Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae & Skaill House
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Port
Kirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$139.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3¾ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Heading out through an area of rich farmland, rolling hills and moorland fringed by magnificent cliffs, you will encounter some of the places that comprise the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You will drive past the Standing Stones of Stenness on your way to the magnificent and ancient Ring of Brodgar, where you will have the chance to walk among the stones.
Further on, you'll find Skara Brae -- Orkney's most exciting Neolithic village and the best-preserved settlement of its kind in Northern Europe. Skara Brae is about 5,000 years old, beautifully preserved and interpreted through an impressive Visitor Center. Lying beside the pretty, sandy crescent of the Bay of Skaill, this Stone Age settlement was totally buried under sand for thousands of years until it was suddenly revealed during a fierce storm in 1850. Among the fascinating relics found here are tools, beads, pottery and whalebone artifacts spanning approximately 600 years of occupation, all reflecting the tough maritime environment in which the village thrived.
Life in Skara Brae still contrasts sharply with Orkney's finest manor house, Skaill House, located nearby. A powerful bishop built Skaill House in 1620, perhaps inauspiciously covering over an ancient Norse graveyard.
Finally, you'll return to Kirkwall, traveling along the coast of the great natural harbor of Scapa Flow. Your guide will share stories of dramatic wartime experiences that make this one of the most renowned stretches of water in the world as well as a favorite scuba diving site.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. The walk from the coach park to Skara Brae and back to Skaill House is around 1,000 yards on an improved path and is sometimes exposed to harsh weather. Dress warmly in layers with a windproof and waterproof outer layer; bring a warm hat, gloves and a scarf.