, but you'll see beautiful coastal Orkney nature scenes. Enjoy a rest now, a virtual pilgrimage, or think about planning your own Orkney Islands walks. Get a cup of something delectable and steamy, relax for half an hour and sink into calming Orkney natural beauty.

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Ola Gorie blog - Bryce Wilson's Orcadian Odyssey

A lovely tribute to Bryce Wilson and his new book from our friends at Ola Gorie Jewellery.

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An Orkney Walk: a Slow Wander at Yesnaby

Relax to a slow, meditative winter nature walk at the cliffs of Yesnaby. I got rained out by a persistent, cold drizzle - hardly surprising for Orkney in winter. I did get to the Broch of Borwick for a wee explore, though. Enjoy this virtual wander. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAhgdHiRjvs

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Contemplate a Quiet Winter Walk in Stromness, Orkney

Enjoy a restful walking pilgrimage - a slow, meditative winter nature walk around the back side of Stromness in Scotland's Orkney Islands, January, 2023. It was a bit of a windy day, so you'll hear lots of authentic Orkney wind! Get a cup of tea and enjoy a few calming minutes of quiet Orkney natural beauty. The poem I was reading at the end is by Robert Frost, a wonderful American poet of proud Orcadian descent.

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Mermaid image (Rhonda's pages) and storyteller image (Tom's pages), and all other illustrations except where noted are here by the courtesy of our dear friend - Stromness author, artist and historian, Bryce Wilson MBE, who owns all copyrights. Thanks, Bryce!