Follow the Orkney Viking Trail from the Orkneyinga
Centre and Round Kirk in Orphir, to the island
strongholds of Sanday and Westray:
The following tours assume
you will be travelling between sites by car. Details of
public transport are also included where appropriate.
Orkney Viking Trail West Mainland
Tour 1 (Half Day)
Maeshowe Location: On the A965, 10 minutes drive
from Stromness and 15 minutes from Kirkwall. Recommended time spent at site: 1 hour Facilities: Visitor Centre with a gift
shop selling refreshments, parking and public toilets. Useful Info: Booking for the set tours
is essential. You can book on 0044 (0)1856 761606. Tours
cost £4.00 (concessions available).
St Nicholas Church, Earl’s Bu
and the Orkneyinga Saga Centre Location: On the A964 near Houton in Orphir.
From Maeshowe, take the A965 in the direction of Stromness
and turn off onto the A964 then follow this until you get
to the sites (past Houton). Recommended time spent at site: 1 hour Facilities: Parking, public toilets and
a nearby lodge serving snacks and lunches. (Houton Bay Lodge).
Useful Info: Entrance is free.
St Magnus Cathedral Location: Entrance on Broad Street, Kirkwall
beside the Tourist Information Centre. From the Orkneyinga
Saga centre, continue on the A964 till you reach Kirkwall.
Parking on Junction Road (Salvation Army Car Park). Recommended time spent at site: 30 mins
to 1 hour Facilities: Public toilets. Cafés,
restaurants and shops are nearby around the centre. Useful Info: Entrance is free – closed
on Sunday mornings (service at 11.15am).
Bishop’s Palace Location: Across from St Magnus Cathedral
on Palace Road. Recommended time spent at site: 45 mins Facilities: Nearest toilet, St Magnus Cathedral,
Community Centre. Cafés, restaurants and shops are
nearby. Useful Info: £2.50 entrance fee (concessions
available).
Old St Olaf’s Church Location: Archway from the 11th Century
Church on St Olaf’s Wynd off Bridge Street. 5 mins
walk from Cathedral. Recommended time spent at site: 5 mins
Public Transport
To see the sites in Stenness and Kirkwall, use the service
91 (Stromness-Kirkwall & Kirkwall-Stromness). Which
runs regularly.
To see the sites in Orphir, there is a bus from Kirkwall
which is service 92, it doesn’t run so regularly.
Check with VisitOrkney for more information on buses. (info@visitorkney.com
/ 0044 (0)1856 872856)
Orkney Viking Trail West Mainland
Tour 2 (Half Day)
The Brough of Birsay and Earl’s
Palace Location: On the North-West of the island.
From Stromness- follow the A967 until you reach the A966
where you turn left towards the Brough (Driving Time 30
mins). From Kirkwall- Take the A965 towards Stromness and
turn off onto the A986 after Finstown. Stay on this road
past Dounby, it will become the A967 after the Twatt junction.
Turn left on the A966 and follow the road to the Brough
(Driving Time 40 mins). Recommended Time Spent at Site: 1-2hrs Facilities: Picnic area and Parking available.
Nearest public toilet in Birsay village. Nearest
eating place in Birsay: The Barony Hotel. Useful Info: Tours (£1.50) begin
mid-June although you can walk across without one. The Brough
of Birsay is a tidal island so check tide times before you
go. The Earl’s Palace is on the mainland.
The Broch of Gurness Location: Off the A966. From Birsay- follow
the A966 towards Evie, the Broch is on the left and should
be signposted. Recommended Time Spent at Site: 40mins Facilities: Refreshments sold in gift shop.
Nearest shop in Finstown. Useful Info: Entrance is £3.00 (concessions
available).
Public transport
The bus which goes to both sites are services 97D/98/98B/98C
from Stromness and Kirkwall. Please check the times with
VisitOrkney as the bus is not frequent.
You can get to the Broch of Gurness from Kirkwall by getting
the service 96. Again, this bus service is not frequent
so please check times. (VisitOrkney– info@visitorkney.com
/ 0044 (0)1856 872856)
Viking Trail East Mainland Tour
Skaill and the Brough of Deerness Location: In Deerness. From Kirkwall- Take
the A960 out towards the airport and keep going until you
turn onto the B9050. Follow this road until you reach the
coast where Skaill is. The Brough of Deerness is a few miles
up the coast (your left at Skaill). Driving time- 20 mins
from Kirkwall and 50 mins from Stromness. Recommended Time Spent at Site: 1h30 mins
(plus walking/ driving time between the sites.) Facilities: The nearest toilets are off
the A960 on your left as you approach Skaill. There is also
a picnic area nearby them. Useful Info: It is recommended to take
great care at the Brough and go when the tide is low.
The Howe of Hoxa Location: Near Widewall bay in South Ronaldsay.
From the A960 (follow the B9050 back), turn onto the B9052
and follow this until you reach the A961. This will take
you to the town St Margaret’s Hope. Here, take the
B9043 to Hoxa. You need to park your car across from the
beach (Sands of Wright). Behind the toilets there is a right
of way track which leads to the Howe of Hoxa. Alternatively,
carry on past the car park and turn right onto the main
road then turn right again and you will find a public footpath
to lowertown/ howe of hoxa. This should also lead you to
the site. Recommended Time Spent at Site: 1hr Facilities: There are public toilets, parking
and a waiting room across from the beach (Sands of Wright).
There are places to eat in St Margaret’s Hope nearby. Useful Info: Go to this site preferably
at low tide.
Public
Transport
To get to Deerness from Kirkwall, you can get the service
94/94A. Please check for the times as they aren’t
frequent.
To get to the Howe of Hoxa, you need to get the service
operated by Causeway Coaches. They run about four times
a day and will take you as far as St Margaret’s Hope.
You will have to walk from there.
