TOURS
Kirkwall Walking Tours
Explore the Old Town on foot, with an experienced local guideAlternatively take a guided tour of Mainland Orkney, in your own or third party vehicle
Sorry, Cash Only, no Cards. Euros and US Dollars accepted (Rates On Request)
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, Other Days By Arrangement
Tours Are In English, Other Languages Could Be Made Available By Arrangement
Group And Family Rates Available On Request
TOWN WALK & CATHEDRAL
£20/per person
The Town walk and Cathedral tour, starts at the harbour, moving up through the historic City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall. You will follow the narrow, winding streets, that made up Kirkwall’s medieval coastline, listening to stories of the notorious Pressgang and of Orcadian wedding traditions. Hear about the fearsome Kirkwall Ba Game, that divides the town in half, at Christmas and New Year. Then get a guided tour around the magnificent 12th century St Magnus Cathedral. The tour ends in Tankerness House Gardens, with the story of Orkney’s very own Pirate Gow.
POPULAR
TOWN WALK, CATHEDRAL & PALACES
£25/per person
If you decide to take the longer tour, you will then go on to visit Kirkwall’s two palaces (Admission not included). Firstly, the Bishop's Palace, the construction of which begun in the 12th century, at the same time as St Magnus Cathedral. Finally you will move on to the early 17th century Earl's Palace, which in its’ day, was one of Scotland's finest Renaissance buildings. You will hear stories about its’ builder the tyrannical Earl Patrick Stewart, whose nickname was ‘Black Patie’.
KIRKWALL BA GAME TOUR
£20/per person
The ‘Kirkwall Ba Game’ is a traditional game of football, played on Christmas and New Years day, in the streets of Kirkwall, by two teams the ‘Uppies’ and the ‘Doonies’. This tour will give you a flavour of the game, as your guide himself played the game for over thirty years. The tour will start outside the Cathedral in Broad Street, where the Ba or ball is thrown up. You will then travel up the street to the ‘Uppies’ goal at ‘Mackison’s Corner’, on the southern edge of the old town. Finally the tour will go down the street to the ‘Doonies’ goal at the harbour. Your guide will tell you some of the stranger Ba stories and terms such as ‘Chains’, ‘Dummies’ and ‘Smuggles’ will be explained to you.
THE PRIDE, THE PASSION AND THE SPIRIT OF KIRKWALL TOUR
£35/per adult & £25/
per child
This tour combines three of the jewels in the crown, of Orkney’s capital, founded by the Vikings,1000 years ago. The pride of Kirkwall is its’ 12th century St Magnus Cathedral, the most northerly cathedral in the UK, where you will take a guided tour.
The Passion of Kirkwall, is it’s ‘Ba Game’, a traditional game of football, played in its’ streets on Christmas and New Years day, by two teams the ‘Uppies’ and the ‘Doonies’. You will follow the route of the Ba from the Market Cross, where the Ba or ball is thrown up, down to the Doonie goal at the harbour. On the way the finer points of the Ba will be explained to you, as your guide himself played the game for over thirty years.
Finally the Spirit of Kirkwall is the craft Gin named after it ‘Kirkjuvagr’, this being Kirkwall’s old Norse name, meaning “Church on the bay”. Here you will tour the company’s state of the art distillery and visitor centre on Kirkwall’s waterfront (admission included).
If you're 18 you might even enjoy a dram of gin in the tasting room, while gazing out on Kirkwall Bay.
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HEART OF NEOLITHIC ORKNEY TOUR
Price on Request
This tour will explore the West Mainland of Orkney, home to the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney”, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. You will stop at the Standing Stones of Stenness, one of the earliest Stone circles in Britain. It was built 5,000 years ago, roughly 1000 years before Stonehenge. Next stop is the second of Orkney’s stone circles, known as the Ring of Brodgar. Situated on a strip of land separating the Harray and Stenness lochs and built 4,600 years ago. When constructed it comprised a circle of 60 stones, 27 of which remain.
Further on, you will arrive at Skara Brae, the best-preserved Neolithic village in Northern Europe, which was occupied for approximately 600 years. The remains of this 5,000 year-old settlement have been well preserved, after being buried under sand dunes for several thousand years. The site was uncovered by the local Laird of Skaill House, William Watt, after a fierce storm in 1850. You will then tour Skaill House which is considered the most complete 17th century country mansion in Orkney. Finally, you will travel along the coast of Scapa Flow, listening to stories of its’ wartime history, which make this one of the most famous stretches of water in world.
Transport Not Included
SCENIC SOUTH ISLES TOUR
Price on Request
This tour takes you along the picturesque chain of islands south of the Orkney Mainland. These islands are linked by a series of causeways and home to some fascinating vestiges of the Second World War.
You travel through Orkney’s farmland and then along the First and Second World War Naval Base of Scapa Flow, where we hear wartime stories that make this one of the best known stretches of water in the world.
The series of causeways called the Churchill Barriers which link these southern islands were originally built from concrete blocks to protect the Naval Base in World War II, following the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in 1939. Now surfaced with a roadway, they provide a link to the islands which were previously only connected by ferry. On Lamb Holm we visit the beautifully hand-painted Italian Chapel. Known as the miracle of Camp 60, this remarkable structure was built by Italian Prisoners during the last World War. The Chapel has been preserved for its historical connection with the Italian soldiers.
From here we continue south to the island of South Ronaldsay and on to the village of St Margaret's Hope. Local legend tells that the village is named after Margaret, Maid of Norway, who died near here on her way to marry King Edward II of England. Although, she was never a Saint and confusion arose because there was a chapel there dedicated to the real St Margaret, second wife of King Malcolm III Canmore. We stop for a while here to explore the Craft shops or take a stroll through the old street.
Transport Not Included