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Historic Attractions in Orkney Islands

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Brough of Birsay Lighthouse © Copyright Ian Cowe
Brough of Birsay Lighthouse

Scotland, UK

This unusual lighthouse with its castellated tower was built in 1925. It is now solar powered. The tidal Island once had a...

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  • Cubbie Row's Castle © Crown Copyright Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk
    Cubbie Row's Castle (HS)

    Wyre, Orkney, KW17 2

    This Norse castle built in about 1150, is named after its first owner Kolbein (Krubbie) Hruga. A square tower, once three...

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  • Tomb of the Eagles
    Tomb of the Eagles

    Liddel, St. Margarets Hope, Orkney, KW17 2RW

    Outstanding 5,000 year old burial cairn, named after the Sea Eagles whose talons were found buried alongside human...

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    • Visit Scotland Reviews Available 4 stars
    Vinquoy Chambered Cairn
    Vinquoy Chambered Cairn

    Eday, Orkney, KW17

    This well-preserved chambered cairn is built of massive blocks of stone. It has a large central chamber with four side cells.

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  • Midhowe Chambered Cairn © Crown Copyright Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk
    Midhowe Chambered Cairn (HS)

    Rousay, Orkney, Scotland, UK

    Protected by a modern structure, this huge tomb, 23 metres in length is divided by upright slabs into twelve compartments....

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  • Stroma Lighthouse
    Stroma Lighthouse

    Scotland, UK

    With 60 known shipwrecks around the island this was a place that clearly needed to be avoided. In 1896 a lighthouse was...

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  • Copinsay Lighthouse
    Copinsay Lighthouse

    Scotland, UK

    This cliff top lighthouse was built in 1915 at the request of the Admiralty to mark an approach from the north to the...

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  • Churchill Barriers
    Churchill Barriers

    South of Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, UK

    The barriers were built in 1941-43 to stop German submarines reaching the British naval base in Scapa Flow. The 66,000...

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  • Knap O' Hower © Crown Copyright Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk
    Knap o' Howar (HS)

    Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland, UK

    This well preserved farmstead c 2800 BC - 3700 BC was discovered in the 1930s buried under 4 metres of wind-blown sand....

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  • Stones of Stenness (HS)
    Stones of Stenness (HS)

    Stromness, Orkney, KW17

    These tall and extraordinarily impressive standing stones were once part of a circle of twelve stones surrounded by deep...

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  • Kirkwall
    Kirkwall

    Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, UK

    Established by the Vikings, this attractive town with its narrow streets, 12th century cathedral, Bishop's and Earl's...

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  • Broch of Gurness © Crown Copyright Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk
    Broch of Gurness (HS)

    Aikerness, Orkney, KW17 2NH

    Surrounded by a warren of Iron Age buildings, this broch probably dates to the first century AD.

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    • Visit Scotland Reviews Available 4 stars
    Grain Earth House © Crown Copyright Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk
    Grain Earth House (HS)

    Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, UK

    Buried some 2 metres below the ground this well-built earth house has a narrow passage leading to an oval chamber.

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  • St Magnus Church © Crown Copyright Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk
    St Magnus Church (HS)

    Egilsay, Orkney, Scotland, UK

    One of the finest early churches on Orkney. Its 12th century tower was once considerably higher. The Norse Earl, Magnus...

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  • The Italian Chapel
    Italian Chapel

    Lambholm, Orkney, KW17

    This delightful chapel was built in 1943-45 by Italian prisoners of war, then working on the Churchill Barriers. It is...

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    • Visit Scotland Reviews Available 3 stars
    1 Brough of Birsay Lighthouse Scotland, UK
    2 Cubbie Row's Castle (HS) Wyre, Orkney, KW17 2
    3 Tomb of the Eagles Liddel, St. Margarets Hope, Orkney, KW17 2RW 4 stars
    4 Vinquoy Chambered Cairn Eday, Orkney, KW17
    5 Midhowe Chambered Cairn (HS) Rousay, Orkney, Scotland, UK
    6 Stroma Lighthouse Scotland, UK
    7 Copinsay Lighthouse Scotland, UK
    8 Churchill Barriers South of Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, UK
    9 Knap o' Howar (HS) Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland, UK
    10 Stones of Stenness (HS) Stromness, Orkney, KW17
    11 Kirkwall Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, UK
    12 Broch of Gurness (HS) Aikerness, Orkney, KW17 2NH 4 stars
    13 Grain Earth House (HS) Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, UK
    14 St Magnus Church (HS) Egilsay, Orkney, Scotland, UK
    15 Italian Chapel Lambholm, Orkney, KW17 3 stars

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