Short Break in Orkney - 4 Day Itinerary

Get up bright and early to visit one of Orkney’s most famous attractions – the ancient Ring of Brodgar. Sunrises here are spectacular and you’ll never forget the experience of walking amongst the standing stones in the clear morning light.

This impressive standing stone circle has stood for 5,000 years and is one of the four historic sites in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. It’s the third largest stone circle in Britain, with 27 of the 60 original standing stones remaining.

Open: all year

If you find archaeology fascinating, during July and August you can see a live excavation under way at the Ness of Brodgar, a huge Neolithic settlement located close to the Ring of Brodgar.

In 2003 investigations revealed part of a large building and archaeological work began in 2004 to uncover more. Visit the site to see excavations in progress or join one of the free tours to learn more about the excavation.

Open: most of July and August

At the other side of the Ness of Brodgar you’ll find the ancient Standing Stones of Stenness - the second stop on your the Heart of Neolithic Orkney tour.

Believed to be older than the Ring of Brodgar, this monument has been radiocarbon dated to around 3100 – 2900 BC.

Breathe in the fresh Orkney air as you take in the 12 stones and imagine the huge struggle that would have been involved in erecting them over 5,000 years ago.

Open: all year

Stand inside this huge chambered tomb and feel the atmosphere of its still interior. Maeshowe is also part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney (site number three of four on this itinerary) and is thought to date from around 2700 BC.

This is the largest chambered tomb on Orkney. It was built using huge stone slabs, with a vast, 10 m long entrance passageway. Ingeniously, this passageway was constructed to line up perfectly with the setting sun during the midwinter solstice, which illuminates the interior of the chamber.

Inside, on the walls of the tomb, you can see the runic graffiti left behind by Norse invaders – a reminder of Orkney’s Viking past and Norse heritage.

Tip – you can only enter the tomb by booking a guided tour. Book in advance to get the time you want.

Open: all year

Head back towards Kirkwall where you’ll spend the evening. Why not drop your car off at your accommodation and spend the afternoon exploring the town by foot?

Head to Highland Park Distillery, a 20 minute walk from the town centre, and take a tour to learn about how whisky is crafted before sampling some signature Highland Park single malts.

Open: all year

From Highland Park Distillery it’s around a 20 minute walk to St Magnus Cathedral in the centre of Kirkwall.

Founded by Earl Rognvald, in 1137 to house the relics of his uncle, St Magnus, the cathedral was built using vibrant red and yellow sandstone at a time when Orkney was ruled by Vikings.

Major events to look out for at the cathedral include the St Magnus International Festival in June and St Lucy Festival in early December.

Tour St Magnus and admire the beautiful stained glass windows before finding a vibrant local restaurant where you can enjoy dinner.

Open: all year

Spend the evening in Kirkwall.

Rackwick is the starting point for the popular walk out to the famous Old Man of Hoy (your next stop), but it’s worth stopping in Rackwick itself to soak up the peaceful atmosphere of the bay and marvel at the towering red sandstone cliffs on either side of you. There’s also toilet facilities where you can stop for a comfort break.

Open: all year

Pay a visit to Hoy’s most famous natural wonder – the towering, 137 m high sea stack known as the Old Man of Hoy. Beginning in Rackwick, the three hour return walk out to the Old Man of Hoy offers stunning sea views and there is plenty of wildlife to look out for too.

Hoy is an RSPB nature reserve and there are lots of beautiful birds to see soaring around you, including puffins, hen harriers and stonechat.

Open: all year

Your second activity option for today is a visit to the fascinating Dwarfie Stane and a steep climb up Ward Hill, the highest point in Orkney at 1,570 ft.

Begin the Ward Hill and Dwarfie Stane hike in Moaness (where the ferry from Stromness arrives) and head out to visit the ancient Dwarfie Stane. Thought to date from somewhere between the Neolithic and Bronze Age era, the Dwarfie Stane is a huge, 8.5 m long block of red sandstone that has been hollowed out and is thought to have been used as a tomb.

