Kirkwall Day Trips: Top 5 Unmissable Orkney Adventures
Kirkwall, that is the largest town and capital of Orkney, basically acts as this seriously amazing base for exploring these wildly scenic islands. Right? That means, if you’re staying there, you’re absolutely in the right place. Given that Orkney, with that blending of history, gorgeous scenery, and one-of-a-kind culture, is almost begging to be explored, I’m here to, at the end of the day help point you towards the greatest day trips starting right from Kirkwall. That said I’ll take you, at the end of the day on a trip to a few spots you’re really gonna not want to miss!
1. Skara Brae and the West Mainland: Visiting a Stone Age Village
So, really first up on our adventure list is Skara Brae. Basically Skara Brae is Europe’s most whole Stone Age village. I mean, isn’t that so cool? I tell you what it isn’t exactly brand new, in that it’s over 5,000 years of history! Seriously, stepping into Skara Brae is really almost stepping back in time; you will literally get the chance to walk around a prehistoric community completely untouched by the centuries gone by. So, at the end of the day make sure to make a beeline straight over there when the tour bus rocks up to it!
And you get more than just a history lesson on this journey! What do I mean? I’m talking seriously awe-inspiring coastal scenery is just over that hill a bit. Get your camera, take amazing shots of your partner on a dramatic looking outcrop for those amazing instagram likes, which honestly is really priceless stuff, for reals.
Things to do:
- Explore Skara Brae: Experience how people that lived like literally five millennia back made things work day to day.
- Skaill House: Check it out for reals; the home is close to the prehistoric village, in a way.
- Coastal walks: Check out those amazing views and, seriously, fill your pockets with picturesque pebbles!
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2. Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness: Viewing Prehistoric Monuments
Are we gonna keep up that historical, educational stuff? Completely! I mean what’s cooler, right? The Ring of Brodgar basically shows off just how cool Neolithic engineering seriously was. So, go walk amongst these large stone monoliths as they kind of cast long shadows over the heath. In that, maybe take a shot or two and think over the people that literally stood exactly where you stand today but a fair while ago.
At the end of the day it’s next to the Standing Stones of Stenness. Honestly, that location is kinda more humble. That location honestly features stones with like literally more ancient roots than the bigger ring itself, by the way. Anyway the way these spots look, side by side is just seriously breathtaking. In other words take advantage and see them together, you probably, okay definitely won’t regret that!
Things to do:
- Ring of Brodgar: Wander, at the end of the day and literally picture those ceremonies that happened long, long, ago, for reals.
- Standing Stones of Stenness: It sounds, too it’s almost corny, but check out just the serious energy of the landscape!
- Loch of Stenness: You can get some, okay awesome photos here. I can see this getting, in fact framed later, yeah!
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3. Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers: Reviewing History and Ingenuity
Basically get yourself ready for like totally an unexpected surprise when you arrive at that spot. It’s seriously so different. The Italian Chapel shows a lot that kind of ingenuity with just a bit of heartbreak mixed up there. I mean this chapel was set up by Italian prisoners during World War II. Really! What, as a matter of fact gets more impressive about that. Is it even really actually is fashioned from stuff that you see just floating around there? Anyway the end results are completely stunning and totally heart moving. So, really after this visit you’ll start pondering over just what people end up producing when they’re really having tough times!
Plus, and it totally feels so amazing that way. I will tell you that it will also let people picture this huge bit of engineering when that trip drives down The Churchill Barriers. I tell you what though that they actually got built, at the end of the day during both World War deuces to like literally safeguard that British naval fleet once they’re anchored there inside of Scapa Flow.
Things to do:
- Italian Chapel: Look, seriously have a few reflective, silent moments right there at one time.
- Churchill Barriers: So check out some dramatic views all along. Okay? Cool.
- South Ronaldsay: When you like explore just a little bit over just right by here I mean look out, the scenic opportunities honestly stretch on just that far!
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4. Brough of Birsay: Exploring Viking Settlements
So if you wanna at the end of the day channel all those Viking vibes, the Brough of Birsay, honestly you just can’t go wrong when you do a visit out there. I mean you need to like plan that day out as it can definitely only be visited at totally low tide! That sounds crazy right. Yeah I think so. Given that’s on a tidal island anyway so at low tide the Brough seriously features those seriously ancient remains that shows like these Norse together together with those Pictish, early guys and girls settled there way back there!
What did they think they was doing I hear you screaming inside you brain… I dunno, like you know getting busy and stuff probably?! Jokes. You can totally stroll all through these ruins, you are likely to go all Indiana Jones by now and literally picturing out these kinds of totally tough people like actually milling there. Okay! So maybe, if you are honestly game enough climb up really higher because yeah well who knew… epic coastal photos at the top!
Things to do:
- Brough of Birsay: Definitely investigate ancient ruins! You just gotta go get your hands on it.
- St. Peter’s Church: Definitely wander around the older, old church. You gotta wander around.
- Marwick Head Nature Reserve: Right just make time to catch some glimpses around just beyond you’ll thank yourself afterwards!
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5. Hoy: Discovering Dramatic Landscapes and Wildlife
Looking for a totally memorable getaway day and seeing things beyond belief from the city there?! Yeah it is so real the Isle of Hoy delivers just awesome experiences all the way through it literally screams from its vistas… I’m awesome! Really I suppose I need to let that settle in and stop shouting ehh!
Anyway basically its serious landscapes vary off just seriously large cliffs over some seriously super just quiet valleys around by that mountain on just the most northern bit of all that United Kingdom. Yeah but Hoy gives us like just really many of like almost magical hikes and looks especially on when that day that that famous Old Man linked in with just by Hoy at that coastline area which literally becomes that great thing as much photography there there. Hey seriously do not skip seeing all like that awesome stuff.
Things to do:
- Old Man of Hoy: Yeah, definitely go to be just basically awe when someone looks and it takes like one photograph there now it doesn’t…
- Dwarfie Stane: Honestly and basically you like just gotta walk like you see those crazy unusual Stone Age stuff? Cool you already did stuff!
- Rackwick Bay: Absolutely go make those scenic views just come on there… what just that quiet there is truly cool.
Read our full review: Hoy Orkney Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Viator)