Cruises to Kirkwall
Kirkwall - the capital of the Orkney Islands and one of Northern Europe's most delightful cruise surprises. This compact Old Norse town sits on the northern coast of Mainland Orkney, surrounded by an archipelago of more than 70 islands where heather moorland and sheer cliffs meet the richest concentration of Neolithic monuments in the British Isles. Kirkwall's narrow stone lanes converge on the red-and-yellow St Magnus Cathedral, and within a few minutes' walk of the pier lies a town whose medieval silhouette has barely changed in a thousand years.
For cruise travellers, Kirkwall is above all a port of call rather than a homeport: ships stop here for a few hours as part of itineraries around the British Isles, the Norwegian fjords, Iceland, or transatlantic crossings, and no passenger begins or ends a cruise in Kirkwall itself. Even so, Viking Ocean Cruises voted Kirkwall the best cruise destination among 46 ports in Northern Europe in 2018, and the port welcomes over 150–220 ship calls every year — the highest number of transit calls of any port in the United Kingdom. 🚢
📋 Before setting sail to Kirkwall or stepping ashore for a few hours in port, here's what you should know:
🇬🇧 Country: United Kingdom (Scotland)
📍 Region: Orkney Islands (a separate unitary council area of Scotland)
👥 Population: around 10,000 residents in Kirkwall itself (the Orkney archipelago — around 22,000)
📐 Area: about 4 km² (1.5 sq mi) of town territory
🗣️ Languages: English (official); the local Orcadian dialect of Scots, with a legacy of Old Norse, is still widely heard
💷 Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
🕐 Time zone: GMT (UTC+0), BST (UTC+1) in summer — 2–3 hours behind Kyiv
☀️ Climate: cool maritime, with mild winters (36–43°F / +2…+6°C) and mild summers (54–61°F / +12…+16°C); rain and wind are possible year-round
✈️ Nearest airport: Kirkwall Airport (KOI) — about 1.9 miles (3 km) from the town centre
⚓ Official port name: Port of Kirkwall (Orkney Harbours)
🗺️ Port berths: Hatston Pier (the main cruise terminal) and Kirkwall Town Pier, plus an anchorage in Kirkwall Bay for the largest ships
🏛️ The history of Kirkwall — from Viking stronghold to the capital of Orkney
⏳ Over a thousand years between the Norwegian and Scottish crowns
Kirkwall's history is inseparable from the Vikings. The town's name comes from the Old Norse "Kirkjuvágr" — "church bay" — and the settlement is first mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga in 1046, recorded as the residence of Earl Rognvald Brusason. For several centuries the Orkney Islands belonged to the Kingdom of Norway, and Kirkwall served as the capital of the Norse Earls of Orkney, whose authority also extended into the north of Scotland.
A defining event in the town's history was the martyrdom of Earl Magnus Erlendsson in 1117. His nephew, Earl Rognvald Kali, founded St Magnus Cathedral in 1137 in honour of his uncle, who was later canonised. The cathedral became the centre of Orkney's power and spiritual life for the next nine centuries.
⚔️ The transfer to Scotland and royal burgh status
In 1468–1469 the Orkney and Shetland Islands passed to Scottish rule as a pledge for the dowry of the Danish princess Margaret, who married King James III. The pledge was never redeemed, and the islands remained Scottish permanently. In 1486 Kirkwall was granted royal burgh status, which it still holds officially today — road signs at the town's entrances read "The City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall," although Kirkwall is not formally a city.
The 20th century brought Orkney strategic importance: the neighbouring anchorage of Scapa Flow served as the Royal Navy's main base during both world wars. It was here that the German fleet scuttled itself in 1919 following defeat in the First World War, and in 1939 a German U-boat sank the battleship HMS Royal Oak at anchor — a tragedy that claimed 834 lives and is still commemorated inside St Magnus Cathedral.
⚓ The port of Kirkwall — gateway to the Orkney Islands
📊 Scale and layout of the port
Kirkwall's cruise infrastructure is managed by the Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority and comprises several berths. The main and largest is Hatston Pier, located about 1.2–1.9 miles (2–3 km) from the town centre; it can accommodate ships up to 738 ft (225 m) in length with a draught of up to 33 ft (10 m), and is equipped with two berthing positions (1A and 1B). Smaller vessels — up to 410 ft (125 m) — can berth directly in Kirkwall Harbour, a short walk from the centre. The largest ships, for which there isn't enough depth or berth space, anchor in Kirkwall Bay, with passengers brought ashore by tender.
A free shuttle bus run by the Orkney Islands Council connects Hatston Pier to the town centre — the ride takes only a few minutes.
🚢 How many ships the port can accommodate
Kirkwall can accommodate two large ships at Hatston Pier at once (berths 1A and 1B), plus one or two more at anchor in the bay or at the town pier — meaning the port can handle up to 3–4 ships simultaneously on peak days. In the record year of 2024, the port logged 223 cruise ship calls, and in 2025 it recorded 178 calls and around 170,000 passengers. These figures make Kirkwall the busiest transit cruise port in the United Kingdom.
🏢 Which cruise lines call at Kirkwall
Kirkwall is a regular port of call for Viking Ocean Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Silversea, MSC Cruises, Cunard, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Saga Cruises, Ambassador Cruise Line, and Ponant, as well as expedition ships from Hurtigruten and National Geographic. In the 2025 season the port welcomed its first calls from Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady and the luxury superyacht Ritz-Carlton Ilma — confirming Orkney's growing status among premium cruise destinations. 🌍
💡 Interesting facts about Kirkwall and its port
A few lesser-known details will make your visit even more rewarding:
🏆 In 2018, Viking Ocean Cruises named Kirkwall the best cruise destination among 46 ports in Northern Europe, based on a passenger survey.
