Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae & Skaill House
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port
Kirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom
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activityLevel
Moderate Activity
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excursionType
Information Not Currently Available
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$140
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals not included
Passing through an area of rich farmland, rolling hills and moorland fringed by magnificent cliffs, you'll visit most of the elements comprising the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.
Watch for the ceremonial Standing Stones of Stenness and, not far away, you will visit the great, extraordinary and very eerie Ring of Brodgar on a windswept plain.
Further on, you'll find Skara Brae -- Orkney's most exciting Neolithic village and the best-preserved of its kind in Northern Europe. Skara Brae is 5,000 years, beautifully preserved and interpreted in the Visitor Center. Lying beside the pretty, sandy crescent of the Bay of Skaill, this Stone Age settlement was totally buried under sand for thousands of years, until it was suddenly revealed during a fierce storm in 1850. Among the fascinating relics found here are tools, beads, pottery and whalebone artifacts spanning a period of approximately 600 years of occupation, all based on the tough maritime economy. Looking across the village, it is easy to imagine how it looked all those millennia ago, and close inspection of the houses gives a unique insight into how our ancient ancestors lived.
The hardship of life in Skara Brae contrasts sharply with Orkney's finest manor house, Skaill House, located nearby. This is the next stop on your journey. A powerful bishop built Skaill House in 1620, right over the top of an ancient graveyard. Today it offers a terrific glimpse of well-to-do life in the 17th century.
Finally, you'll return to Kirkwall via historic Scapa Flow, where your guide will share stories of dramatic wartime experiences that make this one of the most renowned stretches of water in world, as well as a favorite scuba diving site.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. The walk from the coach park to Skara Brae and back to Skaill House is around a half-mile on an improved path. It is sometimes exposed to harsh weather. Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience.