Orkney is a historic and picturesque Scottish archipelago known for its Neolithic sites, Norse heritage, and renewable energy innovations, offering diverse outdoor activities and vibrant cultural festivals.
Wideford Hill chambered cairn is an ancient Neolithic burial site on Mainland, Orkney, featuring a stone-lined chamber with side chambers, located outdoors on a steep west-facing hill with access through a concrete roof and metal ladder.
Maeshowe is a Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave on Mainland Orkney, renowned for its ancient architectural sophistication, alignment with the winter solstice, and containing the largest collection of Viking runic inscriptions. Visitors access the site via guided tours departing from a nearby visitor centre.
The Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall is a 12th-century historic palace ruin with Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements, located next to St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney. It offers visitors a glimpse into medieval religious power in the region and is managed as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland.
Blackhammer Chambered Cairn is a Neolithic burial monument on the island of Rousay in Orkney, Scotland, featuring ancient stone chambered cairn tombs with multiple burial compartments and significant archaeological findings.
The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village on Mainland, Orkney, featuring well-preserved stone ruins including a central tower with drystone walls and surrounding ancient dwellings and ramparts. It offers visitors a glimpse into prehistoric settlement life in Scotland's Orkney Islands.
Midhowe Broch is an Iron Age broch on Rousay island in Orkney, Scotland, featuring a stone tower with inner partitions, adjacent ancient buildings, and archaeological remains accessible to the public.
St. Mary's Chapel is a roofless 12th-century Romanesque chapel ruin on the island of Wyre in Orkney, Scotland, featuring historic architecture and an adjacent walled cemetery, set near medieval ruins and designated as a scheduled monument.
Knowe of Yarso chambered cairn is a Neolithic burial monument on Rousay island, Orkney, featuring a large grass-covered mound and a stalled chambered cairn structure with archaeological remains dating back to 3500-2500 BC.
Rennibister Earth House is an Iron Age underground souterrain located on Mainland, Orkney, featuring a hexagonal chamber supported by stone pillars, discovered in 1926 with skeletal remains inside and cared for as a scheduled monument.
The Dwarfie Stane is a rare Neolithic rock-cut chambered tomb carved from a massive block of Old Red Sandstone on Hoy, Orkney. It is unique in northern Europe and notable for its historical and archaeological significance within a dramatic outdoor peatland setting.
Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn is a Neolithic burial site on Mainland, Orkney featuring an ancient chambered cairn with human and dog remains, accessible by crawling through a narrow passage.
Noltland Castle is a 16th century Z-plan castle ruin located on the island of Westray in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. The castle features distinctive defensive architecture and a notable large staircase. Now maintained by Historic Environment Scotland, it offers a historical outdoor experience of this scheduled monument.
The Standing Stones of Stenness is a Neolithic henge monument in Orkney, Scotland, known as possibly the oldest henge site in the British Isles. The outdoor site features ancient standing stones and stone circles and is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, managed by Historic Environment Scotland.
Midhowe Chambered Cairn is a well-preserved Neolithic stalled chambered tomb on Rousay, Orkney, Scotland, known for its large size and distinctive stone compartments used for collective burial dating back to circa 3500 BC. Visitors explore the outdoor prehistoric site protected by a modern shelter.
The Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic henge and stone circle in Orkney, Scotland, notable for its almost perfect circular formation and historical significance as part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore the impressive outdoor stone monument and surrounding ancient ritual landscape.
Barnhouse Settlement is a Neolithic archaeological site in Orkney, Scotland, featuring remains of ancient houses and a ceremonial structure, accessible to the public for outdoor exploration along footpaths near other historic sites.
Quoyness chambered cairn is a Neolithic burial monument on Sanday island, Orkney, Scotland, featuring a large oval chambered cairn with multiple corbelled cells. Visitors can explore the outdoor archaeological site dating from around 3000 BC, which has been excavated, partially restored, and is open to the public.
Skara Brae is a remarkably well-preserved Neolithic settlement located on the Orkney Islands in Scotland, featuring stone-built houses with early indoor plumbing. It is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site and offers an exceptional glimpse into prehistoric life in Europe around 3180 to 2500 BC.
St Magnus Church is a roofless medieval round-tower church ruin on Egilsay Island, Orkney, known for its historical ties to Saint Magnus Erlendsson. Visitors explore the outdoor archaeological site and surrounding graveyard, appreciating its Romanesque architecture and Norse heritage.
Westside Church is a ruined 12th century church on the island of Westray, Orkney. Visitors can explore the stone remains and surrounding burial ground of this historic site linked to a Norse settlement.
Orphir Round Church is an outdoor archaeological site featuring the remains of the oldest surviving round church in Scotland, alongside Norse historical ruins including an ancient watermill and drinking hall. It offers visitors a glimpse into medieval ecclesiastical architecture and Norse heritage in Orkney.
Links of Noltland is a large prehistoric settlement on Westray, Orkney with extensive Neolithic and Bronze Age ruins including dwellings and a notable figurine, the Westray Wife. The outdoor archaeological site is a scheduled monument cared for by Historic Scotland and is open seasonally free of charge.
The Earl's Palace in Birsay, Orkney, is a ruined 16th-century castle built as a fortress residence with large stone towers, a central courtyard, and historical significance as the former home of Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney.
Cobbie Row's Castle is the oldest medieval castle in Scotland, featuring ruins of a 12th century stone fortification on the island of Wyre in Orkney. Visitors can explore the outdoor remains of the tower, enclosure, and historic defensive structures dating back to the Norse era.
Dounby Click Mill is the last working horizontal Norse watermill in Orkney, featuring traditional drystone and turf construction and a unique direct-drive design, managed by Historic Environment Scotland.
Unstan Chambered Cairn is a well-preserved Neolithic chambered tomb located on Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It features a distinctive circular burial mound with a side chamber and is notable for the discovery of Unstan ware pottery. Visitors can explore this ancient archaeological site managed by Historic Environment Scotland.
Taversöe Tuick is a Neolithic burial cairn on Orkney's Rousay island featuring a rare double-tiered chamber structure with ancient artefacts, open to visitors and managed by Historic Environment Scotland.
Lady Kirk is a historic 17th-century ruined church on the island of Westray, Orkney, notable for its preserved grave-slabs and masonry remnants, designated as a scheduled monument.
The Knap of Howar is a Neolithic farmstead on the island of Papa Westray in Orkney, Scotland, featuring the oldest preserved stone houses in northern Europe. Visitors can explore ancient stone buildings with intact furniture and learn about early farming and fishing practices from 3800 BC to 2800 BC.
Eynhallow Church is a roofless medieval church ruin and former monastery from the 12th century, located on the uninhabited island of Eynhallow in Orkney. The site includes remains of a post-medieval village and is associated with Norse folklore and history. The island is accessible by private boat but currently not open to visitors.