⛪ St Magnus Cathedral is built from two colours of sandstone — red from Mainland Orkney and yellow from the island of Eday — giving the facade its distinctive striped appearance.
🥃 Orkney is home to Scotland's two northernmost whisky distilleries, Highland Park and Scapa, both located within Kirkwall.
🏺 About 9–16 miles (15–25 km) from Kirkwall lies the "Heart of Neolithic Orkney," a UNESCO World Heritage Site combining the settlement of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness, and the Maeshowe chambered cairn — all older than the Egyptian pyramids.
⛪ The Italian Chapel on the island of Lamb Holm was built by Italian prisoners of war during the Second World War from two Nissen huts, tin cans, and scrap metal — today it's one of the archipelago's most moving landmarks.
⚓ In 1919, the German fleet carried out the largest self-scuttling of ships in maritime history at Scapa Flow — more than 50 vessels sank within a matter of hours.
🏰 Kirkwall's name, "Kirkjuvágr" in Old Norse, means "church bay" — the modern form "Kirkwall" is its later anglicised version.
👑 Although Kirkwall is officially styled "The City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall," it does not formally hold city status — it is the archipelago's largest settlement, but legally remains a burgh.
📍 Kirkwall's must-see landmarks for cruise visitors
A cruise ship's stay in Kirkwall typically lasts from 6 to 10 hours, so it pays to plan your route between the town and its more distant sites in advance. A detailed list with photos, addresses, and opening hours can be found in the "Landmarks and Places of Interest" section; below is a brief overview of the iconic locations that shape the character of Orkney.
⛪ St Magnus Cathedral — the "Light in the North," Britain's most northerly cathedral, founded in 1137 in honour of the martyred Earl Magnus. Admission is free.
🏰 The Bishop's and Earl's Palaces — the ruined residences of Orkney's bishops and earls from the 12th–17th centuries, right beside the cathedral, a Scottish historical monument.
🏺 Skara Brae — Europe's best-preserved Neolithic settlement, older than Stonehenge and the Giza pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about a 30-minute drive from the port.
🗿 Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness — imposing stone circles over 4,500 years old, part of the Neolithic UNESCO complex.
🥃 Highland Park Distillery — one of the world's northernmost whisky distilleries, operating since 1798, offering tours and tastings right within Kirkwall.
⛪ The Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm — a unique Second World War landmark built by Italian prisoners of war.
⚓ Scapa Flow — the Royal Navy's historic anchorage, offering diving among First World War shipwrecks.
🏛️ The Orkney Museum — a free exhibition on the Vikings, the Neolithic period, and the archipelago's maritime history, located opposite the cathedral.
✨ Why it's worth going ashore in Kirkwall
Kirkwall is a rare example of a port of call where a few hours ashore can reveal two thousand years of history all at once.
First, there's an extraordinary concentration of UNESCO sites packed into a small area: no other town in the British Isles offers Neolithic monuments, Viking heritage, and a medieval cathedral literally minutes apart. 🏺
Second, Kirkwall itself is wonderfully compact: the historic centre can be explored on foot in under an hour, and excursions to Skara Brae and the stone circles are timed to fit within a standard ship call. 🚶
Third, there's authenticity — Orkney retains a distinct atmosphere where Norse and Scottish cultures are woven into the language, place names, and local traditions, unlike anywhere else in Northern Europe. 🍺
The cruise specialists at Four Gates Group can help you choose the ideal itinerary around the British Isles or the Norwegian fjords calling at Kirkwall, recommend the best excursions for your day in port, and offer exclusive rates from Viking Ocean Cruises, Holland America Line, Silversea, and other leading brands we work with as a priority partner in Ukraine. 🤝
ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is provided for general reference and was accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please confirm current details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant attractions.
FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals
How to Get to the Cruise Terminal in Kirkwall
Kirkwall is the capital of the Orkney Islands and one of the northernmost cruise ports in the United Kingdom, called at exclusively as a port of call — no cruise line uses it to embark or disembark passengers at the start or end of a voyage. The main berth, Hatston Pier, sits about 2–2.5 miles (3–4 km) from the historic town centre and has no direct pedestrian access, which is why Orkney Islands Council runs a free shuttle bus into town. Below is a verified, step-by-step guide to every transport option, current prices, and tips from the cruise specialists at Four Gates Group. 🎯
📍 Where exactly is the Kirkwall cruise port
Kirkwall's port receives ships at three possible points, depending on vessel size:
⚓ Hatston Pier — Kirkwall's main cruise terminal, built to take large ships up to 225 m (740 ft) in length with a draught of up to 10 m (33 ft):
• GPS address: Hatston Pier Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1ZL
• Distance to the town centre: 2–2.5 miles (3–4 km)
• This is a working industrial harbour with no pedestrian infrastructure, so getting into town means the shuttle bus or a taxi
⚓ Kirkwall Pier (Kirkwall Harbour) — a berth right in the town centre, used by smaller and expedition-style ships up to 125 m (410 ft):
• Passengers step ashore a short walk from St Magnus Cathedral, shops and cafés
• GPS address: Harbour Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LE
⚓ Anchorage in Kirkwall Bay — larger ships that cannot secure a berth, or that draw too much water, anchor offshore and land passengers by tender directly at Kirkwall Harbour in the town centre.
