Wartime Orkney Tour

Embark on a remarkable 6 hour journey through Orkney’s extraordinary past, visiting some of its most iconic ancient and historic sites.

book now

Highlights

Ness Battery (Stromness) – Start your journey with a guided exploration of the Ness Battery, home to one of the best-preserved wartime naval gun batteries in the UK, complete with painted murals in the mess hall and commanding views of the Hoy Sound

HMS Tern (RNAS Twatt) – Visit the remains of a HMS Tern, a former Fleet Air Arm airfield, where you’ll uncover stories of air defence, daring raids during WWII, and daily life on the wartime airfield.

Royal Oak Memorial Garden (Scapa Bay) – Learn the story of the tragic loss of HMS Royal Oak at the start of WWII, and pay your respects at the Royal Oak Memorial Garden commemorating the 835 lives lost when HMS Royal Oak was torpedoed in Scapa Flow in 1939.

Churchill Barriers Scenic Drive – Journey along the impressive Churchill Barriers, built by Italian prisoners of war to protect the fleet anchored at Scapa Flow, now vital causeways linking Orkney’s South Isles.

Italian Chapel (Lamb Holm) – End the tour with a visit to the beautiful and moving Italian Chapel, handcrafted from recycled materials by Italian POW’S during WWII, symbolising hope and resilience in difficult times.

Optional Lunch Stop – Depending on your preferences, enjoy a light lunch at at local café or restaurant featuring Orkney produce, Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available.

Customisable stops – Optional stops include Rerwick Battery (Tankerness – East Mainland), Hoxa Head Battery (South Ronaldsay), The Fossil and Heritage Centre with its displays telling the Royal Oak story and how the Churchill Barrier were built, and The Barriers Exhibition (St Nicholas Kirk – Holm), the Hampshire Memorial and the Scapa Flow Museum (Lyness – Hoy) depending on your interests. A two-day itinerary can be put together for you should you wish to immerse yourself more deeply in Orkney’s wartime history.

What’s Included

Complimentary pick up and drop off.

What to Bring/Wear

Bring a waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers, comfortable footwear, hat and gloves. Don’t forget any personal medication and please bring a reusable water bottle if you have one.

Meeting Point

Kirkwall Harbour Basin, Kirkwall Airport, St Margarets Hope, Stromness Pier Head or your accommodation.

Key Highlights/Stops

The Ness Battery
HMS Tern
The Royal Oak Memorial Garden
The Italian Chapel and The Churchill Barriers.

Sustainability Features of This Tour

Fully electric vehicle travel powered by Orkney’s renewable energy. Support for local cafés, restaurants and suppliers. Plastic-free encouragement – bring your reusable water bottle or cup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are admissions included?
Admissions are usually booked in advance by us. We take care of that ahead of your tour, once we have agreed the itinerary for your tour. Should you wish to change things on the day and include additional stops, then the admission fee will be paid on the day. Please note that during the busy times of the season, the most popular sites may not have availability.
Can we focus on a specific theme?
Absolutely — it’s your tour. While most of our tours already have a theme, we’re always delighted to tailor the experience to your interests. Whether you’d like to dive deeper into local history, landscapes, or culture, we’ll shape the day around what inspires you most.
Suitable for kids?
Yes, all of our tours are family-friendly and designed to be enjoyed by guests of all ages. Very young children may find a full 5–6 hour tour a little long, but we’re happy to adapt the pace or add breaks so everyone feels comfortable and engaged throughout the day.

