10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Orkney Islands That You Shouldn't Miss

This is Orkney's largest island after Mainland.

Guided Tours of the beautiful island of Westray including history, archaeology, wildlife, local culture and a home cooked lunch.

We are a small family business offering Guided Tours of Orkney. We can take up to eight passengers in our luxury minibus. Our bespoke tours can include The Heart of Neolithic Orkney, Scapa Flow and the South Isles, a Taste of Orkneys food and drink, a Farm Tour, crafts and knitwear or just drive around and take in our beautiful landscapes and seascapes.

David and Margaret are a husband and wife team of experienced professional Orkney Guides offering private day and half day tours in our air conditioned 7 passenger Hyundai i800. Orkney has stunning scenery, 5,000 year old Megalithic World Heritage sites, a bloodthirsty Viking past and an inland sea that was the British Navy's base in the two World Wars. We tailor our tours round our guests.

We specialize in exclusive tours of Orkney, concentrating on the wonderful archaeology but also showing you as much as possible of our beautiful islands. We offer all-inclusive ‘Orkney Adventure’ 7-night small group holidays with a maximum of just eight people, together with private all-inclusive tours and day tours, conducted in our own comfortable executive touring vehicle. Our small group sizes mean we can visit sites off the beaten track and you benefit from the personal touch. We are the only tour company in Orkney to be run by archaeologists - all of our tours are personally led by either Dr Caz Mamwell BSc MA PhD FSA Scot or by Dr Dave Lawrence BSc MSc PhD FSA Scot, who have an in depth understanding of Orkney’s archaeology, cultural traditions and history. They are also accredited STGA Green Badge Orkney Tourist Guides, as well as knowing all the best places to see puffins and seals! Please visit our website for brochure and full details.

HOORAY! We'll be open again to visitors on May 31st 2021. Please phone the mill to book. Tours are at 11, 11.45, 12.30, 1.15, 2.00, 3.15 and 4pm. Numbers are limited. Barony Mill is Orkney's last remaining water mill, grinding the ancient grain bere. Milling is done in winter and in summer we are open to visitors. You can have a guided tour by the miller or a volunteer guide. Feel the building shake and shudder when the water is turned on! Afterwards buy some beremeal or oatmeal at the mill and try the recipes in our book for yourself. Entry is £3.50 for adults (free for children) but we still welcome donations which help keep the mill going. We look forward to meeting you!

Island Tours of Hoy A warm welcome awaits you on the Island of Hoy, the second largest island in the Orkney archipelago with a population of approximately only 400 residents. Hoy or Haey, the Old Norse word for high, is unique, and very different from the Orkney Mainland and other isles. The vertical cliffs are the highest in the British Isles, there are vast swathes of wilderness, an abunda

Kirbuster Museum is the last un-restored example of a traditional ‘firehoose’ in Northern Europe. The house has a central hearth, complete with peat fire, and a stone neuk bed reminiscent of the Neolithic interiors that can be seen at sites such as Skara Brae, and demonstrates how little some aspects of domestic life changed in Orkney over many centuries. The house also has an Edwardian parlour and Victorian Gardens and visitors can enjoy a game of putting on the green and explore the Trowie Trail in the back garden. Kirbuster is a unique survivor which gives a fascinating insight into four centuries of family life in Orkney. An excellent place to visit if you are researching your Orkney ancestry. FREE ADMISSION. Access is currently restricted so please be prepared to wait if the site is busy, and to adhere to the safety advice on hygiene and physical distancing. It is mandatory to wear a face covering in the building and you will be asked for your contact details for Test & Protect.