The Orkney Wireless Museum is one of international importance – Name one other museum dedicated to preserving wireless communication history! Orkney Gin Company is based in Burray too, with its wide range of award-winning gins produced in the village. Although there is no visitor centre, you can find bottles in shops across Orkney. One of two museums in Orkney, it holds radios and devices over 100 years old! You can listen to a crystal set, play tennis on the oldest computer game, and learn how wireless communication helped troops in World War II. Grain Earth House The other way of getting to Orkney is by plane. Flights to Orkney land at Kirkwall airport from many towns in the UK – Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham…

Orkney’s history isn’t fully focused on the Neolithic though. The Iron Age Broch of Gurness is one of the best examples of its kind, and the Earl’s Palace in Birsay is a 16 th century courtyard castle built by Robert Stewart, half-brother of Mary, Queen of Scots. More recent history is showcased at places like Skaill House, Corrigall Farm Museum, Kirbuster Museum and HMS Tern, the remains of a WW2 airfield. Kirkwall, Orkney's main town, is a great base for touring by car or by bike. There are excellent ferry services between islands, though you can also take the world's shortest scheduled flight - 2 minutes! - between Westray and Papa Westray.

The Maphill difference

When it comes to accommodation in Scotland, there's a fantastic choice of amazing stays from luxury hotels to glamping getaways.

This 3000-year-old settlement is made of stone and leads into an oval home, giving you an accurate view of what life was like all those years ago. You can’t miss out on this ancient attraction on the west side of Kirkwall, found on the Hatston Industrial Estate. The Tankerness House Gardens Italian prisoners of war created this picturesque church from the local log timber in the area. They were allowed to have a church of their own to worship in, so the Italian Chapel was born. Other Things To Do in Scottish Isles Next door you’ll find the Orkney Wine Company and J. Gow Rum, two family-run businesses offering a fantastic range of wine and spirits, as well as tastings and tours. I list more options in the article, but, with only a short time, I would recommend staying on Mainland Orkney and discovering: Before traditional long houses, the prehistoric people of Orkney lived in large earth houses. You can come to see this Iron Age dwelling near Kirkwall when you visit.Kirkwall airport also has flights to many other islands in the Orkney archipelago, so it’s your gateway to the many principal north islands near mainland Orkney. Airplane-spotters will also love the unique selection of smaller aircraft that take off and land at this remote airport! Drive Down the Causeway For something slightly different, head to Sanday with its beautiful beaches, bays and dunes and its unique lighthouse. Start point lighthouse, Sanday Island And more… If you don’t want to drive all the way to the North, you can also take a longer ferry from Aberdeen (on the East Coast of Scotland) to Kirwall Video, photos and practical information on my article about the Standing Stones of Stenness. Standing Stones of Stenness #13 – The Ring of Brodgar There’s a lot of local historical interest to visit within walking distance, and locations like Broad Street, Kirkwall Harbour, and Harbour Street in town are filled with restaurants serving fresh seafood and local brews. Orkney Museum

Right next to the Broch of Gurness is Aikerness Beach, one of the longest stretches of sand on Mainland Orkney.Kirkwall is the administrative centre of Kirkwall and a cultural melting pot with influences from the Scottish Mainland and Norse heritage. It’s not uncommon to stumble across beautiful buildings or streets and discover that it’s from the age of the Vikings! Learn more in the article dedicated to the Maeshowe Chambered Cairn. Maeshowe Chambered Cairn #12 – Standing Stones of Stenness Known as the ‘Light in the North’, this cathedral is the northernmost cathedral in Scotland and was given to Orkney by King James III. Founded by the Viking Earl Rognvald, you can come to appreciate its magnificent height and architecture in Kirkwall. Its stained glass windows and cut stone interior are the stuff of legends so don’t miss out on it when you visit! Orkney Wireless Museum After leaving the Orkney mainland and crossing the first barrier, you’ll arrive in Lamb Holm. Here you’ll find one of Orkney’s most enduring attractions, the Italian Chapel. Constructed by Italian Prisoners of War, who were taken to Orkney to build the Churchill Barriers, the chapel is a symbol of hope and peace from a dark time in history. Video, Photos and practical information on my article about the Ring of Brodgar. The Ring of Brodgar #14 to #21 – Other West Mainland Orkney attractions

Head west of the village past the beach at the Sands o’Wright and you’ll come to the coast at Hoxa Head. A clifftop walk here gives you the chance to take in the huge expanse of Scapa Flow, as well as an opportunity to explore some of Orkney’s finest wartime buildings. The nearby Hoxa Tapestry Gallery is well worth a visit too. East Mainland Orkney is less famous. It is mostly low grassy farmland mainly enjoyed by birdwatchers and people interested in World War II. Things to do include: Once in Orkney, better to have your own car to discover all the things to do in Orkney on mainland and in the neighboring islands. So, I recommend you take the ferry with your car from Mainland Scotland. This way as soon as you disembark, you can head to the first amazing attractions. No time wasted. From Aberdeen, you can also travel to Kirkwall by ferry or you can take a flight from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness or Shetland.However, you can also rent a car or bikes where you arrive (by ferry or by plane). How is driving on Orkney? Meanwhile, whisky lovers only have a mile or two to go to find Highland Park Distillery, to the south east of the town, and Scapa Distillery, to the south west. Both offer tastings and tours and are well worth a visit.