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Orkney Heritage Tour

By Experience Orkney
Free cancellation available
Price is AU$281 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 6h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup

Overview

These tours, which include sites like the Italian Chapel, Yesnaby Cliffs, Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, and the Unstan Burial Tomb are unique for several reasons.
These sites collectively offer a blend of historical, archaeological, natural, and cultural significance.
The Italian Chapel is a remarkable example of resilience and creativity. Built by Italian prisoners of war (War II).
Yesnaby Cliffs are famous for their dramatic sea cliffs and rugged coastline.
Skara Brae is one of the most complete and well-preserved prehistoric villages in Europe, dating back over 5,000 years.
The Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic stone circle and part of the UNESCO-listed Heart of Neolithic Orkney.
The Standing Stones of Stenness are part of an ancient ritual complex and are among the oldest stone circles in Britain, dating back to around 3,000 BCE.
The Unstan Burial Tomb is a Neolithic chambered cairn and one of several burial sites found on Orkney and the oldest of all.

Activity location

  • Skara Brae Prehistoric Village
    • KW16 3LR, Sandwick, Scotland, United Kingdom

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Travel centre
    • KW15 1AB, Kirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom

Check availability

Orkney Heritage Tour

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

Pickup included

Language options: English
Price details
AU$280.94 x 4 AdultsAU$1,123.76
Total
Price is AU$1,123.76

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Bottled water
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Italian Chapel
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Skarabrae
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Knee Pads
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Minivan
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Alcoholic Drinks
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Breakfast
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    No Wi-Fi on Board the Minivan

Know before you book

  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Specialised infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travellers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Activity itinerary

Skara Brae Prehistoric Village

  • 1h 30m
  • Admission ticket included
Skara Brae is one of the best-preserved prehistoric villages in the world—a remarkably intact snapshot of life over 5,000 years ago on the Orkney mainland. Buried under sand for millennia and revealed by a storm in 1850, it offers an unusually vivid look at Neolithic daily life. The site consists of 8 stone-built houses, linked by low, covered passageways. Each house is partly dug into the ground and surrounded by thick walls, providing insulation against Orkney’s harsh weather. The interiors are surprisingly recognisable: A central hearth (fireplace) Built-in stone beds Shelving units often called the “stone dressers” Everything is made of stone, since timber was scarce.

Ring of Brodgar

  • 30m
The Ring of Brodgar is one of the largest and most impressive stone circles in Britain—a vast, almost perfectly circular monument set in a dramatic landscape between the lochs of Harray and Stenness. It’s a key part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. The circle originally contained around 60 standing stones; today, about 27 remain upright. It measures roughly 104 metres (340 feet) in diameter, making it one of the largest stone circles in the UK. The stones are slender slabs of sandstone, spaced widely apart to form a near-perfect ring. Surrounding the circle is a rock-cut ditch (about 3 metres deep), though there is no outer bank, which is unusual for a henge.

Standing Stones of Stenness

  • 20m
The Stones of Stenness are one of the oldest and most atmospheric prehistoric monuments in Britain, located on the Orkney mainland between the lochs of Stenness and Harray. They form part of the wider Heart of Neolithic Orkney, alongside sites like Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae. The monument is a stone circle (henge) dating to around 3000 BCE, making it older than Stonehenge. Originally, it likely consisted of 12 massive standing stones, though only 4 remain upright today. The stones are tall, thin slabs of sandstone, some reaching about 6 metres (20 feet) in height. They are set within a circular ditch and bank, typical of a henge structure.

Unstan Chambered Cairn

  • 20m
The Unstan Tomb (or Unstan Chambered Cairn) is a beautifully preserved Neolithic burial monument on the shore of the Loch of Stenness, offering a quieter but deeply atmospheric contrast to Orkney’s larger stone circles. It is a chambered cairn—a stone-built tomb covered by a mound. The mound is oval-shaped, about 20 metres long, and made of layered stone. Inside is a central chamber divided into side cells (small compartments) where human remains were placed. The entrance passage leads into a low, dim interior, creating a strong sense of enclosure.

Yesnaby Cliffs

  • 30m
The Yesnaby Cliffs are among Orkney’s most dramatic natural landscapes, rising steeply above the Atlantic Ocean on the island’s west coast. Known for their rugged beauty and powerful sea views, they offer a striking contrast to the area’s ancient monuments. The cliffs are made of layered red sandstone, shaped over millions of years by wind and waves. They rise to heights of around 30–50 metres (100–160 feet) in places. The rock formations are jagged and sculpted, with stacks, arches, and narrow inlets carved by the sea.

The Italian Chapel

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket included
The Italian Chapel is a small but deeply moving place of worship built during the Second World War by Italian prisoners of war. Unlike Orkney’s prehistoric sites, it tells a much more recent and human storey—one of creativity, resilience, and hope. The chapel is constructed from two Nissen huts (semi-cylindrical military structures) joined together. Inside, it has been transformed into a beautifully decorated church interior, with: A painted altar and apse Decorative fresco-style murals Intricate ironwork and detailing Materials were simple and improvised—scrap metal, concrete, and paint—yet the result is strikingly elegant.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Skara Brae Prehistoric Village
    • KW16 3LR, Sandwick, Scotland, United Kingdom

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Travel centre
    • KW15 1AB, Kirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Experience the wonders of the world up close with great deals on things to do near and far. We offer one-of-a-kind activities that allow you to explore Sandwick your way. Whether you love nature, culture, food or a bit of adventure, we have the perfect activity for you.