Food Standards Scotland and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are advising consumers and food businesses not to eat, sell or distribute eggs originating from Yasensvit Ltd, Kyiv, Ukraine after Salmonella was identified in the product. The affected eggs are stamped with the code 3UA1012066 and may have been supplied to catering businesses or sold through […]

By Bernie Bell. I remember the demonstrations against the Poll Tax. And before that, there was the Window Tax. I‘m dipping into a book entitled ‘Kilmactigue Parish: History & Memories’ – Kilmactigue being my parent’s home parish in Ireland – and read the following account of the Hearth Tax… “Hearth Money Rolls, Sligo, Kilmacteige 1665 […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 11 October : The odd light shower will be possible at first, most likely for Shetland. Otherwise it will be a dry day with bright or sunny spells and light winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C. Tonight: It will stay dry through the evening and overnight with clear spells. Light winds […]

On 11 October 1899 the Boer Republics (South African Republic and Orange Free State) declared war on the British Empire. The war continued until 31 May 1902 with the defeat of the Boers. The Boers used guerrilla hit and run tactics but Britain pursued a scorch earth policy. Britain also instigated the use of something […]

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law. The Norwegian Nobel Committee described the award, ” to a person who with exceptional courage and integrity has led the way towards a more comprehensive global legal order. This year’s […]

The Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868, 29 May 1868, put an end to public executions for murder in the United Kingdom. Public executions had become notorious for the grotesque behaviour of those who went along to spend the day attending the ‘fair-ground’ atmosphere that accompanied the spectacle. In the US of 2026 it is now […]

Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from 9 to 15 October. Financial support is available in Scotland for families that already receive qualifying benefits if they have experienced a stillbirth or have lost their baby after being born. Rowena Pailing, Director of Bereavement Support Services, Community and Volunteering, Sands commented: “Baby loss has a huge emotional […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 10 October : Another day of bright or sunny intervals and occasional showers, some on the heavy side. Lighter winds for Shetland, a fresh west to northwesterly over Orkney. Maximum temperature 11 °C. Tonight: Clear spells and a few light showers in the evening. It will become mostly dry overnight […]

Excavations in Orkney have revealed the remains of aurochs in Neolithic settlements. With a shoulder height of up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) in bulls and 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) in cows, it had massive elongated and broad horns that reached 80 cm (31 in) in length. Aurochs, the predecessor to domestic cows, are now extinct. Their final disappearance […]

By Bernie Bell. Next…the cinema Various sports were organized but having a cinema built, at considerable expense, shows how important keeping up morale was. It was open to the public as well as the Services, and was called the ‘Orcadia Cinema’. It was also used as a dance hall and theatre where, under the auspices […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 9 October : A wet start to the day with some heavy rain, soon brightening up to sunshine and scattered showers over Orkney, then Shetland brightening in afternoon. Strong southeasterly winds at first over Shetland, veering westerly and easing somewhat as it brightens. Maximum temperature 12 °C. Tonight: There will […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 8 October : A few scattered early showers, otherwise dry with some good spells of sunshine during the morning and early afternoon. High cloud will then increase from the southwest. Moderate northerly winds becoming light and variable. Maximum temperature 11 °C. Tonight: Shetland staying dry this evening. Some patchy rain […]

There have been awards of funding for Orkney out of the latest grants from The Marine Fund Scotland 2026-27. Fisheries Management Scotland in Orkney have been awarded the total cost of their project, £94,217. 36. The project is the ‘Development of a national platform for automated fish monitoring using sonar’. Description : This project will […]

The results of Butterfly Conservation’s 2026 Big Butterfly Count have revealed it was a great summer for butterflies, but what comes next could be dire. Butterfly Conservation Head of Science Professor Richard Fox said: “This has been one of the hottest, driest summers on record, and the figures certainly suggest that was good news for […]

By Ian Cooper, from his excellent series Records of a Bygone Age, first published in The Stronsay Limpet and republished here with kind permission. On 17 March 1969, Orkney faced one of the darkest days in its long maritime history. While responding to a rescue call, the Longhope Lifeboat TGB capsized in ferocious seas, and […]

The future plans for the development of sites in Stenness and Brodgar, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Heart of Neolithic Orkney have now been uploaded to the OIC website. The Orkney World Heritage Gateway has funding support from the Islands Growth Deal. It is a very ambitious plan to create a modern Visitor […]

