The Northern Isles (Old Norse: Norðreyjar) are a chain of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland.
The group includes Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney. Sometimes Stroma is included, which is part of Caithness, and so falls under Highland council area for local government purposes, not Orkney.
Culture and politics
The Northern Isles are usually separated for political purposes, but they come under the Orkney and Shetland constituency in Westminster.
Due to their history, the islands have a Norse, rather than a Gaelic flavour, and have historic links with the Faroes and Iceland, and Norway. However, unlike these other countries, they also have a Pictish heritage, and unlike the Faroes and Iceland, many prehistoric remains such as brochs and stone circles can be found there - see Jarlshof and Maes Howe for details.
See also
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