Orkney Islands: Neolithic Sites, Culture and Coastal Walks

The Orkney Islands form an archipelago of 70 islands, 20 of which are inhabited. Their history spans Neolithic sites, medieval buildings and traces of the more recent past. Coastal walks, wildlife watching and local produce also add their own distinctive touches. When planning your trip, consider whether you would like to focus on archaeology, culture, walking or the landscape.

Four facets of Orkney’s Neolithic heritage

The UNESCO World Heritage Site Heart of Neolithic Orkney comprises the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness, Maeshowe and Skara Brae. All four monuments are open to visitors; check the visitor information for each site before your trip. The sites showcase different forms of early architecture: Maeshowe is a megalithic chambered tomb, with its passageway aligned roughly with the sunset at the winter solstice. The Ring of Brodgar is a 130-metre-wide stone circle surrounded by a ditch cut into the rock. The Stones of Stenness include surviving stones up to six metres high. At Skara Brae, stone houses are linked by narrow covered passageways.

Cathedral, museum and historic buildings

St Magnus Cathedral was founded in 1137 and completed around 300 years later. It is the only fully intact medieval cathedral in Scotland. In addition to serving as a place of worship, it is used for concerts, talks, art exhibitions and national commemorative events; programmes may vary. The Orkney Museum in Kirkwall explores the islands’ history from the Stone Age through the Picts and Vikings to the present day. Its collection is of international significance, and its archaeological collection is considered to be of national significance.

The Earl’s Palace in Birsay is a 16th-century courtyard castle built by Earl Robert Stewart. Skaill House displays, among other things, Captain Cook’s dinner service, Neolithic and Iron Age finds, paintings by Stanley Cursiter, and objects collected by the twelve Lairds of Skaill. The items on display may change.

On Lamb Holm, Domenico Chiocchetti and his fellow Italian prisoners of war from North Africa transformed two Nissen huts into a chapel. The Italian Chapel is a visitor attraction; an explanatory booklet is available in English, Italian and German. Check whether it is available before your visit. Click Mill tells a different story of buildings: the fully restored watermill dates from the early 19th century and is the last of its kind in Orkney. Visitors can go inside to see the original waterwheel, millstones, casing, hopper and flour bin.

Walking trails and coastal landscapes

The St Magnus Way is a 58-mile long-distance walking route across Mainland Orkney and the island of Egilsay. Its story is based on the traditional account of Saint Magnus, Orkney’s patron saint. Walking routes in Orkney use a five-level difficulty rating from 1 to 5. On Westray, the West Coast Walk passes Atlantic-facing cliffs, sea-sculpted rock formations and seabird colonies. At Yesnaby, on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, the landscape features sea views, cliffs, wildflowers including the Scottish primrose, and opportunities to watch seabirds. A coastal path along cliffs and rocky bays can be accessed from a small car park; trail conditions may vary.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises may be spotted on ferry crossings to Orkney, away from the islands and within the archipelago, as well as on coastal walks. Grey seals and common seals can be seen on rocky outcrops and along coastlines around the islands. All such sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed.

Island hopping and tides

The historic Churchill Barriers make it possible to island-hop by car to Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay. At the Brough of Birsay, access depends on the tides: the tidal island is accessible via a concrete causeway only for about two hours before and after low tide. Check the tide conditions before crossing. For ferry travel, Orkney Ferries recommends booking vehicles in advance, as carriage of vehicles that have not been booked cannot be guaranteed. Check the current timetable before your trip as well.

Local food and drink

Food and drink made in Orkney includes cheese, oatcakes, fudge, beer, whisky, gin, ice cream and rum. The local selection also includes beef and lamb, salmon, shellfish, and meat from the legendary seaweed-fed sheep of North Ronaldsay. The Taste of Orkney Food & Drink Trail gives visitors the opportunity to see how some products are made and sample them before buying. Participating producers and availability may change.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Finstown, Burray Village, Tingwall, Orphir, Hackness, Kirkwall, Orkney, Westray, Stromness.

Go to the main travel overview: Scotland.