“Island communities in Scotland rely heavily on postal services for access to essential goods, services, and economic participation. Despite this reliance, residents and small businesses in Na h Eileanan an Iar, Orkney, and Shetland have some of the most fragile postal services in the UK.” – An equitable postal service for the islands Highlands & […]

By Bernie Bell. We’ve been meaning to visit HMS Tern, but other things kept turning up. I was talking with someone who was puzzled that it’s called HMS when it’s not a ship, and explained that, although the aircraft based at Tern formed part of the defences of Orkney, the site’s main role was to […]

Terror takes many forms my friend, in olden days games were far less… forgiving and it’s still true to this day. Dark souls? bah I will show you true terror for today in our first October review we delve into Super Ghouls and Ghosts. In my opinion Nintendo’s line of IPS can only ever truly […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 7 October : A bright day with a mix of sunny spells and occasionally heavy showers, however the showers are expected to become less frequent later in the afternoon. Occasionally fresh southwesterly winds turning northwesterly. Maximum temperature 11 °C. Tonight: Scattered showers this evening and overnight with some long clear […]

“The Scottish Beef Association think that this is the most logical way forward to prevent trade complications, the overall message on bluetongue remains the same, and that is the only way to protect your cattle fully is to vaccinate.” – Neil Shand, Chief Executive, Scottish Beef Association. Movement licences currently required to move susceptible livestock, […]

By Mike Robertson It all started a year ago in August 2025. Michael Hanratty and Stuart Brown, who already knew each other through Michael’s connection with the whisky industry got together and decided to produce a unique gin in support of the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA). Most gins pair juniper with coriander, but they […]

This year’s annual Orkney Film Archive programme Billy’s Night Oot takes place at the Phoenix Cinema, Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall, on Friday 9th October and at the Cromarty Hall on Saturday 10th, both at 7.30pm. This year’s programme features a mix of interesting Orkney Archive films including And much, much more. Click on this link to […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 6 October : Sunny spells and a few showers through the morning, the showers tending to become more frequent and occasionally heavy through the afternoon. Strong westerly winds slowly easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C. Tonight: A mix of clear spells and showers, the showers frequent and heavy at times. Occasionally […]

An innovative endometriosis pain management programme is to be trialled as part of a £2.3 million study by the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian. The major, UK-wide study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will investigate whether the tailor-made plan can improve the quality of life for women living […]

The Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund has opened for applications, providing up to £1m to help listed places of worship across Scotland meet VAT costs associated with repair and conservation work. The pilot fund has been developed in response to the closure of the previous UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. It is open […]

By Bernie Bell. I wrote of how finds from the shore-line by the Hall of Rendall could be evidence of a relatively high-grade residence there Recent heavy rain has meant that the stream flowing by the Hall and into the sea is swollen and revealing things which may have been buried for some time. Once […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 5 October : Overnight rain soon clearing. Then the rest of the day will see some bright or sunny spells and a few passing light showers. Fresh to strong west to southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 13 °C. Tonight: This evening will see clear periods and the odd shower. Clear periods […]

This is an Open Call for artworks on the theme of ‘Say It With Flowers’ for an upcoming exhibition at The Northlight Gallery, Stromness, for Fair Saturday. Artworks must be handmade by humans – and in any medium. The exhibition opens on Friday 27 November. What is Fair Saturday? Fair Saturday is a global cultural […]

By Laura Muncie. The University of Tokyo published a study in June 2026 based on 25 university students reading a Manga story on a physical book and a tablet. The students read the first half of the book on one medium and the second half on the other. The results led to some interesting theories. […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 4 October : It will be a cloudy and windy day with spells of rain and drizzle. Orkney seeing the most persistent of the rain. Strong to gale southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 14 °C. Tonight: Rain at times this evening. Then the rest of the night will remain cloudy with […]

On 4 October 1798, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge published a collection of their poems in ‘Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems‘. In the ‘Advertisement’ included in the 1798 edition, Wordsworth explained his poetical concept: The majority of the following poems are to be considered as experiments. They were written chiefly with a […]

This week Google Earth updated its images of Gaza. Raised to the ground – but under all that rubble bodies are being uncovered – now emerging to show the world the genocide that has been perpetrated on Gaza by Israel. Over 20 bombs levelled the seven-storey Al Taj 3 building and destroyed several other residential […]

