Orkney West Mainland Tour: Skara Brae & Standing Stones

Five thousand years of Orkney in one morning: neolithic houses, standing stones, and the cliffs where the islands drop to the sea.

The Orkney West Mainland Tour is a 6-hour guided small-group tour visiting Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Standing Stones of Stenness, and the cliffs of Yesnaby, with Skara Brae entrance included. A live English-speaking guide leads the route through Scapa Flow, the Earl's Palace ruins in Birsay, and Kirbuster Farm Museum. Minimum age is 16; all fitness levels are welcome, though vehicle seats are 48–51cm wide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Orkney West Mainland highlights

• Drive with views of Scapa Flow
• Guided tour of Skara Brae
• Tour the Ring of Brodgar
• Photo stop at Standing Stones of Stenness
• Photo stop at Cliffs of Yesnaby
• Visit ruins of Earl’s Palace in Birsay
• Explore Kirbuster Farm Museum

The Experience

How do you see 5,000 years of Orkney without renting a car or piecing together four separate trips? This 6-hour tour strings the West Mainland's major stops into one route: Scapa Flow's naval history, Skara Brae's preserved neolithic settlement, the Ring of Brodgar's henge monument, and the Standing Stones of Stenness—believed to be the UK's oldest known henge. You get entry to Skara Brae included, so the ticket line is already handled when you arrive.

The day moves between guided walks and photo stops. At Skara Brae, you're led through the stone-built houses that survived 5,000 years under sand; at the Ring of Brodgar, the guide explains the monument itself rather than leaving you to guess. Yesnaby's cliffs get a stop for the view. The Earl's Palace in Birsay—a 16th-century ruin built by the Earl Robert Stewart—stands beside the medieval Bishop's Palace, and the nearby village of Birsay holds traditional stone cottages and coastal views. Kirbuster Farm Museum, a working Orkney farmhouse with a central peat fire and period farming tools, closes the loop on how islanders actually lived.

The group stays small, and the guides are local—they know which light hits the stones best and which stories the textbooks skip. You'll have plenty of time to photograph and ask questions. Scapa Flow itself is a scenic drive rather than a stop, but it frames the whole morning: this was the main British naval base in both World Wars, and the water you're looking at held the entire fleet. The vehicle seats are 48–51cm wide with generous legroom; if that feels tight, you can purchase an additional seat when you book.

What’s included

• Skara Brae entrance fee and guided tour.
• guided visits to the Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness.
• photo stops at Yesnaby's cliffs, the Earl's Palace ruins in Birsay, and Kirbuster Farm Museum.
• scenic drive through Scapa Flow with local guide commentary.
• small-group tour with live English-speaking guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Orkney Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Orkney's major neolithic and historical sites in one morning without organizing separate tickets or transport—the guide handles the route and the story, so you just show up and walk through 5,000 years.

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Top questions

What exactly is Skara Brae and why is it worth the entry fee?

Skara Brae is the best-preserved neolithic village in Northern Europe, built around 3100 BCE and buried under sand for millennia until storms exposed it in the 1850s. You walk through actual stone-built houses with stone furniture still inside, which is why archaeologists call it the most complete picture of how people lived 5,000 years ago. The guided tour at the site explains what each room was and how the village worked as a community.

How much time do you actually spend at each stop?

The tour is 6 hours total, including drive time between sites. Skara Brae gets a guided walk; the Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness are guided stops; Yesnaby's cliffs, the Earl's Palace ruins, and Kirbuster Farm Museum are photo stops or brief visits. The itinerary is paced to let you see and photograph without rushing, but the exact time at each site depends on the group's questions and pace that day.

Do I need to be fit or experienced to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Skara Brae involves walking down stairs and through stone passages, but the pace is guided and you can move at your own speed. The other stops are mostly short walks or standing views. If you have mobility concerns, let the operator know when you book so they can advise on what works for you.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch is not included in this tour. The 6-hour itinerary is structured around the sites themselves, so you'll want to bring snacks or plan a meal before or after. The operator can suggest local spots in the villages you pass through.

What's the difference between the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar?

The Standing Stones of Stenness is believed to be the oldest known henge monument in the UK and is a photo stop on the tour. The Ring of Brodgar is a larger stone circle monument that you visit with a guide who explains its layout and significance. Both are neolithic, but they're separate sites with different histories and scales.

Can I bring a service animal on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour. If you're traveling with a service animal, mention it when you book so the operator can confirm any specific arrangements.