A group of stones sitting on top of a lush green field

Orkney

Orkney is a group of islands off Scotland's north coast, known for Neolithic sites such as Skara Brae, sea cliffs and birdlife. Reach it by ferry or flight and explore it by car.

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Orkney is an archipelago of about 70 islands off the north coast of Scotland, and about 20 of them have people living on them. Kirkwall, on Mainland, the largest island, is the main town. Its red sandstone St Magnus Cathedral was begun in the 12th century. Skara Brae is a Neolithic village on Mainland's west coast, with stone houses that still hold their fixed furniture and hearths. Maeshowe is a chambered tomb, and the Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness are standing stone circles nearby. Scapa Flow, the sheltered stretch of water between the islands, was a naval base in both world wars.

Orkney suits travelers who want archaeology, sea cliffs, birdlife and a slower pace. Mainland can be covered by car in a day, but the outer islands need ferry time, so plan at least three days, and four if you want to visit one island beyond Mainland. Summer has the longest daylight and the most ferry and flight options. Winter has shorter days and fewer sailings, and some sites and tours run reduced schedules.

Orkney in five

Reserve your Maeshowe tour firstMaeshowe is open by guided tour only, with limited capacity, and Historic Environment Scotland strongly recommends reserving online. Tours start at the Stenness visitor centre, where a shuttle bus takes you to the cairn.Skara Brae, Maeshowe and Brodgar
Walk the Ring of Brodgar for freeThe Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness are free and open all year, per Historic Environment Scotland. There are no toilets at the Ring; the nearest are at the Maeshowe visitor centre.
Pick the crossing before the bedOrkney.com lists Scrabster to Stromness at 90 minutes, Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope at 70 minutes and Aberdeen to Kirkwall at about 6 hours. Flights from Aberdeen take around 50 minutes.How to get to Orkney
Check the tide for the Brough of BirsayThe Brough is a tidal island that can only be visited at low tide, and the rocky causeway can be slippery. Historic Environment Scotland lists it as free and open year-round.
Landing via Aberdeen or Scrabster? Get the ETAAn ETA is tied to the passport you apply with, and you only show that passport when you travel. Have it approved before you book the NorthLink sailing or the flight north.UK ETA explained

Things to do in Orkney

See all attractions in Orkney

Historic site · OrkneyBrough of Birsay

Sight · OrkneyWaulkmill Bay

Landmark · OrkneyNoup Head Lighthouse

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to OrkneyPut the places you like in Orkney on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Kirkwall (KOI); Loganair from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness
Getting there: NorthLink from Scrabster and Aberdeen; Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay
Getting around: Car is easiest; hail and ride buses pass many sites
Best base: Kirkwall for services; Stromness or Stenness for the west
Time needed: 3 to 5 days; add a ferry day for each island

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain18 rainy daysHigh7°Low5°Short days
FebruaryRain16 rainy daysHigh7°Low5°Windy
MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh7°Low5°Light returns
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low6°Quiet, bright
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low8°Long days
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low10°Midsummer light
JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh14°Low12°Peak season
AugustRain17 rainy daysHigh14°Low12°Busy, warm
SeptemberRain17 rainy daysHigh13°Low12°Autumn light
OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh12°Low10°Autumn gales
NovemberRain19 rainy daysHigh10°Low8°Short days
DecemberRain19 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Dark, mild

Average daily high and low in Kirkwall, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Orkney

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 8°
Humidity: 94%
Wind: 23 km/h
Chance of rain: 82%

Orkney

08:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today11°9°82%Monday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 82%.
Tue11°7°4%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 4%.
Wed10°6°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°6°4%Thursday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
Fri9°6°10%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 10%.
Sat8°7°14%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 14%.
Sun9°4°10%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.

Updated 05:02 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

Amount

Converted to

GBP · British Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Kirkwallby car or bus across the MainlandSt Magnus Cathedral, the palaces and the Orkney Museum make a town day.Read the guide
Hoy and the Old Man of Hoyby Orkney FerriesA car ferry from Houton to Lyness, or a passenger boat from Stromness to Moaness.
Scrabster and Caithness90 minutes by NorthLink ferryThe mainland side of the Pentland Firth, on the A9 from Inverness.Read the guide

Before you go to Orkney

Car hire for the stonesSites and coast roads reward a carCompare cars

Kirkwall and Stromness staysBook early for summer sailingsCheck availability

eSIM for OrkneyFerry decks and north isles drop signalRead the guide

Insurance for gale-hit crossingsCover for cancelled ferries and flightsRead the guide

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Rules for Orkney, checked

Skara Brae: adult £14 online, £16 in person; open daily 9.30am to 5.30pm April to September and 10am to 4pm October to March.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Maeshowe: guided tour only; adult £10 online, £11 in person; reserve online because capacity is limited.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Brough of Birsay is free and open year-round, but can only be reached on foot at low tide across a rocky, slippery causeway.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

All Orkney guides

ItineraryOrkney in 4 days: Kirkwall, the stones, Hoy and a north isleChecked Oct 2, 2026

How toHow to get to Orkney: Scrabster, Gills Bay, Aberdeen or a flightChecked Oct 2, 2026

How toSkara Brae, Maeshowe and the Ring of Brodgar: tickets and orderChecked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Orkney

Kirkwall

St Magnus Cathedral, palaces and the Orkney Museum

Read the guide Orkney and Shetland

How to pair the two island groups

Read the guide Visa checker

Check entry rules for your passport

Read the guide All of Scotland

Cities, islands and the UK ETA

Read the guide

Orkney FAQ

How many days do you need in Orkney?

Three days cover the Neolithic sites, Kirkwall and Stromness. Four or five let you add Hoy or a north isle, which costs a ferry day each. Leave one slot free for a gale, since sailings and the Maeshowe tours both run to fixed times.

Is Skara Brae worth visiting?

Yes if you want a 5,000 year old village you can look down into. Historic Environment Scotland calls it the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe, and lists the adult ticket at £14 online or £16 in person.

Can you go inside Maeshowe?

Only on a guided tour. Historic Environment Scotland says capacity is limited and reserving online is strongly recommended, with a few same-day tickets sold in person at the visitor centre. Photography is not permitted inside the cairn.

Can you visit Orkney without a car?

Partly. Orkney.com says local buses reach most corners of the Mainland, passing close to the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness, the Churchill Barriers and the Italian Chapel, and they run hail and ride. Maeshowe slots and tides need planning.

What is the best way to get to Orkney?

Pick by where you start. Scrabster to Stromness is 90 minutes, Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope 70 minutes, Aberdeen to Kirkwall about 6 hours on certain nights, and flights from Aberdeen about 50 minutes, all per Orkney.com.