Mainland Orkney Sites

Orkney has an amazing range of attractions – from world-class archaeology to social history and natural wonders, and we visit a wide variety on all our holidays.

There is not just the Mainland - Orkney is a group of islands linked by modern vehicle and passenger ferries in sheltered waters – part of the fun of visiting the islands is the ferry ride to get there.

The Orkney Mainland and linked South Isles 

Barony Mill, Birsay: the last working water mill in Orkney, grinding traditional bere meal.

Broch of Gurness: a 2000-year-old Iron Age settlement, the central tower still surrounded by its village.

Brough of Birsay: a tidal island with a Norse settlement and monastery

Churchill Barriers: part of Scapa Flow’s Second World War defences, four barriers now with roads linking Mainland Orkney to Burray and South Ronaldsay.

Corrigall Farm Museum: a traditional 18th century Orcadian farmstead.

Cuween Chambered Cairn: a 5000-year-old Neolithic tomb that, when opened in the 19th century, contained the remains of 24 dogs in addition to eight people.

Earl’s Palace, Birsay: the 16th century palace built by Earl Robert Stewart.

Earl’s and Bishop’s Palaces, Kirkwall: the 12th century Bishop’s palace, built for the cathedral’s first bishop, and the 17th century Earl’s Palace.
 
Earl’s Bu Round Kirk: remains of a 12th century Norse farmstead & church mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga as the scene of a great Christmas feast and notorious murder.

Italian Chapel: the world famous ‘miracle of camp 60’, built with remarkable dedication from scavenged materials by Italian prisoners of war.

Kirbister Farm Museum: the last surviving farmstead in Orkney to retain the traditional ‘firehoose’ with central hearth and fireback.

Maeshowe: the finest example of a Neolithic chambered tomb in Britain

Mine Howe: an Iron Age underground chamber - descend 29 steps into the underworld.

Rennibister Earth-house: an Iron Age subterranean chamber

St. Magnus’ Cathedral: a magnificent 12th century sandstone cathedral, a legacy of Orkney’s days as a Norse Earldom.

Skaill House: an early 17th century laird’s house, the home of William Watt, the discoverer of Skara Brae.

Skara Brae: the world famous 5000-year-old Neolithic village on the shores of the Atlantic, uncovered after a great storm, part of Orkney’s World Heritage Site.

Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar: two magnificent 5000-year-old henge monuments, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.