the orkney islands (often also called only orkney) is an archipelago in the northern isles of scotland, united kingdom. it is about 16 kilometres north of caithness. 20 of the about 70 islands have people living on them. the administrative centre is kirkwall (with about 8000 people living there). the next largest settlements are stromness (2000 people) and st. margaret's hope (with about 550 people).