Walks and History in Orkney

Walks and History in Orkney Overview

The Orkneys have been inhabited for over 8,000 years and contain some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe. Daily walks in inspiring coastal scenery complement the historical content of this tour. During our week’s stay on the Mainland, we visit 4 other islands, some by road, using causeways, others by short ferry crossings.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Neolithic Heart of Orkney consists of the Chambered Cairn at Maeshowe, the Standing Stones of Stenness, the stone Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae, an original Stone Age village, all featured in BBC’s documentary Britain’s Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney.

The islanders are also proud of the wealth of Viking history and of their important contribution to the First and Second World Wars through the extensive naval activities in Scapa Flow, including the scuttling of the German Fleet in 1919 and the construction of the Churchill Barriers during the Second World War.