Culture and History

Orkney has fascinating discoveries around every corner, many of which ultimately pose more questions than they answer. Visitors don’t need a particular knowledge of history – just curiosity, a lively imagination, and a bit of vision!

Orkney boasts some of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Europe, including Neolithic villages, burial tombs and impressive stone circles. Orkneys 5,500 year-old Neolithic Heartland was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1999. This includes the magnificent Ring of Brodgar - originally 60 stones in a vast circle between the Stenness and Harray Lochs, 27 of which remain standing. Close by are the Standing Stones of Stenness, Barnhouse Village and the tomb of Maeshowe, which is considered to be one of the finest architectural achievements of prehistoric Europe, and is Orkney’s largest and finest chambered cairn. The Vikings visited Maeshowe during the 12th century and left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions known.

For any visitor to Orkney, a visit to Skara Brae is essential. It is an incredibly well preserved stone village containing an intricate maze of dwellings, with stone beds, lintels and cupboards are all intact, and dates back some 5,000 years. The site was revealed in 1850 by a violent storm and is now one of the most famous Neolithic sites in Northern Europe.




The Vikings didn’t only leave their mark on Maeshowe, but their influence on place names, pattern of settlement, culture and language is a constant reminder of our Norse heritage. The names of islands and streets in Orkney are a constant reminder of the past and echo like an Ancient Norse litany. Along with the Shetland Islands to the north, Orkney remained under Norse rule till 1468, the last outposts of a dwindling Scandinavian dynasty to fall under Scottish influence.


In the heart of Orkney’s main town, Kirkwall lies St Magnus Cathedral the most spectacular Viking structure. Earl Rognavald built it in 1137, in memory of his uncle Magnus who was earlier murdered by another cousin Haakon, co-ruler at that time. Today the beautiful sandstone building continues to be a place of worship for the local people. There are many other structural remains around the islands to visit including Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces, Kirkwall; the Round Church, Orphir; Cubbie Roo’s Castle, Wyre; Tomb of the Eagles, South Ronaldsay; Mine Howe, Tankerness; Earls Palace, Birsay; and the Brough of Birsay Church, to name a few.



For more recent history that is, even more vivid, go to Scapa Flow – a 50 square mile expanse of deep water, which forms one of the largest, sheltered anchorages in the world. Evocative relics of two world wars lie both within and around the Flow – seven German ships, the Churchill Barriers with their beached blockships, the inspiring Italian Chapel.



Many visitors come to Orkney to find their more recent family roots in the islands - Orcadians that have left to travel around the globe in pursuit of a living or of adventure.Thousands return each year just to stand upon the soil which their ancestors ploughed, or to sail upon the waters which bore their ancestors off to foreign lands. From North Ronaldsay to Lyness, every ruckle of stones may be the ancestral steading of someone like yourself, who has yet to come home. For Orkney names, places, and useful research links - log on to www.ancestralorkney.com