Saint Mary's

Saint Mary's occupies Flotta island in Orkney's southern waters, reached via the A961 causeway system from Kirkwall in about half an hour. Most visitors arrive through Kirkwall Airport, 35 kilometres away, whilst locals use the internal island roads connecting residential areas to the major oil terminal. The island's sheltered position in Scapa Flow offers dramatic views across to Hoy's towering cliffs, and Saint Mary's hosts one of Scotland's most significant oil terminals, where North Sea crude arrives by underwater pipeline before loading onto international tankers.