The Orkney Islands are a well-kept secret — So I consider myself lucky to have visited these little gems of the North Sea.

Here’re my 7 insider tips on enjoying the Orkney Islands:

I saw these iconic thatched cottages throughout my tour of the UK and Ireland – from the Aran Islands off the Irish coast to Scotland’s northern Isle of Skye.

Since I still haven’t given up the idea of building a house one day, I wanted to know how thatching works. Here’s what I learned: