Welcome to Orkney:
Your Unforgettable Island Odyssey

From 5,000-year-old Neolithic settlements and monuments to windswept cliffs, quiet beaches, and thriving communities, Orkney offers visitors a rich and unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the standing stones, Viking stories, wartime heritage, or simply to enjoy the peace and beauty of island life, Orkney’s spirit is warm, welcoming, and full of surprises.

Key Attractions & Sites

Here are some of the highlights to add to your Orkney itinerary:

1. Brough of Birsay — Tidal island with Pictish and Norse remains, superb seabird watching, and sweeping views.
2. Kitchener Memorial (Marwick Head) — A poignant cliff-top memorial and RSPB reserve home to thriving seabird colonies.
3. Ness Battery — Well-preserved WWII coastal defences with remarkable wartime murals and guided tours.
4. HMS Tern — Former Royal Navy airfield revealing Orkney’s crucial WWII aviation history.
5. Rerwick Head Battery — Atmospheric wartime battery with commanding coastal views.
6. Skara Brae — Exceptionally preserved Neolithic village, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.
7. Ring of Brodgar — Majestic Neolithic stone circle set amid lochs and heather moor.
8. Maeshowe — Masterwork Neolithic chambered cairn aligned with the winter solstice.
9. Standing Stones of Stenness — Among the oldest stone circles in Britain.
10. Broch of Gurness — Iron Age broch with a surrounding settlement overlooking Eynhallow Sound.
11. Deerness Distillery — Small-batch spirits inspired by island botanicals.
12. Swannay Brewery — Award-winning craft beers rooted in local character.
13. Billia Croo — Rugged Atlantic coastline and test site for wave energy technology.
14. Burger Hill — Coastal headland rich in birdlife and panoramic vistas.
15. St Magnus Cathedral — The “Light of the North,” a stunning 12th-century red sandstone cathedral.
16. Italian Chapel — Beautifully crafted WWII chapel built by Italian POWs.
17. Mull Head (Broch of Deerness, The Gloup, Interpretation Centre) — Wild coastal walks, sea geos, and clifftop archaeology.
18. Hall of Clestrain (when it opens) — Historic birthplace of Arctic explorer John Rae, under restoration.
19. Scapa Flow Museum — Immersive storytelling of Orkney’s maritime and wartime heritage.

History & Heritage

The Orkney Islands have a rich, layered history spanning more than 5,000 years. These islands host some of Europe’s most significant Neolithic sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney—featuring Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness, Maeshowe, and the Ring of Brodgar.

From the 9th to the 15th centuries, Orkney was a vital Norse settlement under Viking rule, part of the Kingdom of Norway. This era left an enduring imprint on language, culture, and place names. In 1472, Orkney (along with Shetland) was annexed to Scotland after being pledged as security for an unpaid dowry.

Orkney’s story is also shaped by its maritime lifeblood, strategic wartime role in both World Wars, and a living tradition of folklore, craft, and storytelling that continues to thrive today.

“This is my Orkney, what’s yours?”

Wildlife & Nature

Orkney is a place of extraordinary natural beauty, where dramatic coastlines meet rolling farmland and wide-open skies. The islands teem with wildlife—from bustling seabird colonies on towering cliffs to seals basking on tranquil beaches.

• Spring and summer: Cliffs and meadows bloom with wildflowers; puffins, kittiwakes, and guillemots are frequent sights.
• Autumn: Migrating birds arrive from across the globe; skies and seas shift with spectacular colour and light.
• Year-round: Look for hen harriers over heathland, otters along sheltered shores, and occasional orca sightings.

Whether you’re watching puffins at Marwick Head, tracing coastal paths above crashing surf, or simply soaking in the silence of Orkney’s wild spaces, nature here feels close—untouched, unspoiled, and unforgettable.

Conservation Efforts

Orkney safeguards its natural and cultural treasures through a network of protected landscapes:

• Many coastlines are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), protecting vital habitats for seabirds, seals, and marine life.
• The Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site ensures ancient monuments are carefully preserved.
• Local organisations, alongside national bodies such as the RSPB and Historic Environment Scotland, work year-round to protect wildlife, habitats, and historic places—balancing conservation with community life and welcoming responsible visitors.

Practical Information

Getting to Orkney

Getting to Orkney is part of the adventure. You can arrive by ferry or by plane:

• Ferries: Sail from Scrabster, Gills Bay, or Aberdeen to Stromness, St Margaret’s Hope, or Kirkwall.
• Flights: Regular services from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and Aberdeen land at Kirkwall Airport.

Whichever route you take, the journey carries you through some of Scotland’s most scenic landscapes—setting the scene perfectly for your Orkney Odyssey.

Best Time to Visit

May to September is ideal: long days, wildflowers in bloom, and peak wildlife activity. Summer brings mild temperatures, lively local festivals, and the famed “grimlins”—those long, luminous northern evenings.

Spring and early autumn offer quieter paths, migrating birds, and spectacular shifting light. Orkney Odyssey operates all year, ready to guide you in every season.

What to Pack

Orkney’s weather can deliver four seasons in a day. Pack for flexibility:

• Layers, including a warm mid-layer
• Waterproof, windproof jacket
• Sturdy footwear for coastal paths and historic sites
• Warm hat, gloves, and neck tube—even in summer if you’re heading to exposed coasts or taking ferry trips
• Sunscreen and sunglasses—the long summer days can be surprisingly bright
• Camera and binoculars to make the most of wildlife and sweeping vistas

Ready to plan your own Orkney Odyssey? Reach out when you’re set—we’ll help tailor an island experience that’s truly yours.