The glorious landscape, sea and ever-shifting light and weather are all part of the festival experience, as are the charming people and their ancient history.
Sunday Herald 30th June 2002

The St Magnus Festival takes places every year against the magical backdrop of Orkney – an archipelago north of the Scottish mainland famed for its Neolithic monuments, sweeping beaches and rich musical tradition; its rolling, verdant countryside and dramatic cliffs, wealth of bird and sea-life and the sparkling, crystal-like quality to the light.

Visit the linked websites below to learn about the islands and investigate travel options.

The Orkney Tourist Board's website provides information on accommodation, travel to and within Orkney, history, activities and more.

Kirkwall travel agent, Ridgeway Travel will be pleased to help you organise your travel here. Call them on +44 (0)1856 873359 or visit their website: www.ridgwaytravel.com

www.orkneyjar.com is also a fascinating source of information, “dedicated to the preserving, exploring and documenting the ancient history, folklore and traditions of Orkney”.

Orkney has a population of around 19,000 spread across 19 of the 70 or so islands in the county. 

The majority of the islanders live on the Orkney Mainland, where the two main towns are situated: Kirkwall, with a population of around 7,000 and Stromness, with 2,000.  About half of the population are ‘incomers', with half of these from Scotland.  The rest consist mainly of other UK nationals, but also include those from Europe and further afield.

Traditionally a farming community, Orkney's main industry is still agriculture, with fish-farming also playing a significant role.  The numbers of small and medium-sized craft enterprises is constantly growing, with designer silverware producers being among the largest employers in this sector.  An increasing number of residents are self-employed, making use of modern communications technology to run their businesses from home.

Orkney has a vibrant and active community, which has benefited in recent years from funding for state-of-the-art facilities and projects such as arts venues, an arts/leisure centre with cinema, and a spacious new library. 

The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness houses an important collection of twentieth century works of art and is about to undergo extensive development.  In addition to the St Magnus Festival, the cultural life of the islands is enriched all year round with a large number of groups actively participating in the arts.  These include drama clubs, choral and musical groups, pantomimes, the Amateur Operatic Society, and the Orkney Arts Society, which organises a programme of events throughout the year.

There is a variety of restaurants, both in town and in outlying districts, as well as a comprehensive range of shops and suppliers.