Skara Brae is one of the best-preserved prehistoric villages in the world—a remarkably intact snapshot of life over 5,000 years ago on the Orkney mainland. Buried under sand for millennia and revealed by a storm in 1850, it offers an unusually vivid look at Neolithic daily life. The site consists of 8 stone-built houses, linked by low, covered passageways. Each house is partly dug into the ground and surrounded by thick walls, providing insulation against Orkney’s harsh weather. The interiors are surprisingly recognisable: A central hearth (fireplace) Built-in stone beds Shelving units often called the “stone dressers” Everything is made of stone, since timber was scarce.

The Ring of Brodgar is one of the largest and most impressive stone circles in Britain—a vast, almost perfectly circular monument set in a dramatic landscape between the lochs of Harray and Stenness. It’s a key part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. The circle originally contained around 60 standing stones; today, about 27 remain upright. It measures roughly 104 meters (340 feet) in diameter, making it one of the largest stone circles in the UK. The stones are slender slabs of sandstone, spaced widely apart to form a near-perfect ring. Surrounding the circle is a rock-cut ditch (about 3 meters deep), though there is no outer bank, which is unusual for a henge.

The Stones of Stenness are one of the oldest and most atmospheric prehistoric monuments in Britain, located on the Orkney mainland between the lochs of Stenness and Harray. They form part of the wider Heart of Neolithic Orkney, alongside sites like Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae. The monument is a stone circle (henge) dating to around 3000 BCE, making it older than Stonehenge. Originally, it likely consisted of 12 massive standing stones, though only 4 remain upright today. The stones are tall, thin slabs of sandstone, some reaching about 6 meters (20 feet) in height. They are set within a circular ditch and bank, typical of a henge structure.

The Unstan Tomb (or Unstan Chambered Cairn) is a beautifully preserved Neolithic burial monument on the shore of the Loch of Stenness, offering a quieter but deeply atmospheric contrast to Orkney’s larger stone circles. It is a chambered cairn—a stone-built tomb covered by a mound. The mound is oval-shaped, about 20 meters long, and made of layered stone. Inside is a central chamber divided into side cells (small compartments) where human remains were placed. The entrance passage leads into a low, dim interior, creating a strong sense of enclosure.

The Yesnaby Cliffs are among Orkney’s most dramatic natural landscapes, rising steeply above the Atlantic Ocean on the island’s west coast. Known for their rugged beauty and powerful sea views, they offer a striking contrast to the area’s ancient monuments. The cliffs are made of layered red sandstone, shaped over millions of years by wind and waves. They rise to heights of around 30–50 meters (100–160 feet) in places. The rock formations are jagged and sculpted, with stacks, arches, and narrow inlets carved by the sea.

The Italian Chapel is a small but deeply moving place of worship built during the Second World War by Italian prisoners of war. Unlike Orkney’s prehistoric sites, it tells a much more recent and human story—one of creativity, resilience, and hope. The chapel is constructed from two Nissen huts (semi-cylindrical military structures) joined together. Inside, it has been transformed into a beautifully decorated church interior, with: A painted altar and apse Decorative fresco-style murals Intricate ironwork and detailing Materials were simple and improvised—scrap metal, concrete, and paint—yet the result is strikingly elegant.