Wednesday 30 September was the anniversary of the birth of the Arctic explorer, Dr John Rae. Every year the John Rae Society (JRS) commemorates his birth in 1813 with a short ceremony at his graveside in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. Led by a piper a group of members and supporters of the JRS walked from […]

A new observatory at the University of Aberdeen has opened giving students, researchers and the public the opportunity to explore the night sky using an advanced, AI-controlled telescope. The Anne H Cruickshank Observatory was officially opened by Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, on Wednesday September 30 marking the first new observatory in Aberdeen for […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 3 October : Mainly dry with bright spells and just the odd shower in the morning. Becoming somewhat cloudier in the afternoon with some occasional rain. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 13 °C. Tonight: Occasional rain at first but becoming mostly dry towards midnight. Cloud and rain spread east through […]

Continuing our look at Tourism this week with the future plans for the development of sites in Stenness and Brodgar, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Heart of Neolithic Orkney. This is the Orkney World Heritage Gateway with funding support from the Islands Growth Deal. The public engagements and any future consultations are not […]

By Bernie Bell. After some days of dismal weather, it was turning into a fine day so we decided to get out and about and go to see a new piece of sculpture which has been placed near the beginning of the Fourth Churchill Barrier, not far from the ‘Magnus the Viking’ totem pole First, […]

Designed to keep Kirkwall town centre buzzing in the quieter visitor season Kirkwall BID has announced three events. Kirkwall BID Manager Kirsty Talbot says: “We have a cracking calendar of events planned aimed at encouraging shoppers to spend more time in the town centre and engage directly with local retailers, hospitality venues, and service providers […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 2 October : Bright but with a few showery outbreaks of rain at first. Turning cloudier later in the afternoon with occasionally heavy rain spreading across from the southwest towards evening. Maximum temperature 15 °C. Tonight: Heavy rain spreads northeast through the evening and quite windy for a time. Clear […]

Last week, the Scottish Parliament – Scottish Labour, Scottish Greens and the SNP – came together to agree that Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide our own future. With Andy Burnham now at the helm, there is reason for cautious optimism on the constitutional front. His comments in the chamber just […]

by Duncan Lunan. The Moon is New on October 10th and Full on October 26th, meanwhile passing close above Mars on the morning of the 5th, Jupiter on the 6th, and Regulus in Leo on the 7th, going on to pass Saturn on October 23rd and 24th, and occulting the upper Pleiades on the night […]

Two public meetings are to be held to decide the future management of Olav’s Wood. The South Ronaldsay and Burray Development Trust (SRBDT) has the opportunity ahead to acquire the iconic Olav’s Wood in South Ronaldsay on behalf of the community and is organising two community consultation events in Burray and South Ronaldsay to assess […]

Information from The Met Office. Today 1 October : Mostly dry with plenty of sunshine. Orkney will have a sunny morning, with low risk of the odd shower in the afternoon. Patchy rain possible for Shetland first thing in the morning. Maximum temperature 15 °C. Tonight: A dry evening with clear spells. Turning cloudier through the […]

It is impossible to talk about this work without bringing up the 1995 film. While I do believe the work should be viewed as its own thing, and given what it is, it very much is doable at that. As the person writing the review I however cannot without looking at some of the other […]

There have been 2,201 cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) or unspecified serotype in the UK in the 2026 to 2027 bluetongue season. A case is defined as a premises on which bluetongue has been confirmed, based on risk and following laboratory or clinical diagnosis. This includes: Scotland county Number of cases (and change since […]

“I just feel a sense of calm the minute I arrive in Orkney, I think it’s the big skies and being able to look at the horizon that can make you sort of get a better perspective on life.” An artist with family connections to Burray has described how Orkney helped her ‘heal’ while writing […]

On at the Northlight Gallery, Stromness, from Friday 2 to 19 October is an exhibition of paintings by Claire Burton. The Gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5pm.

Information from The Met Office. Image credit: Rosie Hopkins. Today 30 September : Cloudy this morning with rain, heavy at times, spreading northeastwards and clearing Orkney by the afternoon and Shetland in the evening. Strong southeasterly winds with gale risk diminishing through the day. Maximum temperature 16 °C. Tonight: Rain clears Shetland but murky conditions remain […]

Continuing with our Tourism theme this week we look back to the 19th and 20th centuries. Top author of his day Sir Walter Scott visited Orkney. Like tourists today one of the places he went to was the Standing Stones of Stenness in August 1814. He was so inspired by the Stones and other tales […]