Reviews

“Loved every minute of our time in Orkney and our tour with Iain made it extra special. A truly special day in a magical place with a fantastic guide.”
— Y S, UK 🇬🇧
“Absolutely first class! Our guide, Iain was so interesting, knowledgeable and passionate about Orkney. We had a very memorable tour, seeing some amazing sites and learning about the history and landscape. Definitely recommend this tour and Iain as your guide.”
— Paula O, USA 🇺🇸
“Great welcome at the port. Iain is a very kind, prepared and helpful guide. He organised a tour for us following our requests. Highly recommended!”
— Maria M, Italy 🇮🇹
“As a solo traveller meeting other guests for a tour can sometimes feel a little awkward, but Iain’s enthusiasm, friendliness and knowledge made me feel completely at ease immediately. It was a fascinating tour. Thank you very much Iain!”
— Janelle N, USA 🇺🇸
“We had an amazing tour with our guide Iain who showed us around all the important places on the island. Iain could answer all of our questions and was very friendly! Highly recommended!”
— Annagret H, Germany 🇩🇪
“Iain was a passionate and knowledgeable guide and made a wet and windy day enjoyable for all. Learned so much and had fun at the same time.”
— Scott D, Australia 🇦🇺
“We were a group of four on this tour. In five hours, we managed to see the main sites of the Orkney mainland. I enjoyed this tour very much!”
— Robert D, Canada 🇨🇦
“Our trip started with the wonderful Iain. When any of us asked a question Iain would repeat it so that everyone could hear, then answered the question knowledgeably. What a fabulous and thoughtful addition to our tour. Handsdown, that started a tour off on a high note having such a high calibre guide.”
— Jannine C, Australia 🇦🇺
“Iain was so informative. There was never a dull moment, something always interesting or funny was shared. There was never any doubt he was making sure we were getting everything we wanted out of our tour.”
— Jannine C, Australia 🇦🇺
“We were lucky to have Iain as our guide for this tour. Of course he is one of the certified guides in Orkney, but he has also worked at Skara Brae for several years. An expert guide really helped to bring the tour alive. I would highly recommend Iain as your guide.”
— Vince HK, Hong Kong 🇭🇰
“The tour was wonderful! Iain was very knowledgeable and you could tell he has a deep passion for Orkney‘s history. Everything was well paced, fascinating and very enjoyable. I would highly recommend a tour with Iain!”
— Patricia J, UK 🇬🇧
“Loved every minute of our time in Orkney and our tour with Iain made it extra special. A truly special day in a magical place with a fantastic guide.”
— Y S, UK 🇬🇧
“Absolutely first class! Our guide, Iain was so interesting, knowledgeable and passionate about Orkney. We had a very memorable tour, seeing some amazing sites and learning about the history and landscape. Definitely recommend this tour and Iain as your guide.”
— Paula O, USA 🇺🇸
“Great welcome at the port. Iain is a very kind, prepared and helpful guide. He organised a tour for us following our requests. Highly recommended!”
— Maria M, Italy 🇮🇹
“As a solo traveller meeting other guests for a tour can sometimes feel a little awkward, but Iain’s enthusiasm, friendliness and knowledge made me feel completely at ease immediately. It was a fascinating tour. Thank you very much Iain!”
— Janelle N, USA 🇺🇸
“We had an amazing tour with our guide Iain who showed us around all the important places on the island. Iain could answer all of our questions and was very friendly! Highly recommended!”
— Annagret H, Germany 🇩🇪
“Iain was a passionate and knowledgeable guide and made a wet and windy day enjoyable for all. Learned so much and had fun at the same time.”
— Scott D, Australia 🇦🇺
“We were a group of four on this tour. In five hours, we managed to see the main sites of the Orkney mainland. I enjoyed this tour very much!”
— Robert D, Canada 🇨🇦
“Our trip started with the wonderful Iain. When any of us asked a question Iain would repeat it so that everyone could hear, then answered the question knowledgeably. What a fabulous and thoughtful addition to our tour. Handsdown, that started a tour off on a high note having such a high calibre guide.”
— Jannine C, Australia 🇦🇺
“Iain was so informative. There was never a dull moment, something always interesting or funny was shared. There was never any doubt he was making sure we were getting everything we wanted out of our tour.”
— Jannine C, Australia 🇦🇺
“We were lucky to have Iain as our guide for this tour. Of course he is one of the certified guides in Orkney, but he has also worked at Skara Brae for several years. An expert guide really helped to bring the tour alive. I would highly recommend Iain as your guide.”
— Vince HK, Hong Kong 🇭🇰
“The tour was wonderful! Iain was very knowledgeable and you could tell he has a deep passion for Orkney‘s history. Everything was well paced, fascinating and very enjoyable. I would highly recommend a tour with Iain!”
— Patricia J, UK 🇬🇧

Ready to Experience Orkney Your Way?

book now ask a question