❗ Important: where your ship will berth (Hatston Pier, Kirkwall Pier, or at anchor) depends on its size and berth availability, and is confirmed by the cruise line the day before arrival. Check your ship's daily programme or cruise app the day before your call at Kirkwall.
✈️ From Kirkwall Airport (KOI) to the cruise terminal
Kirkwall Airport (IATA: KOI, ICAO: EGPA) is a small regional airport about 2.5–3 miles (4–5 km) southeast of the town centre. There are no direct international flights from mainland Europe: the airport is served mainly by the domestic UK carrier Loganair, with connections via Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, so any onward journey from continental Europe requires a change of flight at one of these Scottish hubs.
🚕 Taxi — the main way to reach the port
• Journey time to Hatston Pier: 10–15 minutes
• Approximate fare: around GBP 8–12
• Payment: cash (GBP) or card — confirm with the individual operator
💡 Tip from Four Gates: the number of taxis at the airport is limited, so pre-booking a transfer is advisable, especially if your flight lands at the same time as several ships are in port.
🚌 Stagecoach bus
Regular bus services connect the airport to central Kirkwall (the Travel Centre), from where you'll need a taxi — or the cruise shuttle, if your ship is berthed at Hatston Pier — to reach the port. Bus timetables are limited, so this option works best if you have plenty of time to spare.
🚐 Private transfer
Given the airport's small size and limited taxi supply, a pre-arranged private transfer is the most reliable option for guests flying in the day before their cruise. Four Gates Group arranges private transfers for its clients — simply provide your flight number when booking.
⛴️ By NorthLink Ferries to the cruise terminal
Independent travellers reaching Orkney by sea rather than by air should note that the NorthLink Ferries passenger terminal in Kirkwall sits at the same Hatston Pier used by cruise ships.
• Route: an overnight service links Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick (Shetland Islands) in both directions several times a week
• Check-in: opens 90 minutes before departure, or one hour before for passengers travelling with a vehicle
• Alternative via mainland Scotland: Pentland Ferries (Gills Bay – St Margaret's Hope) and NorthLink's Scrabster – Stromness route land at other Orkney piers, not Kirkwall itself, requiring a further 30–40-minute bus or car journey into town
• Luggage storage: there is no left-luggage facility at Hatston Pier itself; a few private operators in central Kirkwall offer this service
💡 Tip: this route is most relevant for independent travellers joining a small expedition-style ship in Kirkwall as an intermediate port, rather than for classic ocean cruise passengers.
🏙️ From central Kirkwall to the cruise terminal
If your ship is berthed at Hatston Pier and you've spent the morning or evening in the town centre, here are your options for getting back on board:
🚌 Free cruise shuttle bus — the main and most convenient way to travel between the port and town:
• Operator: Orkney Islands Council
• Route: Hatston Pier ↔ Kirkwall Travel Centre (West Castle Street), a 2-minute walk from the main shopping area
• Cost: free for all cruise passengers
• Journey time: around 7–10 minutes
• Starts operating: usually from 8:30 a.m. or later, depending on the ship's actual arrival time
• Last departure: normally 60 minutes before the ship's scheduled sailing time, or at 6:00 p.m. if departure is scheduled after 7:00 p.m.
• Accessibility: low-floor buses, suitable for passengers with reduced mobility and wheelchair users
❗ Important: the exact shuttle timetable is set for each ship's call — confirm it on board or with the Meet & Greet team as soon as you step ashore.
🚕 Taxi
• Journey time: 8–12 minutes
• Approximate fare: around GBP 8–12 one way
• Taxi ranks are located near the Travel Centre and on several of the town's main streets
🚶 On foot — technically possible, but not recommended:
• Distance: about 2–2.5 miles (3–4 km)
• Time: 40–45 minutes along an industrial port access road with no pavement for much of the way
• Not recommended with luggage, or in rain or strong wind — both common in Orkney even in summer
🚲 Bicycle hire: Kirkwall has bicycle rental points, but the route to Hatston Pier partly follows an industrial road with no dedicated cycle lane, so this is best suited to confident cyclists only.
🚗 By private car — parking near the port (and car hire)
If you've hired a car to explore Orkney independently, parking is available near Hatston Pier:
🅿️ Short-stay parking at Hatston Pier
• Located directly beside the terminal building
• Free of charge, intended for dropping off and collecting passengers
🅿️ Long-stay parking
• Located about 500 m (0.3 miles) from the terminal building, close to the vehicle check-in area
• Operator: Orkney Islands Council
• Free of charge
🚙 Car hire
Rental fleets in Orkney are small, and availability tightens during peak cruise season (May–September) when several ships may be in port at once. Rental desks operate at Kirkwall Airport and in central Kirkwall.
💡 Tip from Four Gates: if you're planning an independent trip to the Neolithic sites by car, book well in advance — a few weeks ahead is safest — as vehicles can sell out on days when multiple ships are calling.
🛣️ GPS route: from central Kirkwall, the A965 heading toward Stromness leads directly to Hatston Pier Road, just past the edge of town.
♿ Accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility
Kirkwall's port is set up to welcome passengers with reduced mobility:
✅ The shuttle bus between Hatston Pier and the town centre is low-floor, with wheelchair spaces
✅ A Meet & Greet team on the pier welcomes all arriving passengers and hands out a Kirkwall guide map published in six languages (English, French, German, Italian, Dutch and Spanish)
✅ Port staff can assist with boarding and disembarking on request — let your cruise line know your needs in advance
✅ Most shops, cafés and St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall itself have ramps or level entrances
⚠️ Please note: if your ship anchors and passengers go ashore by tender, options for reduced-mobility guests are more limited — confirm the tendering arrangements on board.
