West Mainland

West Mainland is the largest administrative ward on Orkney's main island. Its landscape is defined by rolling farmland, the large inland expanse of the Loch of Harray, and a coastline facing both the Atlantic and the North Sea. The area contains several significant Neolithic sites, including the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, which form part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site. Settlement is dispersed across villages and farms.

The ward's economy is primarily based on agriculture and aquaculture. The parish of Sandwick includes the Bay of Skaill, location of the well-preserved Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae, discovered after a storm in 1850. Stromness, a major ferry port, lies just outside the ward's southern boundary. The landscape is characterised by stone boundaries, low hills, and the prominent Ward Hill, providing views across the archipelago.