Blog

It’s early August, and the long summer holidays are nearing an end. If you’re a puffin, that is. These beloved sea birds usually start arriving in Orkney in April – sometimes a little earlier – and their numbers peak from May onwards, staying high throughout June and July. Which is very convenient, because that’s when the numbers of human holidaymakers peak too. And there’s nothing visitors like to do more than go puffin spotting! They’re not the easiest birds to find, as they prefer to nest on remote islands like Auskerry, Copinsay and Swona. The largest colony is on Sule...

2022 is the Year of Stories in Scotland, a celebration of the tales that thread through our history and way of life. In Orkney, stories define who we are, even more than the rest of Scotland. That’s certainly true here at Ola Gorie.Over the years, Ola’s fans have grown into a community of jewellery lovers. From all around the world, we hear tales of how much Ola Gorie Jewellery means to people. During the Year of Stories, we’re gathering together as many memories as possible and asking you to share your own.Each month, we’ll have a story theme to inspire...

Blog by Antonia Thomas Art is meant to be seen. Or at least that’s what we tend to think nowadays. We live in a world saturated with images, where almost everything seems to be done for public display and consumption, whether in an art gallery or on Instagram. But what about 5,000 years ago, in the Neolithic? How did people think about art then? For the past 15 years or so, I have been studying the art and craft of Neolithic Orkney, and in particular the incredible decorated stonework from the Ness of Brodgar, much of which has been found...