⏰ When to arrive at the cruise terminal
Kirkwall operates exclusively as a port of call — no major cruise line uses it to embark or disembark passengers at the start or end of a cruise, so there is no "check-in" scenario to plan for here. What matters most is knowing when to be back on board:
🔵 "All aboard" deadline: typically 30–60 minutes before the ship's scheduled sailing time — the exact time is always printed in your ship's daily programme and on your keycard
🔵 Last shuttle bus from town to Hatston Pier departs 60 minutes before sailing time (or at 6:00 p.m. if departure is scheduled after 7:00 p.m.) — plan your return to town with a margin so you don't miss it
🔵 If tendering ashore: the last tender back to the ship is usually scheduled 45–60 minutes before sailing — the crew will announce the exact time when you land ashore
❗ Orkney's changeable weather (strong wind and swell in the bay) can sometimes bring tender operations to an earlier-than-planned close — listen carefully for onboard announcements and don't leave your return to the very last moment.
💡 Tips from the Four Gates Group experts
Years of working on British and Scandinavian itineraries have given our cruise specialists a set of tips to help you feel at ease in Kirkwall:
🌦️ Pack waterproofs whatever the season. Orkney's weather can change several times in a single day, even in summer — wind, brief showers and sunshine often alternate during one port call.
🚌 Confirm the shuttle schedule as soon as you step ashore. Because the bus runs on a timetable set for your specific ship, the Meet & Greet team at the pier will always have more accurate information than general guides.
💷 Carry some cash in pounds sterling. Small cafés, gift shops and some taxis outside the town centre don't always accept cards.
🚗 Plan trips outside Kirkwall well ahead of time. The island's Neolithic sites (Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar) are a 30–40-minute drive away — without a pre-booked tour, a full-day taxi or a hire car, it can be difficult to visit and return to the ship on time.
📱 Download an offline map beforehand. Mobile coverage across Orkney is generally reliable, but can be patchy in some rural areas.
🧥 Dress in layers. Even in July and August, temperatures rarely exceed 61–64 °F (16–18 °C), and the wind makes it noticeably colder on open water and hilltops.
🕰️ Don't cut it close. If you've hired a car or booked a private guide, build in at least an hour's buffer before the boarding deadline — the single road to Hatston Pier can get congested on days when several ships call at once.
📞 Kirkwall cruise terminal contacts
Orkney Islands Council, Marine Services:+44 1856 873 535
Kirkwall Airport (information desk):+44 1856 886 210
Craigies Taxis (Kirkwall's largest taxi company):+44 1856 878 787
NorthLink Ferries (Hatston passenger terminal):+44 1856 885 500
UK emergency services: 999 (or 112)
Four Gates Group cruise specialists (24/7 for clients):+38 097 653 05 53
Logistics for a cruise call at Kirkwall are far simpler than they might first appear: a small town, a single main berth and a free shuttle bus make a day in Orkney predictable, even if you're exploring independently. The cruise experts at Four Gates Group help our clients plan every step — from choosing the best route to the island's Neolithic sites to arranging a private transfer or guide right at the gangway. Get in touch with your manager, and your day in Kirkwall will run without a hitch. 🛳️✨
ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is for general guidance and was accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please confirm current details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant venues.
FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals
Kirkwall Landmarks and Attractions: A Complete Guide for Cruise Travelers
Kirkwall — the capital of the Orkney Islands and the gateway to one of the densest clusters of prehistoric monuments in Europe. Packed into an area smaller than a third of Barcelona, this town holds over 5,000 years of continuous history: Neolithic settlements older than the Egyptian pyramids, a Viking-era cathedral, Renaissance palaces, and traces of the Second World War. For a cruise passenger with 8–10 hours ashore, the key is dividing time wisely between the compact town centre and the UNESCO sites scattered across the island of Mainland. Below is a verified guide to the key attractions, with up-to-date 2026 prices, opening hours, and precise directions from the Hatston Pier to each of them. 🎯
⛪ 1. St Magnus Cathedral
💡 Interesting facts and background:
St Magnus Cathedral is the northernmost medieval cathedral in the United Kingdom and the undisputed architectural centrepiece of Kirkwall. Built from red and yellow sandstone, it shifts colour throughout the day — blushing pink at dawn and turning almost fiery at sunset. 🌅
🔹 The cathedral is still an active parish church, not a museum — a rarity for a building this old in the UK.
🔹 A hidden recess inside one of the pillars is said to have been used by Magnus Eunson, the founder of the Highland Park distillery, to hide barrels of illicit whisky disguised as church property.
🔹 The bones of St Magnus himself were found bricked into one of the pillars during a 1919 restoration.
🔹 The graveyard and interior contain dozens of 17th–18th-century gravestones carved with memento mori symbols: skulls, hourglasses and crossed bones.
🔹 Admission is free for all visitors — a rare thing for a landmark of this significance.
📜 History:
The cathedral was founded in 1137 by the Norse earl Rognvald Kolsson in honour of his uncle, Magnus Erlendsson, who was killed by a rival for control of Orkney around 1117 and later canonised. Construction spanned over 300 years and blended Romanesque and Gothic styles — the earliest sections of the nave are in heavy Norman style, while later additions show refined Gothic detailing.
