Orkney Private Tour: Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar & Chapel

Walk through 5,000 years of Orkney's history in a single day

A private guided tour of Orkney covering six major sites across eight hours: the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar (both part of the UNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney), the Italian Chapel built by World War II prisoners of war, St Magnus Cathedral, and the medieval Bishop's and Earl's Palaces in Kirkwall. Entry fees to Skara Brae, the Italian Chapel, and the palaces are included; a live English-speaking guide drives and narrates throughout; hotel pickup is included; children from age 13 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Skara Brae1h 30m · entry included
2. Ring of Brodgar20m
3. Standing Stones of Stenness15m
4. Italian Chapel15m · entry included
5. St. Magnus Cathedral30m

Explore Orkney's Neolithic and historic sites

• Visit Skara Brae Neolithic Village
• See dramatic Yesnaby Cliffs coastal views
• Explore Unstan Tomb prehistoric burial site
• Visit Ring of Brodgar ancient monument
• See Standing Stones of Stenness
• Visit Italian Chapel POW-built chapel
• Tour St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall
• Explore Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces ruins

The experience

Skara Brae anchors the day: a Neolithic village dating to around 3100 BCE, older than Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids, and one of Europe's best-preserved prehistoric settlements. The site reads like a Stone Age suburb, with stone-built homes and passages that reveal how people lived five millennia ago. From there the tour moves through the dramatic geology of Orkney itself: Yesnaby Cliffs rise 380 to 400 million years old, their sandstone faces carved by centuries of erosion into sea stacks and shaped by wind and water. Seabirds (puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes) nest along the cliffs in summer, and the landscape opens onto the kind of isolation and raw beauty that defines the archipelago.

The Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site holds three stops: the Standing Stones of Stenness, which predate Stonehenge by roughly a thousand years and date to around 3000 BCE; the Ring of Brodgar, a stone circle from around 2500 BCE set on a narrow isthmus between two lochs; and Unstan Tomb, a chambered cairn from the late Neolithic. Each site sits within the same landscape, connected by the same thread of ancient ritual and settlement that shaped the islands. The Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II, breaks the chronology but carries its own weight: a symbol of hope and resilience constructed in the harshest conditions of captivity, it stands as a piece of art and spiritual refuge carved from wartime hardship.

Kirkwall holds the final cluster: St Magnus Cathedral, built between 1137 and the 15th century in Romanesque and Gothic styles, its red and yellow sandstone earning it the name "Light of the North"; and the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces, two connected medieval and Renaissance ruins beside the cathedral. The Bishop's Palace survives largely intact on its ground floor: vaulted rooms and stone halls where King Haakon IV of Norway died in 1263. The Earl's Palace, built around 1606, shows Renaissance grandeur: ornate façades, fireplaces, staircases and a great hall designed to display power. The guide handles the driving and narration; bottled water is provided; the pace is set by the eight-hour window and the sites themselves.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• eight hours with a live English-speaking guide who drives and narrates.
• entry to Skara Brae, the Italian Chapel, and Bishop & Earl's Palaces.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 63 years) · Senior (64 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Under 13: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Experience Orkney

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to cover Orkney's span from Neolithic settlements through World War II in one day. The guide drives between sites so you can focus on walking through monuments rather than navigating between them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years). Under 13: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is Skara Brae and why is it so significant?

Skara Brae is a Neolithic village dating to around 3100 BCE, making it one of Europe's best-preserved prehistoric settlements and older than Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids. The site reveals how people lived five thousand years ago, with stone-built homes and passages arranged like a prehistoric suburb, offering a direct window into Stone Age daily life and settlement patterns.

Are the Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness part of the same site?

Both the Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, along with Skara Brae and Unstan Tomb. The Standing Stones date to around 3000 BCE, making them older than Stonehenge, while the Ring of Brodgar is a stone circle from around 2500 BCE. They sit within the same landscape and share the same ancient ritual significance.

What is the Italian Chapel and who built it?

The Italian Chapel was built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II as a place of spiritual refuge and solace during their captivity. It stands as both a work of art and a symbol of hope and resilience, constructed under harsh conditions yet representing the human need for beauty and faith even in wartime.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour covers multiple outdoor sites including Yesnaby Cliffs and the standing stones, so walking is a regular part of the day. The pace is set by the eight-hour duration and the guide's narration at each stop. The guide handles all transport between sites.

What is included in the tour price?

Entry fees to Skara Brae, the Italian Chapel, and the Bishop & Earl's Palaces are included; a live English-speaking guide provides narration throughout; hotel pickup is included; and bottled water is provided during the day.