This year 11 local athletes are benefiting from the sportscotland Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS). The Scheme is an ongoing partnership between sportscotland and the participating local authorities in Highlands & Islands - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils.

Orkney Islands Council are extremely grateful to also have a partnership with Stagecoach which allows us to enhance and extend our programme in Orkney.

It’s official - the warm welcome at St Magnus Cathedral is the best in Scotland!

The Cathedral was shortlisted in the National Church Awards hosted by the National Churches Trust, and yesterday (24 October) won the “Open for Visitors” (Scotland) Award 2022 at a ceremony in Mercers’ Hall in London hosted by Hugh Dennis.

Bus passengers are being reminded of reduced timetable on Sundays in winter on the X1 (Stromness-Kirkwall-St Margarets Hope) route. Services 2 (Houton) and 6 (Tingwall) Sunday timetables have also changed to coincide with the winter ferry timetable now in operation.

Orkney's brand new tug - Freyja of Scapa - is due to arrive in Orkney tomorrow (Saturday 22 October).

Three gyms run by the Council are being completely revamped with brand new fitness equipment, new flooring and a repaint, all fully funded thanks a successful application to the Scottish Government’s Islands Infrastructure Fund.