Mainland · Town
Kirkwall
Orkney's capital and practical base, centred on St Magnus Cathedral and a compact historic core.
Explore Kirkwall →Ancient monuments, sea cliffs and island stories at Scotland's northern edge
Explore Kirkwall and Stromness, stand among Neolithic monuments older than Stonehenge, cross to Hoy and follow quiet island roads between beaches, farmland and the Atlantic.
Five thousand years of island historyOrkney feels open, ancient and remarkably close to its pastThe distances are modest, but archaeology, weather and ferry crossings reward a slower itinerary.
Explore Orkney
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to explore Mainland Orkney, prehistoric sites, harbour towns and neighbouring islands.
Featured places
Where to go in Orkney
Mainland Orkney holds many of the best-known sites, while the outer islands add quieter landscapes and ferry journeys.
Mainland · Town
Stromness
A stone-built harbour town of narrow lanes, maritime history and strong island character.
Explore Stromness →Mainland · Heritage
Skara Brae
A remarkably preserved Neolithic village beside the Atlantic coast.
Explore Skara Brae →Mainland · Heritage
Ring of Brodgar
A vast prehistoric stone circle set in a broad ceremonial landscape.
Explore Ring of Brodgar →Orkney · Island
Hoy
A high, rugged island of sea cliffs, hills and dramatic Atlantic scenery.
Explore Hoy →Mainland · Coast
Birsay
A northern coastal area of ruins, cliffs and tidal access to the Brough of Birsay.
Explore Birsay →Lamb Holm · Heritage
Italian Chapel
A remarkable wartime chapel created by Italian prisoners of war.
Explore Italian Chapel →Orkney · Island
South Ronaldsay
An island linked by the Churchill Barriers, with coast, villages and archaeology.
Explore South Ronaldsay →Choose your kind of day
What is Orkney best for?
Stone circles, tombs & ancient homesNeolithic Orkney
Atlantic edges & dramatic coastSea Cliffs
Norse, wartime & maritime storiesIsland History
Hoy and quieter outer islandsIsland Hopping
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
Orkney's best-known mainland sites combine easily, but outer islands need their own ferry-led plans.
Kirkwall & the east
A practical introduction to Orkney.
- Kirkwall for cathedral and old town
- Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers
- Add South Ronaldsay if time allows
Stromness & Neolithic west
Orkney's classic archaeology route.
- Stromness for harbour character
- Skara Brae and nearby coast
- Ring of Brodgar and surrounding monuments
Hoy
A separate island day.
- Plan around ferry times
- Allow space for walking and coast
- Do not rush the return crossing
Let archaeology and ferries set the pace
Mainland Orkney is compact, but major sites deserve time. Outer islands should be treated as separate journeys.
For a dayFocus on Kirkwall/east or Stromness/Neolithic west.
For a weekendAdd one outer-island day.
By carVery useful for archaeological and coastal sites.
By ferryCheck island connections before finalising the day.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Base on Mainland for convenience, then add island crossings selectively.
Keep exploring
Continue to Shetland or back into the Highlands
Shetland and the northern Highlands are the natural onward connections from Orkney.