A one-day Odyssey through Orkney’s Stone Age
Step into the Heart of Neolithic Orkney on a private archaeology & heritage tour. From Skara Brae to the Ring of Brodgar, Barnhouse Settlement to Unstan Cairn, and out to the Brough of Birsay (tide permitting), this is Orkney’s Stone Age story. Our guide Ciaran has been passionate about the lives of the ancients ever since he discovered Neolithic carvings whilst sheep herding. With him you’ll discover Orkney’s rich prehistory, including up-to-date discoveries in the constantly evolving stories of the Stone Ages.
What you'll see - typical route through the Heart of Neolithic Orkney
(Brough of Birsay requires a low tide window. Want to add another site - add it to the booking form)
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Stones of Stenness — an archeological tour around one of Europe’s earliest stone circles
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Barnhouse Settlement (incl. House 8) — a small lochside village from 3,000 BC
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Ring of Brodgar — vast ceremonial stone circle between two lochs
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Skara Brae — Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village
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Unstan Chambered Tomb — ritual burial site with unique style
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Brough of Birsay tidal island — a tidal island of Pictish/Norse remains and sea views
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Optional — include Maeshowe
Want to step inside Maeshowe, Orkney’s most famous chambered cairn? On request we can reshape your private Orkney Neolithic tour to include Maeshowe (subject to availability). Archeologically fascinating.
At a glance
Format: private heritage tour in a comfortable vehicle with space for 8 passengers
Duration: 7 hours (can be shortened if tight on time)
Pick-up options: Kirkwall, Stromness, cruise terminal, airport, or your accommodation
Price: from £600 total (vehicle, guiding & all tickets included). 8 guests = £880 (~£110pp)
Featured Reviews
Gina: "Ciaran was the absolute BEST tour guide! He customized our experience, allowing us to explore the Neolithic history we had dreamed of exploring for years! Such a kind soul and very experienced!"
★★★★★
Angie: "Fabulous historical day in Orkney with the lovely Ciaran - great fun, very knowledgeable, plenty stone age stops and interesting sights!!!"
★★★★★
Bjørnson: "Thumbs up for Ciaran the guide. Knowledgeable positive person guiding you through history of the Orkneys. Excellent day"
★★★★★
Sally: "This tour was fantastic from start to finish. Ciaran provided good information regarding the Neolithic sites and got us there early so we had many of them to ourselves. He was friendly and informative and put together really the perfect archeology tour of Orkney islands. I recommend this tour 100%!!!"
★★★★★
Other Themed Private Tours
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Puffin Adventurer: Spend the day searching dramatic coastlines for our cutest visitors (our most flexible itinerary) .
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Whisky & History Tour: Highland Park or Scapa distillery visit, plus stone circles and wartime stories.
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Viking Heritage: Orkney's key Norse sites combined in one viking themed day
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Jewellery & Gin: Orkney finery - the Italian Chapel, Sheila Fleet Jewellery, Kirkwall shopping & Gin tasting
FAQs
Is Maeshowe included?
Not by default. It requires timed tickets and often sells out. On request, we can reshape the day to include Maeshowe (subject to availability), usually swapping another site.
Will we definitely reach the Brough of Birsay?
Only if tides allow. We plan around two hours either side of low tide and always build in a safe return buffer. If it’s not safe or feasible, we substitute an excellent site.
How much walking is there?
Mostly short, gentle walks (10–30 minutes). The Brodgar circuit is 30–40 minutes if you’d like the full loop; Unstan has a low entrance.
Can we tailor the Neolithic focus?
Yes. Would you like to visit both Unstan & Maeshowe? A detour via Yesnaby? Fewer stops, more detail? Get in touch for any alterations.
Can we visit the Ness of Brodgar?
Not anymore. The Ness of Brodgar excavation closed to the public in 2024. While you can’t walk the dig site today, our Neolithic Wonders tour connects the story across nearby monuments—Stenness, Barnhouse, Brodgar, Skara Brae—where the same people lived, built, and worshipped.
Ready to plan your Neolithic day?
Enquire now to reserve your Neolithic Wonders – Private Orkney Archaeology Tour.