Orkney Mainland Private Tour: Neolithic Stones & Skara Brae
Stone circles, a prehistoric village, and a chapel built by prisoners of war
A private tour of Orkney Mainland departing from Kirkwall with a professional local guide, covering seven hours and six major Neolithic sites plus a wartime chapel. The tour includes hotel or port pickup, entry to Skara Brae and Skaill House, and stops at the Stones of Stenness (four megaliths from 3100 BC), Ring of Brodgar, Unstan Chambered Cairn, Scapa Flow, and Italian Chapel. Walking is involved at most stops.
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Step-by-step itinerary
- Scapa Flow1h
- Standing Stones of Stenness20m
- Ring of Brodgar40m
- Skara Brae2h · entry included
- Italian Chapel40m · entry included
Orkney Mainland Neolithic and Historic Tour
- Drive through agricultural land
- Visit Scapa Flow harbour
- Stop at Unstan Chambered Cairn
- See the Standing Stones of Stenness
- Explore Ring of Brodgar stone circle
- Tour Skara Brae Neolithic settlement
- Visit Skaill House manor
- Stop at Italian Chapel
The experience
The tour starts with a drive through agricultural land to Scapa Flow, a natural harbour off Scotland's coast known for both its archaeological significance and its wartime history. Your guide will explain what the water and the landscape reveal about life here 5,000 years ago and the events that shaped the islands in the twentieth century. From there you move to Unstan Chambered Cairn, a communal burial place built around 5000 BC with an unusual internal structure of divisions and a side cell: one of the oldest and most distinctive cairns in Britain.
The Stones of Stenness come next: four giant megaliths dating to 3100 BC, originally part of a circle of twelve stones, some standing six metres high. Ring of Brodgar follows, described as the finest known circular stone ring from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age, a site of ritual and ceremony. Both are stops where you walk among the stones themselves and photograph them against the Orkney landscape. Skara Brae, one of the best-preserved stone-built Neolithic settlements, is older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge. You see the circular houses built from stone slabs where people lived 5,000 years ago. Entry is included, and Skaill House, a historic manor overlooking the site and the Bay of Skaill, is part of the same stop. The tour ends at Italian Chapel, a small church with a remarkable wartime history that your guide will detail.
The private format means the pace and the stops are yours alone, and the guide is a local who knows the islands. Hotel or port pickup is included, so you start and end at your accommodation or ship. A full refund is guaranteed if you cancel 30 days before your arrival date.
What’s included
- Professional local guide in English.
- private tour format.
- hotel or port pickup and drop-off in Kirkwall.
- entry to Skara Brae and Skaill House.
- stops at Scapa Flow, Unstan Chambered Cairn, Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, and Italian Chapel.
- full refund if you cancel 30 days before arrival.
Options for this experience
2 optionsBefore you book
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Operated by Top Private Tours UK
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move at your own pace through Orkney's Neolithic landscape with a guide who knows the islands and their history. The private format means no fixed group schedule and no waiting for other travellers at each stop.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is Skara Brae and why is it older than Stonehenge?
Skara Brae is one of the best-preserved stone-built Neolithic settlements in Britain, with circular houses built from stone slabs where people lived 5,000 years ago. The village predates both Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids, making it one of the most significant prehistoric sites in Europe. Entry is included in this tour.
How old are the Stones of Stenness and how many remain?
The Stones of Stenness date back to 3100 BC, making them one of the oldest stone circles in Britain. Originally there were twelve stones, some standing up to six metres high. Today only four remain standing. You walk among them as part of the tour.
What can I learn about Scapa Flow on this tour?
Scapa Flow is a natural harbour off the coast of Scotland known for both its archaeological significance and its fascinating war stories. Your guide will explain what the water and landscape reveal about life in the archipelago 5,000 years ago and the events that shaped the islands during wartime.
Does the tour include entry to Skara Brae and Skaill House?
Yes, entry to both Skara Brae and Skaill House is included in the tour price. Skaill House is a historic manor that overlooks the Neolithic site and the Bay of Skaill.
What is Italian Chapel and why is it on this tour?
Italian Chapel is a small church on the island with a remarkable wartime history. Your guide will explain its fascinating background as part of the final stop on the tour.
How much walking is involved in this tour?
Walking is involved at most stops throughout the day as you explore the stone circles, cairns, and archaeological sites. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though you should be prepared to walk among the monuments and across the landscape.
Orkney Mainland Private Tour: Neolithic Stones & Skara Brae
7h · EN · at your hotel
from £ 382 per person
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