Kirkwall

Kirkwall

The area of Kirkwall includes the Orkney Islands and the far north east of Scotland, which is a remote, raw place full of beauty and wildlife. The area is a wonderful place to go wildlife spotting or to see some of the ancient standing stones which dot the Orkneys. There are plenty fo places to enjoy outdoor activities with your students too, although a lot of planning and thought needs to go into safety aspects of your expedition. 

Kirkwall itself is the capital of the Orkney Islands. The most well known attraction is St Magnus Cathedral which is often considered to be one of the finest medieval buildings in Scotland. The town is full of other historic delights including Bishop Palace and Earl's Palace. 

The Ring of Brodgar

The concentration of archaelogy and standing stone monuments in the area surrounding the Ness of Brodgar at the heart of Orkney hints at the importance the area had within the ceremonies of the Neolithic people of the islands.

The area is ideally suited for the construction of their ceremonial monuments - a massive natural "cauldron" formed by the hills of the surrounding countryside and therefore bordered by hill, water and sky.

Aside from the major monuments, there are also mounds, burials and other areas of Neolithic activity.

Venues in this location

The Handsam SchoolTripsAdvisor map shows the current listings featured below. It will update as you navigate through the pages if more than 25 listings are related. Clicking on circle with a number will make the map zoom in to show the individual items.Click on any place marker to view details of that venue

Wick Heritage Museum

Little is known of the early history of this Northern Scottish town but there is ample evidence in the surrounding countryside of Neolithic/Bronze Age settlement and the shelters and defences of succeeding Ages. However, it was the Vikings that gave Wick its name (from the old Norse vik = bay).

TimeSpan

Timespan Heritage and Art Centre comprises a museum, storytelling room, contemporary art gallery, community workshop and riverside garden

Timespan was founded in 1987 with the main aim of providing the community and visitors with an insight into the fascinating history of Helmsdale and its surrounding area. It has since developed from a small local heritage centre into an award-winning museum and the only (non-private) contemporary art gallery in Sutherland.

Tigh Hughag

Museum run by the Skerray Historical Association.

Strathnaver Museum

Once a church, this highland museum contains a fine collection of objects depicting a past way of life in this remote but magnificent part of Scotland. One room contains Clan Mackay memorabilia. Posters painted by local children tell the story of the Strathnaver clearances. The churchyard contains the Farr Stone which dates from the 8th-9th centuries.

Dunbeath Heritage Centre

The Centre provides a focus for the work of Dunbeath Preservation Trust: Registered museum; archaeological exhibition, Neil M Gunn literary landscape, engaging approach to landscape interpretation through art installations, photography and unique floor map.

Caithness Horizons

Caithness Horizons Collection comprises approximately 8,050 artefacts relating to the following subjects/themes:

Archaeology: This Collection mostly consists of archaeological material from Caithness, although there is a small Collection of material from elsewhere in Scotland and from other countries

Caithness Broch Centre

Come and explore the Viking Heritage of Caithness. Discover the pre-Viking kingdom of the Catti and follow the progress of the Norse settlers from their Scandinavian homes to Shetland, Orkney and Caithness.

Stromness Museum

Founded in 1837 by The Orkney Natural History Society, this museum mainly portrays the maritime and natural history of the islands. It has also ethnographic and archaeological collections. An extensive refurbishment of the 1858 building reflects the character of the Victorian museum while providing modern environmental standards.

Scapa Flow Visitor Centre

Telling the story of Britain's wartime naval base

The Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum houses an important record of the role the Royal Navy played in Orkney during both World Wars.

Pier Arts Centre

The Pier Arts Centre was established in 1979 to provide a home for an important collection of British art donated to ‘be held in trust for Orkney’ by the author, peace activist and philanthropist Margaret Gardiner (1904 – 2005). 

Orkney Wireless Museum

The museum was founded in 1983. Orkney’s wartime history is strongly represented in the collection which covers the development of wireless in Orkney from the start of the last century to the present day.

Orkney Museum

The Orkney Museum tells the story of Orkney, from the Stone Age, to the Picts and Vikings, right through to the present day. There is a large collection of old photos and activities to amuse younger visitors. The Museum’s collection is of international importance and it has a changing temporary exhibition programme.

Kirbuster Museum

Unique survival in Northern Europe of a traditional rural dwelling with central hearth and stone

Kirbuster Museum was opened to the public in 1986. It is the last un-restored example of a traditional ‘firehoose’ in Northern Europe. The house has a central hearth and a stone neuk bed, a unique survival. Kirbuster was occupied up until the 1960s and was once the home of the Spence and Hay families.

Corrigall Farm Museum

Corrigall Farm Museum is a traditional ‘but and ben’ house. It portrays a typical Orkney farmhouse and steading in Victorian times - late 19th Century. The working barn and grain kiln, horse-drawn machinery and livestock make for an interesting visit for children and adults.

Bishop Palace and Earl's Palace

The most accomplished piece of Renaissance architecture left in Scotland.

Located near the spectacular St Magnus Cathedral, these palaces are regarded as two of the finest examples of architecture in Scotland and highlight Orkney’s close Norse and ecclesiastical links. 

A particular attraction is the magnificent monumental fireplace in the great hall of the Earl’s Palace, built about 1600.

Highlights

St Magnus Cathedral

St Magnus Cathedral known as the 'Light in the North' was founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honour of his uncle St Magnus.  The Cathedral belongs to the people of Orkney and its doors are open to all. The Cathedral, set in the heart of Kirkwall, the capital city of the Orkney Islands, is a place of stillness, of inspiration, of warmth, and is steeped in the presence of God.

Orkney Islands Council Education Department

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