Neolithic Orkney tour: Skara Brae, stone circles & guide

See three UNESCO World Heritage stone circles and Europe's best-preserved Stone Age village from a car

A guided tour of Orkney's Neolithic monuments departing from Kirkwall in a private air-conditioned car, visiting Skara Brae (the best-preserved Stone Age village in Northern Europe), the Ring of Brodgar, and the Standing Stones of Stenness. The tour runs between one and four hours depending on your interests. Your guide is Gail, a local taxi driver who tailors the route and pace to what you want to see. Pickup is included from your Kirkwall location.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Skara Brae1h
2. Ring of Brodgar20m
3. Standing Stones of Stenness20m
4. Italian Chapel15m · entry included

Explore Neolithic Sites of Orkney

• Visit Skara Brae Stone Age village
• See the Ring of Brodgar stone circle
• View the Standing Stones of Stenness
• Enjoy Orkney's natural beauty and wildlife

The experience

How do you see three major Neolithic sites without renting a car or waiting for a bus? You ride with Gail, a local taxi driver based in Kirkwall who knows where to stop and how long to linger. The tour moves through an air-conditioned vehicle, which means you're not walking between sites or standing exposed to Orkney's weather. Gail handles the driving. You handle the deciding, whether to spend an hour at Skara Brae or move through it faster, whether to add a distillery visit or a coastal drive, whether to stop at quiet villages or hidden viewpoints along the way.

Skara Brae is the centerpiece: a Stone Age village so well preserved that you can walk into 5,000-year-old homes and see the stone beds and storage boxes where people actually lived. The Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic henge and stone circle that sits part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Standing Stones of Stenness originally held twelve stones. Four remain standing now, and they're older than Stonehenge. All three are within reach of Kirkwall, but none are on a direct route: the car solves that problem.

Gail picks you up from your location in Kirkwall and builds the itinerary around what interests you. The tour can run as short as an hour or stretch to four hours if you want to add stops, explore the coastline, or visit a local distillery. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one. The pace is yours. The knowledge is hers.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup from your Kirkwall location.
• guided tour with a local taxi driver who tailors the route and pace to your interests.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Scenic Orkney

Is this one for you?The tour runs at whatever pace suits you (from a quick one-hour loop to a four-hour deep dive with extra stops), so you see three major Neolithic sites without renting a car or navigating Orkney's roads yourself.

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Top questions

What exactly is Skara Brae and why is it worth the stop?

Skara Brae is the best-preserved Stone Age village in Northern Europe, with homes dating back 5,000 years where you can see the original stone beds and storage boxes inside the dwellings.

Can I visit all three Neolithic sites in one tour?

Yes, Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, and the Standing Stones of Stenness are all included in the tour route, and Gail arranges the stops based on how much time you want to spend at each one.

Do I need to book entry tickets to these sites separately?

Entry to Skara Brae is not included in the tour price and must be purchased separately. The stone circles (Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness) are free to visit.

How long does the tour actually take?

The tour runs between one and four hours depending on your interests. You can move quickly through the sites or spend more time at each one, and Gail can add stops like distillery visits or coastal drives if you want.

What if I want to see something beyond the main Neolithic sites?

Gail offers tailor-made routes and can arrange scenic drives along the coastline, stops in quiet villages, visits to local distilleries, and other local history stops based on what interests you.