EIMR International Conference   -   Orkney | 1 - 3 May 2012

The conference will be held in Kirkwall, on the Orkney Islands, Scotland from Tuesday May 1, to Thursday May 3 2012, with an additional programme of special interest sessions, field trips and other activities expected to take place from Monday April 30 until Friday May 4. Its main objective is to bring together people from different disciplines and cultures to encourage collaboration and develop ideas.

Orkney is a group of 70 islands situated 10km from the north-east tip of the Scottish Mainland with its largest island, known as 'the mainland', being home to most of the 20,000 population and the two largest settlements – Kirkwall and Stromness. Much of Orkney is low lying: a gently rolling landscape of green fields, heather moorland heath and lochs; it has fertile soils and much of the landscape is farmed. The climate is temperate, with relatively low rainfall and not a great deal of snow and ice in the winter months – but it can be windy at any time of year.

There is evidence of human habitation in Orkney from over 6,000 years ago but nomadic visitors are likely to have visited before then, after the ice retreated from the last ice-age some 13,000 years ago. There are a great number of archaeological sites throughout the islands with some of the most significant being Maeshowe, The Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae (which has World Heritage Status) and the Knap of Howar on the island of Papa Westray; but there are also many others to visit and explore - from Neolithic tombs to Pictish brochs and Viking settlements.

Scapa Flow is one of the great natural harbours of the world – Viking ships anchored there more than 1,000 years ago, and it was also the location of one of the Royal Navy's most important bases during World Wars I and II. The German High Seas Fleet was scuttled there in 1919 and it is a very popular site for divers to explore.

The airport - IATA code 'KOI' - is located just outside the islands' capital, Kirkwall, which is also where most of the conference activities will take place. The main carrier serving Orkney is Flybe, with its principle routes being to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow (as well as connections to Inverness and Shetland.)

There are several car ferry services linking Orkney to mainland Scotland. Northlink sails from Scrabster on the North Coast three times daily, as well as offering a crossing from Aberdeen, and a service to Shetland. Pentland Ferries sails three times daily from Gills bay (near John O'Groats).

Orkney has a well-established accommodation quality assurance scheme, and potential delegates can rely on this when selecting somewhere to stay for the conference. We would suggest that a good place to start looking is the Visit Orkney website – alternatively the Orkney travel centre can be contacted at (+44)1856 872856 or at info@visitorkney.com.

There is a range of accommodation available within easy walking distance of the main conference venue in Kirkwall, and we have listed below some hotels which are conveniently located. There are other choices in Stromness and elsewhere on the mainland of Orkney, but please note that they will not be so close to the conference venues.

We would also highlight to those travelling with a group of other delegates that there is a good choice of self-catering apartments available in Kirkwall, and this may be a good option to consider, as there could be a limited availability of hotel accommodation close to the venue. The travel centre will be able to assist you with this.

For those looking for hotel rooms, some of the options to consider include:

• The Ayre Hotel overlooks the harbour in Kirkwall, and is located approximately 1km away from the main conference venue. This family-owned, 3-star hotel is very friendly and comfortable.
• The Albert Hotel is a 3-star boutique hotel, located just over 1km from the main venue, in the heart of Kirkwall. Its contemporary rooms are comfortable and fresh.
• The Lynnfield Hotel is a 4-star retreat on the outskirts of Kirkwall, in a very quiet setting, next to the Highland Park distillery, approximately 2km away from the main venue.
• The Kirkwall Hotel is a traditional 3-star hotel, located directly across from Kirkwall's harbour, just over 1km from the main venue. We have been advised that it has only a limited availability of rooms for delegates who want to stay for the whole duration of the conference.
• The Orkney Hotel is a 3-star hotel in a 17th century building the centre of Kirkwall. It is well-located for the conference, being only a 1km walk from the main venue.
• The West End Hotel is a small, comfortable hotel, which also has a 3-star rating, and is located in the centre of Kirkwall within easy walking distance of the main conference centre.

If you would prefer hostel accommodation, Kirkwall has several quality assured premises; or if you're looking for somewhere to camp, the council-run, 4-star campsite is right next door to the main venue.

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