WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE ORKNEY ISLANDS TOUR FROM KIRKWALL – APPROX. 6 HOURS

About this Wheelchair Accessible Orkney Islands Tour from Kirkwall – Approx. 6 hours

This wheelchair accessible Orkney Islands tour takes you from Kirkwall into the heart of one of Europe’s most remarkable landscapes. In a single day, you travel through historic stone circles, prehistoric villages, stunning Atlantic coastlines and one of the most moving wartime stories you will find anywhere in Scotland. This all together with your private driver-guide who will share more about the ins and outs of these impressive sites.

The tour starts with a pickup at the Kirkwall cruise port or your city centre accommodation with private adapted vehicle. From there, your driver takes you west, into the Orkney mainland.

Standing Stones of Stenness

Your first stop is the Standing Stones of Stenness, one of the oldest stone monuments in the British Isles. These four standing stones were already ancient when the Egyptian pyramids were being built. They date back to around 3100 BCE and form part of the UNESCO-listed Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.

The terrain here is flat grass and fine gravel. The site sits directly alongside the road, and parking is available close by.

Ring of Brodgar

A short drive brings you to the Ring of Brodgar, the largest stone circle in Scotland and the third largest in Britain. Built between 2500 and 2000 BCE, the ring originally held up to 60 stones. Today, 27 remain standing in a near-perfect circle of 104 metres (341 feet) across. The site sits on a narrow strip of land between two lochs, and on a clear day the view across the water is spectacular.

From the car park, a path leads approximately 100 metres (330 feet)
up a grass slope to reach the ring. The slope has a protective grass mesh that makes the surface slightly more stable, but it does create a lightly uneven surface. At the top, you have a full, unobstructed view of the entire circle. Walking/Rolling around the outside of the ring is possible, although the ground is natural and uneven, as the ring sits on a raised mound.

The ring can also be clearly seen from the road below for those who prefer to stay on level ground.

Skara Brae and Skaill House

The most popular stop of the day is Skara Brae, the best-preserved neolithic village in Western Europe and a highlight of any visit to Orkney. The settlement dates back over 5,000 years and was buried under sand dunes for millennia, until a fierce storm in 1850 uncovered its walls. Nine interconnected stone houses have survived in remarkable condition. From the viewing path above, you can look directly into the rooms and see stone furniture, including beds and shelving, still in place after five millennia.

From the visitor centre, the route to the site follows a 500-metre (1,640 ft) path of mainly gravel, passing a replica neolithic house before reaching the original village. The path around the site is stone and grass. Some sections narrow to approximately 50 centimetres (20 inches). Staff on site are available to help where needed. Manual and electric wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.

Next is an inside Self- visit of the Skaill House, a 17th-century mansion located 140 metres (460 ft) from the visitor centre along a crushed stone path. The ground floor of Skaill House is fully level. Upper floors are reached by stairs only. An accessible toilet is available at the visitor centre. Entrance is not included in the tour.

Yesnaby Cliffs

After Skara Brae, your driver takes you to the Yesnaby cliffs on the west coast of Orkney, the coastline here is a stunning rockface dropping straight into the Atlantic. The most striking of these is Yesnaby Castle, a 35-metre (115 ft) sea stack that rises straight out of the ocean just south of the car park.

From the car park, wheelchair and scooter users can walk or roll along the cliff edge towards Yesnaby Castle, an impressive 35-metre (115 ft) sea stack rising on two narrow legs out of the ocean. However, the path is grassy and uneven in places and can be slippery when wet, so take your time and assess conditions on the day. If you prefer to stay on firmer ground, the sea stack is also visible from the car park itself.

Scorradale Road

On the drive south, your driver makes a stop at Scorradale Road, a quiet elevated viewpoint looking out over the Hoy hills, the town of Stromness and the broad expanse of Scapa Flow. It is a good place to pause, take a photograph and let the scale of Orkney sink in before the final leg of the tour.

The Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm

The Italian Chapel on the small island of Lamb Holm is one of Orkney’s most visited stops. During World War II, Italian prisoners of war built the Churchill Barriers nearby to protect the local naval base. In their spare time, they turned two basic metal huts into a beautiful chapel using whatever materials they could find. Inside, the painted walls, decorated altar and detailed ironwork make it feel like a real church.

The area around the chapel is flat and the building is fully wheelchair accessible via ramp. The final altar involves one step, but remains clearly visible from before it.

Entrance of the chapel is 4 pounds and is not included in the tour.

Scapa Distillery (Optional)

To round off the day, your driver can make an optional stop at Scapa Distillery, located on the shores of Scapa Flow just outside Kirkwall. Scapa is one of Orkney’s local distilleries. The visitor shop is open for browsing, and you can enjoy a sample of their local whisky.

After the last stop, your driver returns you to the Kirkwall cruise port or your city centre accommodation, completing a full day through the stones, coastline and stories that make Orkney one of the most distinctive destinations in northern Europe.