Discover Kirkwall: Culture, Nature and History

Kirkwall offers something for a range of interests: its compact town centre, history and architecture, birdwatching, or waterside activities. The centre is easy to explore on foot. You can then compare specific hotel offers according to your own requirements.

Town Centre and Getting There

Kirkwall’s town centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. For bus travel, the Orkney Travel Centre is an important reference point: all bus services to and from mainland Scotland arrive and depart there. If you are planning your journey using one of these bus services, check the current timetable in advance, as services may change.

Architecture and Different Historical Periods

St Magnus Cathedral offers several ways to explore medieval architecture. Construction began in 1137; it is built predominantly in the Romanesque style and is considered Scotland’s most complete medieval cathedral. It is also used for concerts. This brings together the building’s history, its architectural classification and its cultural use as different aspects of the same landmark. If you are planning to attend a concert, check the dates separately.

Another historical reference point is the Earl’s Palace, whose construction is dated to around 1606. The Grain Earth House belongs to a much earlier period: it is an underground structure from the Iron Age. Those wishing to compare different periods will find two distinct points of reference here—a building from the early modern period and an Iron Age structure.

Orkney History at the Museum

The Orkney Museum in Kirkwall tells the story of Orkney from the Stone Age to the present day. Its archaeological collection is recognised as nationally significant. Unlike a single building, the museum spans many eras. This makes it a distinct focus for anyone interested in archaeological history not only through a historic building, but as part of a longer development.

Birdwatching and Waterside Activities

The Peedie Sea offers a special opportunity for birdwatching in a relatively urban setting. This means you can include nature watching in your travel plans even if the town centre and its surroundings make up an important part of your stay.

Windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking and swimming take place in the sheltered waters of Scapa Beach. The activities range from windsurfing and kitesurfing to kayaking and swimming. This allows you to consider different ways of spending time on the water.

Tastings and Visitor Experiences

The Highland Park Distillery visitor centre offers six visitor experiences featuring whiskies of varying rarity and exclusivity. Tastings of a wide selection of Highland Park whiskies are also available there. At The Orkney Distillery, visitors are guided through a tasting of four core varieties of Kirkjuvagr gin. The offerings therefore differ both in the number of visitor experiences and in their tasting focus. As visitor experiences and tasting arrangements may change, check the current details before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Burray Village, Orkney, Hackness, Stromness, Finstown, Tingwall, Orphir, Westray.

For the overview of the wider region: Orkney Islands.