The Orkney Islands An archipelago of 70 islands off the north coast of Scotland, Orkney's most amazing feature is the number of prehistoric sites which can be found there. As well as Britains oldest standing houses - 5500 years old on the island of Papa Westray - Orkney has stone circles, burial mounds, brochs and best of all the 5000 year old village at Skara Brae, preserved under a sand dune until 1850, when a violent storm exposed it.