Orkney Things to Do Tips by supercarys

The Tomb of the Eagles is a tomb dated at around 3000 BC, named after the many eagle's talons found amongst the burials. It was actually found and excavated by a farmer in the 1950's, who is still there and gives a talk in one of the ancient houses on site.

There is a Stone Age tomb, a Bronze Age house and you can look at all the Neolithic artefacts and handle some of them at a demonstration in the visitor's centre. You then walk out to the house for another talk, then on to the tomb for a self guided tour of it (it's not very big). You have to lie down on what is essentially a large skateboard and pull yourself into the tomb by a rope to get inside - it's very low and would be difficult to enter otherwise. Everything has been removed from the tomb and is on display in the visitor's centre but there are some plastic skulls in the tomb for show. It is very interesting and well worth the entry fee.

You have to walk a little way (about 5 minutes) to the tomb from the visitor's centre along a trail between two paddocks. You can also walk along the cliffs back to the visitors centre. Allow about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to see everything.

Prices:
Adult £5.50
Concession £4.50
Children 13+ £3.00
Children 5 - 12 £2.00
Under 5 free

Open
March 10 am to 12 noon
April - October 9.30 am to 6pm
November - February by arrangement only

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Phone: 01856 831 339
Address: Liddle, South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Directions: 30 minutes south from Kirkwall, 7 miles south of St Margaret's Hope on the A961
Website: www.tomboftheeagles.co.uk

The Standing Stones of Steness (which also means stones; 'the stones of stones'!) is a small circle of upright flat stones from the third millenium BC. It now has only 3 large standing stones but it originally had 12. I like this circle much more than the Ring of Brogar, a huge circle just a mile away. Steness is much less crowded and feels more undisturbed. Free entry.

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Address: Stenness
Directions: Follow the A965 past Finstown to Stenness.

This massive circle comprises 36 huge stones, originally 60, was built in the third millenium BC. It is amazing to think that these people of long ago would build such a circle. It is close to the Standing Stones of Stenness, but the Ring of Brogar is frequented by many tourists and may be somewhat crowded, making for a difficult picture.

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Address: Stenness
Directions: Follow the A965 past Finstown to Stenness

Maes Howe is a really cool, really old tomb built before 2700 BC. It was raided by Vikings in the 12th century who broke in through the roof to collect the spoils within. One of the most intreresting things about this tomb is that the Vikings left graffiti messages all over the walls! Some of them are translated on information boards outside :
"Ingigerth is the most beautiful of women"
"These runes were carved by the man most skilled in runes in the Western Ocean"
and others. It has the largest collection of runic inscriptions found in any one place in the world.

Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos inside but you do get a guided tour who will point out the graffiti runes and tell you all about the history within as you stand inside the slightly cold tomb.

It has a times ticket system running throughout the day at 45 minute intervals. Prices are about £4.50 for the tour and entry. Open daily through summer from 9.30am - 6.30pm (last tour 5.15pm), winter Mon - Sat 9.30am - 4.30pm, Sun 1.30pm - 4.30pm (last tour 3.30pm)

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Phone: 01856 761606
Address: Stenness
Directions: Follow the A965 past Finstown to Stenness.

The Fossil and Heritage Centre on the small island of Burray is a quaint find. It houses THOUSANDS of years of Orkney's history, ranging from dinosaur and other prehistoric fossils, right up through ancient history of the stone ages, through to modern history of the 20th century world wars and beyond.

It really is such an interesting museum, I have never seen anything so small that has everything on one place's history. It even (and yes, I am a nerd) has this really cool section where you can light up some rocks with ultra violet light and see the different colours they show. There are many books you can read on the local history and old newspapers to look through. I could have spent all day here!

It also has a cafe and a gift shop.

It costs around £3 to get in.
Open daily April - September 10am to 6pm

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Phone: 01856 731255
Address: Viewforth, Burray
Directions: This is just off the main road. If you come to the end of the island, turn around. You really can't miss it.
Website: orkneyfossils@btconnect.com

Skara Brae is a 5000 year old village discovered during a storm after being lost for thousands of years. There is a lot of information about the houses including the fact that they had stone beds and dressing tables / cabinets etc. There are ten very well preserved houses to see from a trail around the top. You can't go into the houses but tehre is a mock house made up with all the furnishings of the originals that you can wander around inside and have a good look at. I bet I am one of the only people to have stuck my head in a stone age toilet (I hadn't read what it was yet!)

Has park officers on site to make sure no one destroys stuff etc and they are full of knowledge about the houses. Ask them questions, they are pleased to answer.

Open all year

Prices:
Summer (joint admission with Skaill House)
Adult £6.50
Child £2.50
Concessions £5.00

Winter (Skara Brae only)
Adult £5.50
Child £2.00
Concessions £4.50

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Phone: 01856 841815
Address: Sandwick, Orkney
Directions: 19 miles north west from Kirkwall on the B9056

Skaill House is a 17th century mansion that was originally built for Bishop George Graham in 1620. It is full of antiques including books, pictures and furniture and is a nice museum type place to look through. It has joint admission with the nearby Skara Brae prehistoric village.

Open daily from April - September 9.30am to 6.30pm. Last admission 6pm.

Prices:
Summer (joint admission with Skara Brae)
Adult £6.50
Child £2.50
Concessions £5.00

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Phone: 01856 841501
Address: Breckness Estate, Sandwick, Orkney
Directions: 19 miles north west of Kirkwall on the B9056
Website: www.skaillhouse.com

There is a beautiful walk you can do in the Deerness area at a place called Mull Head. The walk goes for 3.5 miles and is along a cliff which is rocky at times and very windy so you will need a wind proof jacket and sturdy walking shoes/boots. I went as far as the Brough of Deerness which is actually a ruined ancient monastery with a plaque telling you about it before turning back (about a third of the way). To get to the broch you pass 'the Gloup' - a long cave which has collapsed on the landward side leaving a chasm that seawater still foams within. The broch itself is actually on a broken off piece of land and you must edge your way down the mainland cliff face and up the 'island' cliff face. It is not actually an island as the water doesn't flow between them but they are two separate high pieces of land.

It's a great walk to do and has some fantastic views of both cliffs and various geological features, birds and other flora and fauna.

There is a car park at the start of the trail. Free entry.

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Address: Mull Head, Deerness, Orkney
Directions: Take the A960 south east from Kirkwall

On one of the smallest islands in Orkney, Lamb Holm, the Italian Chapel was built by the Italian prisoners of war in WW2 during the time they were forced to build the Churchill barriers (to prevent enemy ships from passing between the islands). It is an interesting piece of architecture as it is made from Nissen huts and the inside has a curved roof. It has beautiful artwork inside.

Entrance is free but they do ask for a contribution if you take any of the brochures.

Open dawn to dusk daily. Mass held the first Sunday of each month. For times, see the phone number below.

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Phone: 01856 872856
Address: Lamb Holm
Directions: 7 or 8 miles south of Kirkwall on the A961

This large monument is dedicated to Lord Kitchener who died when HMS Hampshire sank near the spot in 1916. It is easy to see from the road but quite a walk from the car park, up a hill and along a cliff. It will take a good ten minutes to walk to. The views from the cliff are quite stunning.

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Address: Birsay, Orkney
Directions: Follow the A965 from Kirkwall, turn right up the A986 and continue on to the A967. You can see it from the road.