Skara Brae Tours & Ring of Brodgar Tour: Explore Orkney Heritage Sites
- Upto 6 Hours
- From £145.00 per person, including entry fees for Skara bare, and Italian chapel
Step back 5,000 years with our Skara Brae tour and Ring of Brodgar tour, exploring two of Orkney’s most extraordinary heritage sites. From the perfectly preserved homes of Europe’s oldest village to the towering stone circle commanding awe to this day. Join us for a private guided experience across landscapes that have shaped Scotland’s history and imagination.
Skara Brae Tour
Step inside a 5,000-year-old village. Our Skara Brae tour is your front-row seat to everyday Neolithic life, part of the Orkney World Heritage Site and among the most fascinating Orkney Neolithic sites ever uncovered.
- A Storm-Born Discovery: Hidden beneath sand for millennia, Skara Brae was revealed by a fierce storm in 1850, its stone homes still intact, hearths and dressers included.
- Life Frozen in Time: Walk narrow passageways once roofed with turf, peek into rooms where fires once burned, and picture neighbours sharing barley, fish, and stories by the sea.
- Ingenious Design: Each house had stone beds, built-in storage, and doors fastened with whalebone bars, proof that privacy mattered even five millennia ago.
- A Living Connection: Explore artefacts carved from bone and stone, admire the craftsmanship, and feel how these early islanders shaped a culture that still echoes through Orkney today.
Wind, sea, and silence-the same forces that sheltered Skara Brae now whisper through its ancient walls.
Ring of Brodgar Tour
Walk among legends carved in stone. Our Ring of Brodgar tour takes you to one of the most awe-inspiring Orkney heritage sites, a monumental circle where history, ritual, and mystery still linger.
- A Circle of Giants: Built between 2500 BC and 2000 BC, the Ring of Brodgar once held around 60 standing stones. Today, 27 remain, each up to 4.7 metres tall, forming a perfect circle 104 metres wide.
- A Feat of Neolithic Engineering: The stones were quarried miles away at Vestrafiold and dragged here by hand, perhaps as part of a communal ritual more important than the circle itself.
- A Sacred Landscape: Encircled by a great ditch and framed by the lochs of Harray and Stenness, this ancient amphitheatre may have been a gathering place for ceremonies, moon-watching, or songs to the ancestors.
- Part of Orkney’s Living Story: Together with Skara Brae, Maeshowe, and the Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar forms the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site – a testament to the creativity and unity of early island life.
At sunrise or dusk, the Ring of Brodgar glows with the same soft light that touched its stones 4,000 years ago.
Tour Details
What You’ll See
Explore the best of Orkney’s heritage sites in one unforgettable journey:
- Skara Brae: A Neolithic village older than the Pyramids, perfectly preserved within the Orkney World Heritage Site.
- Ring of Brodgar: Orkney’s grandest stone circle, part of the Heart of Orkney Neolithic sites, standing between the lochs of Harray and Stenness.
- Stones of Stenness: One of Britain’s earliest stone circles, built around 3100 BC, its is older then Stonehenge in England and it was originally about 11 stones in a perfect circle but now there are only about 4 lefts.
- Ustan Tomb (Cairn) or Maeshowe Burial Tomb: A marvel of ancient craftsmanship aligned to the winter solstice.
- Yesnaby Cliffs: Dramatic sea views, nesting seabirds, and sandstone pillars sculpted by time.
- Italian Chapel: Visit this beautiful chapel, built with care and artistry by Italian prisoners of war during World War II.
Tour Information
- Duration: 4-6 hours
- Group Size: 4-8 people
- Price: from £145.00 per person, including entry fees for Skara bare, and Italian chapel
- Departure: Kirkwall, with convenient pick-up and drop-off from cruise and ferry terminals
- Experience Type: Private guided tour with local experts in Orkney’s archaeology and culture
Why Travel with Experience Orkney
- Licensed local guides passionate about Orkney’s Neolithic sites
- Fast and secure online booking with instant confirmation
- Transparent pricing, no hidden costs, no crowds, just time to explore
- Insightful storytelling that brings Orkney heritage sites to life
- Perfect for history lovers, photographers, and first-time visitors alike
Become part of the world of stone circles, sea winds, and stories that shaped the islands.
Tour Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit Skara Brae?
Entry is included in our tour package, with tickets worth £100 provided as part of your booking.
Is Skara Brae worth visiting?
Absolutely, it’s one of Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic villages and a highlight of the Orkney World Heritage Site.
How long is a visit to Skara Brae?
Most visitors spend around an hour exploring the site as part of our 4-6 hour guided tour.
Can you walk around Skara Brae?
Yes, you can follow marked paths around the dwellings and view the original homes from safe walkways.
Is there a café at Skara Brae?
Yes, the visitor centre includes a café serving light meals and refreshments.
Do you need tickets for the Ring of Brodgar?
No, the Ring of Brodgar tour includes access to this free public heritage site.
Which is older, Stonehenge or the Ring of Brodgar?
Stonehenge began slightly earlier, around 3000 BC, but the Ring of Brodgar (2500-2000 BC) remains one of Britain’s oldest and largest stone circles.
How many stones are in the Ring of Brodgar?
Originally, about 60 stones formed the circle, and 27 still stand today. There are also at least 13 prehistoric burial mounds, and a huge rock-cut ditch around the stone circle.