Orkney belonged to Norway, and later Denmark, until 1468–1469, when the islands were transferred to Scotland as part of a wedding dowry for the marriage of King James III to the Danish princess Margaret. The cathedral survived the Reformation almost unscathed — unusual for Scotland, where most Catholic churches were stripped or destroyed. From 1486, the town and cathedral were effectively governed under burgh rights granted by King James III.
🚢 How to get there from Hatston Pier:
• Free or paid shuttle to the Kirkwall Travel Centre: 5–10 minutes, depending on the operator — free (under the Orkney Islands Council programme) or 8–12 GBP round trip if run by the cruise line. From there, it's a 3–5-minute walk to the cathedral
• Taxi: 5–8 minutes, roughly 8–10 GBP
• On foot: about 3 km (1.9 miles) along the A965, 40–50 minutes — not recommended, as the route passes through an industrial area with no pavement on some stretches
❗ Important: if your ship berths directly in Kirkwall harbour (this happens only with smaller vessels), the cathedral is just a 5–7-minute walk from the gangway.
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Admission: free (donations welcome)
• Opening hours (2026): May–September: Mon–Sat 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Sun 1:00–6:00 p.m.; October–April: Mon–Sat 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 2:00–5:00 p.m., reduced hours on Sunday
⚠️ Tip: regular services take place inside the cathedral, during which sightseeing is restricted, so check the schedule on the official website stmagnus.org before your visit.
🏰 2. Bishop's Palace & Earl's Palace
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Directly opposite the cathedral stand the ruins of two palaces, embodying two entirely different eras of power on Orkney.
🔹 Bishop's Palace (12th century) — the Norwegian king Håkon IV the Old died here in 1263, returning by sea after his defeat at the Battle of Largs. Its round tower is one of the oldest surviving residential towers in Scotland.
🔹 Earl's Palace (early 17th century) — regarded as one of the finest examples of French Renaissance architecture in Scotland. It was built by Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney, notorious for tyrannical rule and forced labour of local peasants during construction.
🔹 For abuse of power and cruelty, Earl Patrick Stewart was executed in 1615 — the palace was confiscated and was never fully completed.
🔹 From the top of the Bishop's Palace tower, one of the best panoramas over Kirkwall's rooftops and the cathedral unfolds.
📜 History:
Both palaces served as residences of church and secular power over the islands for several centuries. After the fall of the Stewart line in the 17th century, the buildings gradually fell into disrepair, losing their roofs and much of their interiors, but the stone walls survived well enough to remain protected today under Historic Environment Scotland.
🚢 How to get there from Hatston Pier:
• Same route as St Magnus Cathedral — the palaces sit literally across the road, a 1–2-minute walk
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Combined ticket for both palaces: approximately 7.50 GBP online, more expensive at the door
• Opening hours (2026): April–September, daily 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; winter access is limited — check the schedule in advance
⚠️ Tip: it's best to buy palace tickets online through the Historic Environment Scotland website — this guarantees entry and a better price.
🏘️ 3. Skara Brae
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Skara Brae is the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe and the main reason most cruise passengers leave Kirkwall at all. This village predates Stonehenge and even the Egyptian pyramids. 🏺
🔹 The settlement was accidentally uncovered by a storm in 1850, which stripped away a sand dune and exposed the stone walls of houses buried for over 4,000 years.
🔹 Eight houses survive, linked by covered passages, complete with stone beds, dresser-like shelving, and even a primitive drainage system.
🔹 The inhabitants abandoned the settlement around 2500 BC — the exact cause remains uncertain, possibly a catastrophic storm or shifting climate.
🔹 The visitor centre houses a full-scale replica of one of the houses, furnished with period items and animal skins, letting visitors experience what a home would have looked like 5,000 years ago, since entering the original buildings is not permitted.
🔹 The site is part of the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” UNESCO World Heritage designation, together with the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness, and Maeshowe.
📜 History:
Initial excavations began right after the 1850 storm, but systematic scientific study didn't take place until the 1920s–1930s, led by archaeologist Gordon Childe. Early dating was inaccurate: the settlement was first attributed to the Iron Age, and only mid-20th-century radiocarbon analysis confirmed its true age — around 3180–2500 BC.
Today the coastline near Skara Brae continues to erode under Atlantic storms, so Historic Environment Scotland maintains ongoing monitoring of coastal erosion.
🚢 How to get there from Hatston Pier:
• Distance: about 27–29 km (17 miles) west of Kirkwall
• Taxi: 30–35 minutes one way, roughly 45–60 GBP
• Stagecoach bus (route X1 via Stromness): runs several times a day, total travel time with a transfer around 1 hr 20 min–1 hr 30 min, cost 9–12 GBP one way
• Car rental: only a handful of rental companies operate in Kirkwall (e.g. WR Tullock) — book well in advance
• Organised excursion: the most popular option — most cruise lines and local tour operators offer a west-side or full-day tour combining Skara Brae with the Ring of Brodgar
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Ticket (April–October, includes Skaill House): adult 14 GBP online / 16 GBP walk-up, concession 11 GBP, child (7–15 years) 8.50 GBP
• Ticket (November–March, Skara Brae only): adult around 10 GBP online, child around 6 GBP
• Opening hours (2026): 1 April–30 September, daily 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.); 1 October–31 March, daily 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (last entry 3:00 p.m.)
⚠️ IMPORTANT: in 2026, it's recommended to pre-book a timed-entry ticket online through the official site historicenvironment.scot — on days when cruise ships call, capacity is limited and walk-up tickets may sell out.