Look inside the tomb before beginning your ascent up Ward Hill. From the top you’ll get stunning views out across the Orkney islands. Take care though, the climb is extremely steep in places.

Open: all year

Once back in Moaness, return to the mainland by ferry and spend the evening in Stromness or Kirkwall.

The first stop of your day is a visit out to the Yesnaby cliffs to see the Yesnaby Castle sea stack bathed in the morning light.

Plan around 1 hour – 1 hour 30 minutes for your visit. There is a relative short walk out to Yesnaby Castle from the car park at the Gun Battery, along the Yesnaby coastal path.

Open: all year

Your second stop this morning is the famous Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae, the final piece of your Heart of Neolithic Orkney jigsaw puzzle.

Made up of eight dwellings interlinked by passageways, Skara Brae was hidden underground for centuries until 1850, when a storm uncovered the outline of several of its stone buildings.

Visit the site to learn more about what life may have been like in Neolithic times and grab lunch in the visitor centre café or head on to the Orkney Brewery (your next stop) to choose a tasty meal from the Tasting Hall café menu.

Open: all year

The Orkney Brewery is just a short drive away from Skara Brae at Quoyloo. Take a tour of the brewery to discover how their signature ales are crafted before sampling a taste of their golden beers and dark ales. Most breweries offer a soft drink alternative for drivers, but you can always pick up a bottle to take home for another time?

Open: all year

Enjoy an afternoon stroll around the circular coastal walk at RSPB Marwick Head nature reserve and look out for beautiful birds including fulmars, razorbills and kittiwakes. In the summer months you can also see up to 25,000 nesting seabirds in the cliff ledges.

Open: all year

If you’re in the area in the evening its worth checking out the calendar of events at the Orkney FolkLore and Storytelling Centre. Hear tales from Orkney’s past as you sit by the peat fire.

Storytelling evenings beginning at 8pm while story courses and family events are available throughout the day. You can also book guided heritage walks of Stromness and Scapa Flow.

Open: all year

Spend the evening in Kirkwall, ahead of your flight to North Ronaldsay tomorrow.

Beginning at North Ronaldsay airport, follow the North Ronaldsay circular walk out to the coastline and on towards North Ronaldsay Lighthouse (your next stop).

Walk northwards till you reach the drystone Sheep Dyke which surrounds the shore of the island. One of North Ronaldsay’s most famous features, the Sheep Dyke is 13 miles long and 2 metres high and was built in 1832 to keep the native sheep on the shore, where they spend the majority of the year grazing on seaweed.

This ancient breed can trace its roots back to the Neolithic era, and is highly prized for its wool and meat. Look out for these star residents as you follow the route around the coastline.

Open: all year

North Ronaldsay Lighthouse is one of the island’s most famous landmarks. This is the tallest land-based lighthouse in Britain at 42 metres high.

Book a lighthouse tour to learn more about this distinctive building and how the lighthouse keepers used light from fire to keep nearby sailors safe. While you’re there, walk out to visit the Old Beacon, the lighthouse’s predecessor, which is located nearby at Dennis Head.

There’s also a lovely café at the lighthouse, where you can stop for something tasty to eat, as well as a shop, where you can pick up local crafts and gifts, and a wool mill, which is your next stop.

Open: please check opening. Tours can be booked in advance.

Located at the lighthouse, A Yarn from North Ronaldsay turns the raw North Ronaldsay sheep fleeces into high quality yarn. Book a tour of the mill to learn about the process for producing felt from raw wool.

Open: please check opening. Tours can be booked in advance.

As well as offering a range of accommodation options, the North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory also has a restaurant and bar, where you can enjoy something to eat and drink, as well as a shop selling local crafts.

Located to the south of the island, the observatory was set up in 1987 to study the birds that visit the island each year. A huge array of beautiful, and often rare, bird species visit the island as they migrate in the spring and autumn months. Pay attention to the skies as you explore the island – you never know what you might spot!

Open: all year

Spend the evening in North Ronaldsay or fly back to Kirkwall.