Five hour cruise excursion of Orkney’s highlights
Our Kirkwall shore excursions are fully private with pier pickup and a guaranteed return to ship (we always have a plan A, B, C & D… D may involve leaving your old life behind and moving to Orkney). Step off your cruise in Kirkwall and explore 5,000 years of history in comfort with knowledgeable local guide Ciaran — no bus queues, no rush, just the best of the islands in five hours. Designed for those wanting an introduction to Orkney's unique culture and sites.
Check out our Google reviews.
Skara Brae & Ring of Brodgar from Kirkwall (typical route)
(If there's any other sites you'd like to include, add them onto the booking form)
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Skara Brae — Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village
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Stones of Stenness — one of Europe’s earliest stone circles
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Barnhouse Neolithic Settlement — 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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Churchill Barriers & Scapa Flow — WWII causeways across a historic harbour
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Italian Chapel — hand-painted chapel built by Italian POWs
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St Magnus Cathedral — 12th-century Viking sandstone cathedral
At a glance
Format: private tour in a comfortable vehicle with space for 8 passengers
Duration: 5 hours (can be shortened if tight on time)
Pick-up: Hatston Cruise Terminal, Kirkwall Pier or tender landing
Price: from £600 total (vehicle, guiding & all tickets included). Capacity: up to 8 guests. 8 guests = £792 (~£99pp).
Booking policy: 100% refund if your ship can't dock
Featured Reviews
Nick: "Ciaran gave us a fantastic private highlights tour of Orkney. He met us at our cruise ship, customised the itinerary to our interests, and showed us areas most tours skip. Funny, knowledgeable, and a great storyteller — he made our visit to Orkney unforgettable."★★★★★
John: "We were on a cruise mainly to visit Orkney, and this private excursion exceeded all expectations. Even with Skara Brae closed, Ciaran adapted with a similar site plus Broch of Gurness, Scapa Flow, the Churchill Barriers, St Magnus Cathedral, and the Italian Chapel. His knowledge of Orkney’s history and culture was exceptional. A truly memorable highlights tour of Orkney."
★★★★★
Jodi C: "The sites were unbelievable — Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, and the Italian Chapel were all highlights. Ciaran made the history come alive with stories, and the landscapes were stunning. Highly recommend this Orkney highlights cruise excursion — it was the favourite part of our Scotland trip."
★★★★★
Other Private Tours from Kirkwall
(We can shorten any of these to work within the cruise timetable - just let us know on the booking form or get in touch
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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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Neolithic Wonders: A deeper dive into Orkney’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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Jewellery & Gin: Orkney finery - the Italian Chapel, Sheila Fleet Jewellery, Kirkwall shopping & Gin tasting
Visiting on the Scrabster (Thurso) – Stromness ferry? See Orkney Day Trip from Thurso (Scrabster).
FAQs
Do you pick up at Hatston Cruise Terminal and Kirkwall Pier?
Yes — and at the tender point. We meet you pier-side and plan backwards from all-aboard.
Do you run private excursions for Viking / Princess / Oceania calls?
Yes — we track your ship’s times, build buffers, and guarantee return to ship.
Can we see Skara Brae on a 5-hour tour?
Yes — it pairs well with Brodgar/Stenness plus Italian Chapel and St Magnus Cathedral.
What if our cruise ship can't dock in Orkney?
You’re covered by our Ferry & Cruise Safe Guarantee — a full refund will be issued.
How long is the shuttle from Hatston to Kirkwall?
A complimentary shuttle typically runs Hatston ↔ Kirkwall Travel Centre on call days until about an hour before the ship’s departure (journey ≈5 minutes).
Can we visit Highland Park or Scapa Distillery?
Often, yes — subject to availability (see Whisky & History).
Looking for other Orkney private tours?
See our Neolithic Wonders or Whisky & History itineraries.
Ready to plan your Kirkwall shore day?
Enquire now to reserve your Orkney Highlights Cruise Excursion. Share your ship, call times and interests — we’ll confirm pickup, shape the route and get you back early.