🪨 4. Ring of Brodgar & Standing Stones of Stenness
💡 Interesting facts and background:
These two megalithic complexes sit just a few minutes' drive apart, on a narrow strip of land between the Lochs of Harray and Stenness, and together form one of the most significant prehistoric sites in Europe. 🌀
🔹 The Ring of Brodgar is a perfectly circular earthwork sanctuary 104 metres (341 ft) in diameter, with at least 27 of the original 60 standing stones surviving, some up to 4.7 metres (15.4 ft) tall. It is estimated to be 4,500–5,000 years old.
🔹 The Standing Stones of Stenness are even older than the Ring of Brodgar, with four surviving stones up to 6 metres (nearly 20 ft) tall, remnants of an original circle of twelve.
🔹 Several stones at Brodgar bear 12th-century Viking runic inscriptions — evidence that even Norse travellers were intrigued by this prehistoric site.
🔹 Neither complex has ever been fully excavated, so archaeologists still lack a definitive answer as to their true purpose — ritual, astronomical, or social.
🔹 Entry to both sites is free and open around the clock, as they are unenclosed landscape monuments.
📜 History:
The Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness were built during the Neolithic period, roughly a thousand years before Skara Brae, and unlike the latter, they were never dwellings — these were purely ritual or ceremonial complexes. Together with Skara Brae and Maeshowe, they were inscribed by UNESCO in 1999 as the single World Heritage Site “Heart of Neolithic Orkney”.
🚢 How to get there from Hatston Pier:
• Distance: the Ring of Brodgar — about 19 km (11.5 miles), the Standing Stones of Stenness — about 17 km (10.5 miles) to the west
• Taxi: 25–30 minutes, roughly 35–45 GBP one way
• Stagecoach bus X1: stops near both sites, cost around 8–10 GBP one way
• The most popular option is to combine a visit with a trip to Skara Brae as part of a single organised tour or rental car itinerary, since the sites lie along the same route
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Admission: free, accessible around the clock, year-round
• Parking: free at both sites
⛰️ 5. Maeshowe
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Maeshowe is the best-preserved Neolithic chambered cairn in Northern Europe, hidden beneath a grassy mound amid the fields near Stenness. From the outside it looks like a simple grass hillock, but inside is an astonishing feat of stonework.
🔹 The 11-metre (36 ft) entrance passage is aligned so that, at the winter solstice, the light of the setting sun shines directly into the central chamber — an astronomical precision comparable to Newgrange in Ireland.
🔹 Inside is the largest collection of Viking runic inscriptions in Western Europe (over 30), carved by Norse warriors who took shelter here in the 12th century during a crusade. Among the inscriptions are jokes and outright flirtatious remarks.
🔹 The stone slabs of the roof are fitted with such precision that no mortar was needed to hold them together — the structure relies purely on the weight and balance of the stones.
📜 History:
The cairn was built around 2800 BC as a tomb for the elite of Neolithic Orkney society, although no human remains were ever found inside — they may have been removed in antiquity. Three thousand years later, in the 12th century, Vikings broke through the roof of the mound during a storm, or in search of shelter and treasure, leaving behind the now-famous runic inscriptions.
🚢 How to get there from Hatston Pier:
• Distance: about 17 km (10.5 miles) west, near the Standing Stones of Stenness
• Taxi: 20–25 minutes, roughly 30–40 GBP
• Entry is possible only as part of a small guided group — independent access inside the cairn is not permitted
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Guided tour inside the cairn: approximately 10–12 GBP, around an hour long
• ⚠️ IMPORTANT: the number of spaces per session is very limited (the cairn is small inside), so booking a specific time slot on the official Historic Environment Scotland website is essential — several days ahead, or several weeks ahead during peak season.
⛪ 6. Italian Chapel
💡 Interesting facts and background:
The Italian Chapel is one of the most moving landmarks in Orkney: a tiny church built by Italian prisoners of war out of two Nissen huts, right in the middle of a barbed-wire camp. ✝️
🔹 The painter behind the frescoes, prisoner Domenico Chiocchetti, created them using oil paint mixed with leftover building materials, and fashioned the holy water font from concrete and scrap metal salvaged from an old car.
🔹 In 1960 and 1964, Chiocchetti returned to Orkney, by then a free man, to restore his own frescoes — a testament to how strong his bond with the place had become.
🔹 The chapel stands on the island of Lamb Holm, linked to the Orkney Mainland by one of the four Churchill Barriers — causeways built by the same prisoners to protect Scapa Flow from German U-boats.
🔹 From the outside, the chapel looks like a genuine stone church with a Gothic façade, though behind that façade is simply the corrugated metal of the huts.
📜 History:
Around 550 Italian prisoners of war were brought to Orkney in 1942 to build the Churchill Barriers. Despite the Geneva Convention's prohibition on using prisoners for work of military value, the British side officially classified the barriers as “civilian road works”. In their spare time, at the initiative of the camp chaplain, the prisoners transformed two huts into a place of worship, using improvised materials and paint earned from odd jobs.
After the war ended and the prisoners were released, the local community decided to preserve the chapel as a monument to reconciliation and humanity found amid war.
🚢 How to get there from Hatston Pier:
• Distance: about 10–13 km (6–8 miles) south of Kirkwall
• Taxi: 15–20 minutes, roughly 20–28 GBP one way
• Stagecoach bus (route towards St Margaret's Hope): runs several times a day, cost around 4–6 GBP
• Often combined in a single organised excursion with a tour of the Churchill Barriers and Scapa Flow
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Admission: approximately 4 GBP (adults), proceeds go towards the chapel's upkeep
• Opening hours (2026): daily, roughly 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (summer season), reduced hours in winter
⚠️ Tip: the dress code is informal, but visitors should be respectful — this is a consecrated chapel still used for services and weddings.
🥃 7. Highland Park Distillery
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Highland Park is the northernmost working Scotch whisky distillery, set on a low ridge a 15-minute walk south of central Kirkwall. 🥃
🔹 The distillery was founded around 1798 by Magnus Eunson — a Kirkwall butcher, church deacon, and, at the same time, an unrepentant illicit distiller who, according to legend, hid barrels of smuggled whisky right beneath the pulpit of St Magnus Cathedral. The distillery was officially licensed in 1826.
🔹 It's one of the few distilleries in Scotland that still carries out some of its own barley malting on traditional floor maltings, turning the grain by hand with wooden shovels.
🔹 The peat used to dry the malt is cut from Hobbister Moor, a few kilometres from Kirkwall — it contains almost no woody material, giving the whisky a soft, floral character rather than the sharp, medicinal note typical of Islay peat.
🔹 The distillery's distinctive pagoda-roof silhouette is one of the most recognisable industrial landmarks in Orkney.
📜 History:
Since 1798, the distillery has changed hands several times and weathered periods of prohibition and expansion, and since 1979 has been part of The Edrington Group. Today it produces around 2.5 million litres of spirit a year, blending traditional hand craftsmanship with modern technology.
🚢 How to get there from Hatston Pier:
• From central Kirkwall: about a 15-minute walk south along Holm Road
• Taxi from Hatston Pier: 10–12 minutes, roughly 12–16 GBP
• Many shuttles and organised excursions include a stop at the distillery as part of a southern island route
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Basic tour with tasting: approximately 15–20 GBP
• Extended tour (around 1 hr 15 min) with several tastings: approximately 30 GBP
• Premium rare-whisky tasting tours: from 75 GBP upward, with very limited availability
• Opening hours (2026): seasonal schedule, roughly 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in high season; in summer (July–September), the distillery sometimes pauses production for its “silent season” — this doesn't affect tours, but it's worth checking slot availability in advance
⚠️ Tip: tours sell out quickly during peak cruise season — book online a few days before your ship calls.
🎨 8. Other Places Worth Visiting
• 🏛️ Orkney Museum (Tankerness House) — a local heritage museum in a 16th-century house opposite the cathedral, with exhibits ranging from the Neolithic to the Second World War. Free admission, open daily except Sundays in winter.
• ⚓ Scapa Flow — one of the largest natural harbours in the world, where the German fleet scuttled itself in 1919 after defeat in the First World War, and where the British battleship HMS Royal Oak was sunk in 1939. Viewpoints lie south of Kirkwall, roughly a 15–20-minute drive.
• 🌉 Churchill Barriers — four causeways over 2 km (1.2 miles) long, connecting the islands and doubling as a scenic coastal drive from which the sunken hulls of wartime blockship wrecks can be seen.
• 🏖️ Scapa Beach — a quiet sandy beach a 10-minute drive from the centre, popular with locals for walks.
• 🍸 The Orkney Distillery (Kirkjuvagr) — a modern craft gin distillery right on Kirkwall's waterfront, tastings from 12–15 GBP.
• 💍 Sheila Fleet Jewellery — a jewellery brand well known across Scotland for its Orkney-inspired designs, with a showroom and café near Kirkwall.
🗺️ Three Independent Kirkwall Itineraries for a 9-Hour Port Call
A cruise call at Kirkwall usually lasts 8–10 hours. Because the main sights are spread out across the island, it's realistic to either explore the compact town centre on foot, or visit 2–4 outlying sites — depending on the transport you choose. Below are three options depending on budget and preference.
🥉 Route #1. Budget — approximately 15–25 GBP per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 15–25 GBP + food
🕘 9:00 a.m. — Depart Hatston Pier
Board the shuttle to the Kirkwall Travel Centre (free or 8–12 GBP round trip, depending on the operator).
🕘 9:15–10:15 a.m. — St Magnus Cathedral
Free admission, explore the nave, columns, and 17th–18th-century gravestones.
🕙 10:15–11:00 a.m. — Bishop's and Earl's Palaces (exterior view) and a stroll through the centre
Kirkwall's historic lanes, shops on Albert Street, the harbour front.
🕚 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Orkney Museum (Tankerness House)
Free admission, exhibits on the Neolithic, the Vikings, and Scapa Flow.
🕛 12:00–1:00 p.m. — Lunch in Kirkwall
A local pub or café serving Orkney dishes — 12–18 GBP.
🕐 1:00–2:15 p.m. — Walk to Highland Park Distillery
15 minutes on foot one way, view the grounds and shop from outside (optionally, a basic tour for 15–20 GBP).
🕝 2:15–3:30 p.m. — Free time: waterfront, souvenir shops, cafés
🕞 3:30–4:00 p.m. — Return to Hatston Pier
By shuttle or taxi.
🕟 4:00–4:30 p.m. — Arrival back on board, check-in
💰 Cost breakdown:
• Shuttle round trip: 0–12 GBP
• Lunch: 12–18 GBP
• Reserve for coffee and souvenirs: 5–10 GBP
💸 TOTAL: 17–40 GBP per person (excluding entry tickets to the palaces or distillery)
🥈 Route #2. Balanced — approximately 90–120 GBP per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 100 GBP + food
🕘 8:45 a.m. — Depart Hatston Pier, taxi or group shuttle to Skara Brae
30–35 minutes on the road.
🕘 9:30–10:45 a.m. — Skara Brae
Ticket including the visitor centre and house replica — 14 GBP.
🕚 11:00–11:45 a.m. — Ring of Brodgar
15–20-minute transfer. Free entry, walk around the megalithic circle.
🕛 12:00–12:45 p.m. — Standing Stones of Stenness
5-minute transfer from Brodgar. Free entry.
🕐 1:00–2:00 p.m. — Lunch in Stromness or on the way back
A seafood restaurant or pub — 15–22 GBP.
🕝 2:15–3:00 p.m. — Back in Kirkwall, visit St Magnus Cathedral
Free admission.
🕞 3:00–3:45 p.m. — Bishop's and Earl's Palaces
Combined ticket — 7.50 GBP.
🕟 3:45–4:15 p.m. — Return to Hatston Pier by taxi
10–12 GBP.
💰 Cost breakdown:
• Taxi/transfer to Skara Brae: 45–55 GBP
• Skara Brae: 14 GBP
• Lunch: 15–22 GBP
• Palaces: 7.50 GBP
• Taxi back: 10–12 GBP
💸 TOTAL: 92–111 GBP per person
💡 Swapping the individual taxi for a shared group coach tour with a shared guide can save up to 30–40 GBP per person.
🥇 Route #3. Premium — private tour from 600 GBP per group
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 600–900 GBP per group (2–8 people) + lunch
🏆 What's included:
• ✅ Private driver meeting you with a name sign right at the ship's gangway
• ✅ A comfortable car/minivan for the whole day
• ✅ A professional English-speaking licensed guide with in-depth knowledge of Orkney's history
• ✅ Priority ticket booking for every attraction, including the limited Maeshowe slots
• ✅ A tasting at Highland Park or Scapa distillery, your choice
• ✅ A flexible itinerary — adjusted on the fly depending on the weather
You can book through your cruise manager, or contact us directly through any convenient channel:
Phone numbers:
• Office: +38 (044) 337 82 01
• Mobile (LifeCell): +380 93 653 05 53
• Mobile (Vodafone): +380 66 653 05 53
• Mobile (Kyivstar): +380 97 653 05 53
Email us
🕘 8:30 a.m. — Meet your driver and guide at Hatston Pier
🕘 9:00–10:30 a.m. — Skara Brae with a private guide
A detailed account of daily life in the Neolithic community, an unhurried look at the house replica.
🕚 10:45–11:30 a.m. — Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness
10–15-minute drive. Private tour explaining the astronomical and ritual significance of the complexes.
🕧 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Maeshowe
Guaranteed group slot thanks to advance booking, viewing the Viking runic inscriptions inside the cairn.
🕐 12:45–2:00 p.m. — Lunch in a Stromness or Kirkwall restaurant
Local seafood, Orkney beef — from 25–35 GBP per person, reservation handled by the guide.
🕝 2:15–3:15 p.m. — Italian Chapel and the Churchill Barriers
Drive south across the island with scenic stops overlooking Scapa Flow.
🕞 3:30–4:30 p.m. — Highland Park Distillery with tasting
Extended tour with several whisky tastings in a small group setting.
🕟 4:45 p.m. — Return to Hatston Pier in comfort
💰 Cost breakdown:
• Private guide and driver with car (9 hrs): from 600 GBP per group, up to 8 people
• Priority tickets (Skara Brae, Maeshowe, palaces): around 40–50 GBP per person
• Highland Park tasting: 30 GBP per person
• Restaurant lunch: from 25–35 GBP per person
💸 TOTAL: from 170 GBP per person (based on a group of 2; the per-person cost drops significantly for groups of 6–8)
🤝 Four Gates Group arranges private tours of the Orkney Islands with licensed local guides, gangway-side transfers, and a guaranteed return to the ship. Contact your cruise specialist — and your day in Kirkwall will be perfectly tailored to your taste. 🛳️✨
⚠️ Good to Know Before You Head Ashore
🕐 “All aboard” rule: you must be back on the ship 60 minutes before departure. If you're late, the ship won't wait, and catching up with it at the next port will be at your own expense. Given Orkney's remoteness from mainland Scotland, this matters more here than at most ports.
🪪 Documents: bring a photocopy of your passport and your ship's Cruise Card.
💶 Cash: carry 30–50 GBP in cash for small purchases — not all small cafés and souvenir shops outside Kirkwall accept cards without restrictions.
👟 Clothing: comfortable, waterproof footwear and windproof clothing are essential even in summer — Orkney's weather can change within the hour, and winds at the exposed prehistoric sites can be very strong.
📱 Internet: mobile signal and Wi-Fi are reliable in Kirkwall, but coverage can be weak outside town, particularly near Skara Brae. Download an offline map in advance.
🔐 Safety: Kirkwall and the Orkney Islands as a whole are among the safest places in the United Kingdom, with a very low crime rate.
☀️ Climate: even in summer, temperatures rarely exceed 63–64 °F (+17…+18 °C), and the wind noticeably increases the chill factor — dress in layers.
🚫 Shops: on Sundays, a significant number of shops in Kirkwall are closed or operate on reduced hours — plan your shopping in advance.
ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is provided for general reference and is accurate as of the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. For up-to-date details, please check with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or the official websites of the relevant venues.
FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals